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Art by Dr. Church


  The long trip from a dirt farm in Oklahoma to the C.E.O. of Concepts of Freedom Ministries


Dr. Joel Philip Church, B.S., M.S., M.Th., Th.D., Ed.D., D.D., D.C.C.P., D.Lit.,

Joel Philip Church Links




(Writing of this document is ongoing and today's date is July 11, 2004)

Notation: If you came here to read about  personal failures and shortcomings about Dr. Church, you will probably be disappointed. This writing is not an "expose,"  but a testimony to the favor, blessings and wonderful care of our Loving Savior, Jesus Christ.

It is a story of how the Holy Spirit will guide and the Father will bless the work of those who really, without reservations, are willing to dedicate their lives to Him. The key word is "work." God will bless those who want to do His mission, but he is not a rewarded of indolence.

Pastors, church leaders, deacons, elders as well as casual church goers have a duty to be more than just "good enough,"  they have a duty to be all the can be for our Lord.


I was born at home on April 19, 1941 on a small farm on a hill above the settlement of Ballard in Adair County, Oklahoma to Rev. and Mrs. Jonathan Joshua George Church. Ballard is about 1.5 miles south of the somewhat infamous town of Watts (web page 1 - web page 2) which was rocked by of a number of scandals that allegedly took place between 1997 and 2003. Watts is located in the Northeast corner of Oklahoma seven miles south of Siloam Springs, Arkansas.

             Joel 1941 & 1942
             Mom & Dad 1959
 Dad & Joel 1960  

Dad, a World War 1 veteran, was a fiery, country gentleman, backwoods preacher. His ministry consisted of starting churches and doing evangelistic work in the rural areas of Eastern Oklahoma.

Before I can talk much about Joel Church, I will have to talk about J.G. Church. Dad was a man of integrity, deep convictions, patriotism and honesty. During the 1930s times were tough for everyone, but somehow it seemed that most made it through.

Before my days, the family lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a town that was still reeling from one of the most despicable incidents of the time,  the Tulsa Race Riots of 1921.




Dad was an intelligent man beyond anyone's expectations. He was a man who planned and tried everything he could think of to bring food and shelter to the family. He worked on the railroad, as an electrician's helper and almost anything that would provide an income. There was a time that he mowed yards during the day to make a little money then went back that evening and raked the lawn free so he could have the clippings. The clippings were used to feed the milk goat which provided milk for the children.

I often wonder how those who did not know the Lord make it through life, especially in such trying years as the great depression. Dad  knew God. He knew Him intimately and personally. He depended upon Him as a friend and a provider. Even with all his efforts there came a time when there was just not enough money to provide food for the family, therefore, Dad turned to the only source he knew that was faithful. Before he knelt in prayer he made a list of things he needed. In my mind I can see him sitting at the kitchen
Great Depression 1929
table with a  scrap of paper and his lead pocket-pencil. I can visualize him licking the tip then carefully creating his petition to the Lord. I can see him writing "1. Sugar, 2. Salt, 3. Baking powder, 4. Coffee (yes, he thought of coffee as an essential), 5. Potatoes, 6. Flour, 7. Beans, 8. Black-eyed peas, 9. Lard, ..."

Old man kneeling in prayer Vincent van Gogh
 I can also visualize him going to his knees and loudly pray, "Lord Jesus, I come before you because I need you. I need your help. I have done all I can do. Father, I have made this list of things that I think we really need to get by."

I am not sure how much later it was that there was a knock on the door. A man stood there with a box  full of something. He said, "Brother Church, the Lord told me to bring these things to you. Dad thanked him then took the box and set it on the table. Down the list he went, "Okay, there's the sugar, salt..." When he finished his inventory he found that everything on the list was there except for the potatoes.
 
Again, he fell to his knees, "Jesus, I thank you so much for the things you have provided, but God, the potatoes are not here." Believe it or not, before his prayer had floated out of the old house there was another knock on the door.  Another person stood at the door, "Brother Church, the Lord told me to bring these potatoes."

HALLELUJAH!!

Now, I will begin to reveal some personal, private and common things with those who care to read.

I was the youngest of a family of 10 boys. My brothers were Billy, Paul, Jonathan (died in infancy), Peter, Nathan, Mark, Luke, John and Faith.

We moved three or four miles from the farm on the hill to a valley farm 1942 where we lived until 1949.

My early years on a poor,  post-depression farm are filled with fond memories of running shirtless and shoeless, swimming and fishing in Ballard Creek, playing with the family dog, Tip, flying home-made kites, hiking in the woods and otherwise just being a kid. It seems that memories tend to hold on to the good things and dismiss the not-so-good things.

As I said, this was the post depression area, but somehow the Church family never completely moved from depression. Mom and dad did everything they could to support the family. We never went without food because of our gardens and slaughtered meat, but extras would seldom fit into the budget.


A wagon similiar to the one we had on the farm on
Ballard Creek
 When the family had moved to northeast Oklahoma, a little money was made by the older boys and by dad selling firewood in Watts. I do remember the "long" trip of about 3 miles by horse drawn wagon to deliver the wood. I remember dad preparing for these trips by pulling the wagon into the creek to let the wooden wheels soak. Soaking the wheels would make the wood swell and then the metal rims would stay in tact. I was always fascinated with a neighboring farmer whose wagon had real rubber tires. I supposed he had traded the originals for auto axles, wheels and tires.

I also remember the years of the orange silk shirts. Mom and dad had bought a parachute at an Army surplus store. This sturdy material was carefully sewn by mom on her treadle sewing machine until all the boys that were still at home wore orange silk shirts.  I could just hear in my mind the neighbors and townspeople saying, "here comes the Church boys."

It was during this time in the 1950s when our home was almost destroyed by a flooding “wet-weather” spring. For those of you who may not know what a wet-weather spring is, it is a dry spring that only flows after a hard rain. In our front yard there was a dry spring bed that sometimes flowed from a cave up the hollow from our house. It was usually a playful thing. The older boys would walk up the dry bed after a rain and check to see if it had began running out of the cave. If it had, they would walk along with the rising stream as it ran. It had never been a threat.

But on this particularly time of heavy rain the spring began to run and gained in volume. It grew wider and wilder as the rains continued. It increased in size, washing away the banks until it began to wash under the house. My Dad and the older boys tried to divert the stream by placing rocks, but to no avail. The force was so great that nothing could be done. It continued to erode until it was completely under the house. Finally the house fell forward and tipped into the stream.

They were able to raise it back up to a livable level, but it was never the same and always had sloping floors.

This event reminds me of the way sin works in lives. It starts as a small, insignificant seeming “spring.” It may even seem playful, but if left alone it will grow, erode and expand until it washes away the foundation of lives. Even after it is repaired, there often remain signs of the damage done.

Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes. Song of Solomon 2:15

At the age of eight, the family moved to a home in Watts, Oklahoma which was purchased for $400 (if memory serves correctly).

We generally received one pair of work shoes per year which were purchased in the fall. We never knew what size we wore so each of the boys was fitted with a pair that allowed for growth. One fall we were in Siloam Springs, Arkansas at the Family Shoe Store for the purchase. I tried on several pairs until one met moms approval. They were carefully boxed and set aside for the first day of school. After I had worn my shoes a few days I realized that they were not a matched pair. Somehow, in the process of fitting they were mixed. Well, the mismatch was minor and probably no one but me knew the difference. I remember a year of trying to hide my error.


 I received my first call into ministry when I was about twelve. I had gone with Mom and Dad to an all-day fellowship meeting in an old schoolhouse in Oklahoma, not far from Watts. I was not very interested in the endless string of preachers that took their turns behind the pulpit. I was more interested in playing hide and seek with my friends, but at one point in time Mom came outside and told me to come in for a while.
I took a seat in the rear next to some friends. Since we were not there to listen, we continued our whispers. I was shocked back to reality when I heard a stern voice say, "Young man, come here!"  I looked forward and saw an overweight woman preacher with a red face pointing a long finger directly at me. Again she said, "Come up here!" Well, I assumed I had been busted again so I meekly went forward to receive my stern admonishment. Instead of the punishment I expected, she laid her hands on my head and prayed. When she had finished she said something like, "Son, God wants you to know that He has called you into a great ministry."

Faith            ?               me
Circa 1953


Well that didn't mean much to me at the time since I was not seeking a place of ministry. In fact, it left my mind for several years. The Holy Spirit brought it back to me many years later. I assume He allowed me to forget until the time was right.

Yes, He had called me into a "great" ministry. Any ministry in which we are blessed to be called is indeed great.

I attended Watts school and played football until I graduated with a class of eight girls and seven boys in 1959.
 

1959
 The memories of those days hold both good and bad moments.

After graduation, I moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where I worked in the Western Capri Motel Service Station for a short time then joined the United States Air Force on October 19, 1959.
During my four-year term of duty I completed my basic training at Lackland Air Force Base (image1, image 2) in San Antonio, Texas. After basic training I was transferred to the Amarillo, Texas Air Force Base then in March of 1962 I was transferred to a top-secret
Watts High School
Watts, Oklahoma
radar site in Samsun, Turkey where I served fifteen months.


Tuslog Det. 3-2 Samsun, Turkey
(American Radar Site)
 I remember a chilly morning in October in 1962, on this isolated, remote spy station on a hill in northern Turkey, overlooking the Black Sea, I awoke to the sound of airplanes overhead. Going outside the barracks and looking up I saw low-flying, fully armed, Russian Migs. Within eyesight on the sea I observed a complete task force of Russian naval vessels.

Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was still reeling over President Kennedy’s forceful insistence that the ships carrying missiles on their way to Cuba to turn around. This was known as the “Cuban Missile Crisis.” We found out later that this was a time when the world was nearer to a nuclear holocaust than anyone suspected.

The Premier’s intention was to remove us from that strategic location because he knew that we had reconnaissance equipment beamed toward Moscow and his military. But because of fear of repercussions and under-the-table deals, he decided against using the force he had available.

I was fortunate that day and the days to follow. Not a shot was fired nor a bomb dropped.

 In May of 1963 I was assigned to Shaw AFB in Sumpter, SC where I was discharged on October 10, 1963 after serving 3 years 11 months and 21 days.

Soon after my discharge I met my beautiful future wife, Vicki Reeves, while I was working at her stepfather's laundromat. That courtship lasted 6 months and we were married on October 17, 1964 and continues to today. On October 17, 2007 we will celebrate 43 years of companionship.

Vicki is the best thing, other than the Lord, that every came in my life. She has been, and still is, my faithful friend. She has stood beside me during my mistakes, miscalculations and common errors. She has never failed to support me and be my partner in life. In short, it is she that is the strength and power of this ministry.

I need to pause here to give you a picture of Vicki and her faith. This personal miracle that took place in my family sometime back in the seventies while we were living in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. We had two cars, one of which was a worn out Chevrolet Corvair convertible parked in front of our home. The battery was completely dead and it had not run in many months. The tags were even expired. Well, it happened that Vicki  needed to go to a grocery store, but I had driven the other car to work. She laid her hands on the dilapidated car and prayed. She loaded the two boys; put the keys in the ignition. A few minutes later I met her on the road. Yes, a trail of smoke followed and the half flat tires trembled, but she was driving a car that wouldn't run. As far as I know that was the last time it was driven while in our possession.

Our first child, Shawn, was born on November 28, 1966 followed by Kevin who was born on April 3, 1969. (image1, image 2, image 4,  image 6)

An incident happened  on August 10, 1968 that has been a source of self satisfaction in that I was able to revive a young boy who had stopped breathing. I had stopped at a car wash to clean our 1963 Corvair Convertible when a lady drove hurriedly into the car wash area. She yelled that her child had stopped breathing. She had been on her way to the Springdale, Arkansas hospital, but being new in the area, she had lost her way.

Since I had just returned from military service a short time before, I was ready to calmly take control. I saw that the little boy of 4 was lifeless. I carried him to a shady area and began mouth-to-mouth respiration. Like a miracle he started breathing. I was able to keep him breathing until the ambulance arrived.

Did you know that our life is frail and only a breath away from an eternity with or without God? Just as I was able to restore little David's life with a puff of breath, the Holy Spirit breaths into us the breath of life daily. He stands by and in the event we stop breathing spiritually, He comes and administers new breath. He keeps us alive both physically and spiritually - more than we will ever know.


 Although I accepted Jesus as my savior and was baptized by my father in Ballard Creek in 1953, my walk with God had not been very successful. I had been the typical PK (preacher's kid), drifting in and out of the proper place with the Lord. But in 1969 I knelt at a altar in a country church in Oklahoma and rededicated My life to God. It was about then that my calling into ministry was refreshed and renewed within me by the Holy Spirit.

My first sermons, using the term loosely, were disasters.I was a very shy

person and could hardly tolerate being in front of a group of people. During a large annual convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the summer of 1971, I was asked to "toot my bugle" by a bishop of the organization. I was seated on the platform with a host of bishops, elders, district elders and generally highly titled, seasoned ministers. They sported clergy colors, robes, chains, crosses, imported suits and all kinds of royal looking apparel. I was in my very best blue suit that was imported from a close-out sale at Sears-Roebuck. I chose a seat at the very end of the line of chairs nearest the door to the dinning room.

When I was introduced and took the podium, I went blank. My "toot" lasted about one minute at which time I took my seat in total embarrassment. The rest of the long service was much of a blur to me, but I do remember other preachers about my age that preached all over the platform with booming voices echoing over the auditorium. Many in the congregation were upon their feet clapping and shouting amen’s and all kinds of go-get-ems to the preachers.

Was I not even called to preach? Why could I not do like they do?

During the dismissal prayer I quietly ducked into the dining room to avoid being congratulated on my failed try. I dreaded the “bless you son” and “you did good” false comments by well meaning people who had honorable intentions of making me feel better.

I sat down near the end of a remote table hoping to avoid being discovered. While I sat there alone, sulking in my failure, an African-American man whom I assumed was one of the ministers, appeared beside him. He spoke, but my head remained down. Finally I looked up when the man said, "God wants you to know that you did all that was expected of you." A kind of consolation settled on me. I took note of the person's appearance and even the worn Bible he carried.

During the remaining days and nights of the convention, I searched for the man in the congregation, but without success. He just was not there.

I finally realized that the man was a minister, but not the kind I expected. I believe he was a ministering angel of the Lord. His message was a message of peace and assurance that the Word of God stands by itself, even if the spokesman is not accomplished. Even after these forty-five years of ministry I still hold to the truth that the Word will accomplish the purpose of which it is intended.

    Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
    Hebrews 13:1-2


The next best advice I received was from my father. I remember we were outside the V.A. hospital in Fayetteville, AR when I told him I had been called to preach. This was not new to him because before me some of the brothers had been called.

I guess I expected a world-shaking word of congratulations from him but all he said was, "Son, when the shotgun is empty, stand it in the corner."

I hold this advice close to my heart to this day. Too many preachers don't feel they have preached until they hold the congregation for a set period of time. I can be comfortable with a five-minute message or I can preach for hours. I am content to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and stand the gun in the corner when He is finished.

Although my father was highly self-educated, college was just not a part of conversation. I had been offered a football scholarship before I joined the Air Force, I declined because to me the great fearful mystery of  "college" was just too much.

For 20 years after my military discharge I worked various jobs - some labor and some lower management and supervision.
John Brown University

Vicki, on the other hand, had always wanted to go to college, so in 1980 she began to take classes at John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. In the spring of 1983 she enrolled in a Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

Because of a serious auto accident several years previous, Vicki had a damaged ankle which made it difficult to walk on uneven services. On her first day class she stepped out of the car and slipped on a twig which made her fall, breaking her arm. That was not enough to stop her so I consented to drive the one and one half hour round trip to take her to her classes where she worked on her paintings with one arm in a cast.

That experience was one that changed my life forever. Seeing her courage, taking her to class, working on her financial aid papers, etc. made me more comfortable with the college setting.

In the summer of 1983, at the age of 42, as a beginning freshman, I sat in my first ever college class. I begin to see that it was not so mysterious and fearful as I had thought.

In less than three years I had earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Technology. Without taking a break, I went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude with Master's degree in Technology. I was able to complete six years worth of college in three and one half years making me the first in the Church family to complete an earned degree.

Education got in my blood so much that I took a job teaching graphic arts at NSU.

As of this date I have the following degrees:
    Bachelor of Science
    Master of Science
    Master of Sacred Theology
    Doctor of Christian Counseling Psychology
    Doctor of Christian Education
    Doctor of Divinity from Holy Trinity University
    Honorary Doctor of Literature
    Honorary Doctor of Theology
    Honorary Doctor of Divinity
    Honorary Doctor of Christian Education
    Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies (Honoris Causa)

Shortly after my graduation from NSU, the Lord begin to talking to Vicki and me about full-time ministry. Before this time I had worked as elder, assistant pastor, Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher, drama teacher, youth leader and other places where I was called. I suppose I mostly considered myself a friend of the pastor.

During a night vision in 1994, God delivered the complete plan for this current ministry which would be later called Concepts of Freedom Ministries. The vision was given to Vicki and was confirmed by myself. It was so great and so enormous. It was more than a simple husband and wife team could handle.

Since the vision was give to Vicki, I should include an anecdote of her faith and dedication to the Lord.

This took place sometime back in the seventies while we were living in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. We had two cars, one of which was a worn out Chevrolet Corvair convertible parked in front of our home. The battery was completely dead and it had not run in many months. The tags were even expired. Well, it happened that she needed to go to a grocery store, but I had driven the other car to work. She laid her hands on the dilapidated car and prayed. She loaded the two boys; put the keys in the ignition. A few minutes later I met her on the road. Yes, a trail of smoke followed and the half flat tires trembled, but she was driving a car that wouldn't run. As far as I know that was the last time it was driven while in our possession. 

She is indeed a woman of faith. I have learned over the years to highly respect and accept her words of stability, comfort and confidence.

It was about that time that I stood before the Lord and asked, "Jesus, how can Joel Church, an unqualified son of a dirt poor farmer conduct such a vast ministry?" His answer was simple, "You can't alone, but if you use the people I send you, they will help you do the work." Vicki and I have held this promise near to our hearts through these years and have found it to be true without exception. He has sent us quality men and women who are doing a wonderful job in taking Concepts of Freedom Ministries  around the world as He commanded.

I can proudly say that every single person on staff, branch presidents, director of national programs, and every other position, past and present, have been sent by the Lord. They come to us saying, on a regular basis, "Dr. Church, God has told me to become involved with your ministry." Of course, we take them without even asking their denominational background.

Allow me to relate a very special incident. A few years ago I received a letter at the office by postal mail. I believe it was from Nigeria or one of the African countries. It went something like this, "Dr. Church, I don't know how it happened, but as I was reading my Bible I found your name inside." I can tell you that I had never spoken or written to that  person and we did not supply the Bible. This letter has been added to our archives files.

That same year (1994) we incorporated Concepts of Freedom Ministries in the state of Oklahoma.

Vicki and I are people that when we know God has spoken, we don't back up, give up or turn away.  After he gave the night vision, confirmed every day by the Holy Spirit, I began to follow His directive to write the vision. For hundreds of hours I sat before my computer writing as He ministered. That written account of the vision was completed in a matter of months and the final version contains not only the written vision, but designs of buildings, land development and detailed drawings.

Early in the ministry the Seven Concepts of Freedom were conceived and laid out.

<>The Seven Concepts of Freedom
FAITHFULNESS to serve the world, pointing them to the Master of Freedom
RELIABILITY that is spiritual and is not compromised or hindered
EDUCATION that is second-rate to none
EXCELLENCE of service to every person, regardless of race, creed or doctrinal stand
DIRECTION that is reliable, biblical and theologically correct
OPTIMISTISM in the fact the Jesus is Lord and Savior of all and that eternal live is the final reward.
MINISTRY that is dedicated to salvation, deliverance, healing and self-renewal

It was during this time that Vicki and I saw the need for our minds to be renewed. How could we preach, teach and instruct in freedom if we were in bondage. My mind was so filled with bondage doctrine that I had been taught practically all my life. It was a sin to miss church, it was a sin to go to the wrong church, it was a sin to wear a ring, it was a sin for the ladies to color or trim their hair, it was a sin to wear short sleeves, it was a sin to wear shorts, it was a sin to wear earrings, it was a sin to have money, it was a sin to be poor, it was a sin to be sick, it was a sin to not glory in sickness, it was a sin to read the wrong Bible translation, it was a sin to be baptized other than a certain way, it was a sin for a man to have a beard, it was a sin for women to wear makeup, it was a sin to have flashy cars, it was a sin to speak in tongues, it was a sin to fail to speak in tongues. In other words, live was miserable and God was perceived as some big old ogre that delighted in squashing people and sending them to hell.


Crossing the Red Sea
 This was a time to which I refer as a "Red Sea Situation." If you call back to memory the experiences given in Exodus Chapter 14. We find the children of Israel were encamped near the Red Sea. They saw no immediate danger, but suddenly they found themselves trapped in a place where there seem to be no escape. On one side wa Pihahiroth which was a range of impassable rocky mountains. On the other side was Migdol and Baalzephon, which were Egyptian frontier forts and garrisons. Before them was the Red Sea. Charging behind them was their past captors, the Egyptians.

They were truly in a Red Sea Situation. Sometimes we find ourselves trapped, as is seems, on all sides. We look to the front and the way is blocked. We look to the right and to the left - still there is no way out. Turning back is not even a option. We know that we must find a way through.

Then we remember Moses' words, "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord." We then can get renewal. We can say, "I stand still before the Lord." "I will allow Him to work." "I will step aside and concentrate on my mission and goals."

 But still, all these teachings kept bouncing through my mind I found it impossible to move forward into the freedom to which the Holy Spirit had called. It was during this time that we did not attend any church for more than a year. That was not out of protest or a  "backslidden" condition, it was a time to learn from the Holy Sprit, free from unfounded doctrine. I remember the day while I was in my office working (using my new 286 computer - a gift from Shawn) when  out of the blue I said something to the effect, "Lord!!! I am confused, I am frustrated, I am at wits end. Just tell me what is sin and what can I preach that will not bring more bondage to the people, but will bring freedom."

Wow! That plea of desperation set me on a new path. A path of truth. He invited me to read Revelation 21:8. It was then that I found a very simple, yet complete list of sins that will send a person to hell.

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

We knew that there was a way out! There had to be because God had spoken.

What a relief! It is hard for some to accept the pure, simple word of the Lord without adding or including , "yes, but..........." Even the plan of salvation have been so confused by some. It is taught that it is not enough to accept John 3:16 without adding any number of conditions.

Brothers and sisters, if you don't get but one thing from this writing, please understand that God is your friend, He is on your side, He wants you to succeed and His Word is true, simple and without debate. If you find yourself in one of the many "bondage" churches, I ask you to set yourself free. Follow God and His Word to new freedom. I am not saying you must leave the church (but you may), I am saying that you can find your own freedom.

Peter & Charlotte Church
 My brother, Peter, and his wife Charlotte, were invaluable during those first days in that they encouraged and advised us. They were the only ones with whom the Holy Spirit allowed us to share the vision.

It is a blessing to this day to read the vision statement document, which has been unchanged except for a very few administrative statements, which reads much today as a history rather than a prophecy. Many things in that document are still not public because God has not released us to make it known, but I can mention the last article in the vision, dated November 30, 1992, which reads, "God has only ministered at this time that there will be a Freedom College."

In late 1995 or early 1996 the Lord spoke to us saying He wanted us to join with the International Pentecostal Holiness Churches. This was a different concept than we had experienced before. I had no desire to become licensed with a denominational organization. It was not that I had anything against the IPHC or any other organization, I just felt the need to stay interdenominational. But, we were sure of the Lord's directive.

We contacted the Superintendent of the East Oklahoma Conference and set up a meeting. After visiting with him we were scheduled to meet the board at another location. When the day came for the meeting, we were in total peace because we really did no care whether or not we were accepted. We knew what the Lord said, so we just placed it in his hands. Needless to say, my credentials were approved. I kept them current until September of 2000 when I voluntarily surrendered them.

The mystery of why God called us to join with the IPHC became clear when He called us to restart and pastor a closed IPHC church in Rogers, Arkansas. In August of 1996 we moved to Rogers and began to pastor. The church itself was a success, but God had greater plans. In my small office in the church He let me know it was time to move forward with the vision. I contacted a seminary to complete a theological doctorate degree. That happened to be the push that opened the door.

In a meager and humble way, Freedom Bible College was born and was incorporated in November of 1996. I began to put together the inner workings, curriculum, policies, forms and procedures that, in the most part, we still use today. Our first web page (we now have more than 100 web pages in our network) was published to the internet. Since the internet was new at the time, we became a pioneer web usage by Christian ministries.



Dr. Joel Philip and Vicki Church at Graduation 2007

It is interesting to note that in 1996 there were only about  300,000 web pages. In 2004 the number is estimated to be more than a trillion.

Naturally, His word is true and as of this date, Freedom Bible College and Seminary has students in 48 of the 50 states and has opened 55 to 60 resident colleges across the United States and around the world. We have several more branches scheduled to open soon and we gain students almost daily.


Students & Campuses in the U.S.A.
Students & Campuses outside the U.S.A.

Yes, Concepts of Freedom Ministries, Inc. is a worldwide ministry, just as God had promised. There are some things that go with the territory such as a loss of privacy and more cautious travel. Vicki and I value our time together at home when we can just sit and "vegetate" together.

You need to remember that if you are doing a work for the Lord, you will be targeted by the enemy. I have the theory that the size or your ministry or calling is determined largely by the size of the trials and tribulations you endure during your way to that ministry or calling. Don't be discouraged if you are going through heavy trials and dry places. That may be the training you need to accomplish the great calling that God has given you. We are not the type of people that see a demon behind every pew, so to speak, but we do realize that there is a real battle going on (Ephesians 6). Knowing this and the power of prayer, we have just added a person to our staff who is an intercessor and an armor bearer. His primary job is to intercede for us. His job includes traveling with me nationally and internationally.

Arkansas First Lady Janet Huckabee, wife of
presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, keynote graduation speaker, receives an honorary doctorate from Freedom Bible College
and Seminary
From a student body of two (Vicki and myself) we began to grow. The year 1997 was a year of beginnings for us. We were directed of the Holy Spirit to resign the church and go full time in Concepts of Freedom Ministries, we had our first real student body, opened our first branch (Washington, D.C. Campus), accepted our first affiliate college (North Tennessee Bible Institute - now upgraded to branch status), moved into our first office dedicated to FBCS, took on our first staff person (my sister-in-law, Charlotte) followed by my brother Peter.

As usual, when God begins a work, the enemy tries to put it down. This is part of the ongoing warfare we face. In November of 1998, I was diagnosed with an always terminal type of rare cancer and was given only weeks to live. Needless to say, God healed me.
That story it entirely too lengthy to place here, but it is given in my book, Messages from the Edge of Eternity. For more information you may contact the office or log on to <http://www.freedombiblecollege.org/eternity.html>.

In 2005 I wrote another book entitle Biblical Principles of Prayer  which is being used as a textbook on prayer in colleges. Biblical Principles of Prayer can be purchased from Amazon.com, the publisher, any bookstore or by calling the home offices at 800-494-7497.

Biblical Principles of Prayer
A user friendly guide to successful prayer
Messages from the Edge of Eternity
The story of healing from terminal cancer

I would like to mention something the Lord gave me during the time of the writing of Messages from the Edge of Eternity. He revealed something I call the Three Phases of Healing.

The Three Phases of Healing
God said He basically healed in one of (or a combination of)  three phases or methods. Phase one;  Miraculous Instant Healing, phase two;  Accelerated Gradual Healing. and phase three; Medically Assisted Gradual Healing.

As simplistic as this may seem, I consider it one of the most important pieces of knowledge we can have when it comes to praying for the sick. When I conduct crusades or people come to me for healing prayer I tell them first that they should expect an immediate touch. They should expect the healing virtue to flow through their bodies. This virtue may be felt or it may not. Feelings are not necessarily connected with the touch of the Lord.

The Bible is full of examples of the Phase one healings; Miraculous Instant Healing. There are too many to even try to list, but Jesus was a master of Phase one healings.
I next tell them that if they don't receive that instant healing that it is still okay. They have not failed God, and this is not necessarily a sign of anything amiss in their lives. They are told to begin looking for the healing to start, but continue for a period of time rather than instantly, i.e. Phase two. Phase two can be exemplified by instances where the ill person begins recovery, not instantly, but faster than the normal. Physicians often witness this type of healing knowing that the recovery was must faster than they had anticipated.

Two scriptural examples of phase two healing:

 For he (Ephaproditus) longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death; but God had mercy upon him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. (Philippians 2:26-27)


Jesus Heals a Sick Child
 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. (John 4:49-52)

I tell people that if they do not experience either phase one or phase two healings they should continue with their medications and/or physician's care. They should pray over their medications and bless them the same way they do their food before meals.

NEVER tell anyone to discontinue their medications, even if you have seen a phase one healing. Always refer them to their physician for evaluation.

Here is a scriptural example of phase three healing:

Drink no longer water, but use  a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities (I Timothy 5:23)

I believe that the essence of all this is that God wants us to walk in health, happiness and prosperity. It is not the means that gets us there so much as it is the finished product. Lay on hands, anoint with oil, send handkerchiefs, issue messages of faith, call for the elders or whatever it takes to receive your blessing and healing for those around you. Just go about the work and trust God to bring you to the finished product. After all, you are not the healer - He is.

Remember that God never works in advance of your level of faith. Therefore if you do not give God your faith, He has no channel in which to get to you what He wants you to have.

About the time of that healing God called us into a new phase (only new by name to the written vision) of ministry. It goes under the name of Joel Philip Church Ministries. We do crusades that result in salvation, healing of body, mind and spirit, renewal and encouragement. We are invited to conduct hundreds of crusades each year, many of which are out of the United States. Because of the cautions stated by my advisors travel outside of the U.S. had been mostly curbed until now, but in 1999 we did go to Haiti (image 1, image 2, image 3, image 4, image 5)
On the set of the TBN show
At the Field House in Huntington, WV
In Crusade in Kansas City, MO
Ministering to a
young man in AL

At the Kodak Theater in Hollywood
Crusade in a Episcopal church in Clarksville, TN
Crusade in a Episcopal church in Clarksville, TN
At the Pacfic Ocean at
Huntington Beach, CA

Crusade in Haiti
Crusade in Haiti
Indian Crusade - Long Island, NY
Drs. Church 2005

JPCM Crusades, although interdenominational,  have seen many, many miracles - so many that I won't attempt to relate them all here. Let me first say that a miracle is something that is desperately needed by a person that cannot be attained by any other means. It is something that is obviously from God. I could talk about healing from cancer, high blood pressure, back problems, diabetes, internal problems, etc., but I really want to relate two of the ones I consider great.

Mallissa Butler
the "Turnip Greens Lady"
I now refer to the miracle of Mallissa Butler who is know in the Athens, Alabama area as the "Turnip Greens Lady." During a crusade the church pastored by Dr. Roderick Howell, God performed a miracle. Mallissa makes much of her living from selling turnip greens. In one day after we prayed for a financial miracle in her behalf, she sold 800 pounds of greens at the price of $1.00 per pound. Even to this day, she gets 3 crops of turnip greens where everyone else gets two. They say is it impossible - well to men it is impossible, but to God, all things are possible.
In a crusade in Kentucky we prayed for a financial miracle for a person named Daniel. Within five minutes after the prayer a person came in from the street handed him an unexpected check for $1000.

Theses crusades, we use the term "crusade" rather than "revival," because the Crusaders went out to conquer, are strictly business for the Lord.  Although salvation is always a part of any message, the main thrust is toward the church, pastors and other church leaders.

Successful JPCM crusades take much dedication and prepration, not only on the part of the crusade team, but also on the part of the host church or ministry.

The following is a instruction sheet directed to pastors and hosts which preceeds JPCM crusades.

To Prepare for the Meetings

Steps to a Wonderful and Powerful JPCM Crusade

For questions on booking and setting dates, please call 800-494-7497 and speak with Dr. Susan.

1. Begin a campaign of prayer and expectation by announcing and promoting the saving, healing and delivering miracle power of the Holy Spirit.

2. Prepare a team of counselors and others to work in support areas. Be sure these are people who expect, not just hope for, miraculous results.

3. Insure that arrangements have been made well in advance for lodging, a car and driver and airline tickets (E-tickets) for Drs. Church. A rental car may be helpful for their use at times when they are not involved in meetings.

4. Drs. Church appreciates first class travel, but in no way expect it. They are willing to fly in any class available. Flights departing before 9:00 a.m. are discouraged.

5. Drs. Church will normally be accompanied by an armor bearer/security officer, therefore, two hotel rooms will be required.

6. Please instruct drivers to keep verbal conversation to a minimum during the ride to the crusade services. Other than a quick greeting, they should not attempt to engage Drs. Church in conversation.

7. It is helpful if you are able to provide a private entrance to a pre-service area for Dr. Church. Please limit access to this area while Dr. Church is present.

8. Although Dr. Vicki may mingle before services, Dr. Church will not.

9. At no time should anyone (including pastors) communicate anything concerning individuals in the meeting to either of them. This insures that the Holy Spirit will receive glory for anything said in a prophetic nature during the service.

10. The pastor or another designated minister may meet with Dr. Church for a short, but intense, time of prior to the service.

11. Have your music depart prepared to play the traditional Jesus Loves Me immediately after his introduction. He will take the podium to that music.

12. In the event the do not bring their own, you should provide a security person/armor bearer for Dr. Church. This person should be a man of God who takes the job seriously.

13. Pastors, please understand that to protect the anointing and move of the Holy Spirit, Drs Church are selective in who takes part in the laying-on-of-hands segment of the service. The pastor and his small selected and prayed-up staff are always welcome. Dr. Church will invite others if, and when, he feels the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

14. JPCM is not about money but it takes money to operate.

Some of these measures may seem extreme, but JPCM crusades are designed to

accommodate an awesome move of the Holy Spirit. Drs. Church and the JPCM team are not interested in the typical non-productive "revival" services.


Please call, email or write if I can be of help in any way. God bless you and those in your ministry.

 

Dr. Susan Hecox, Crusade Coordinator


In these meetings I take the podium to the music of the wonderful song, written as a poem to a dying child in the little known book, Say and Seal in 1860 by Anna Bartlett Warner, Jesus Loves Me. This song which, without doubt, has influenced children for Christ more than any other, reminds the congregation know that we are all children in need of the love of our Father.

We now have a qualified staff that allows us the freedom to travel, opening new branches and conducting crusades.

If you would like to hear my audio message, "From Zero to Hero"  just log on to http://www.freedombiblecollege.org/ministry.html#zero  which was recored live in a crusade in  Maryland (if memory serves me correctly). You can also read the transcript of a speech made at the 2007 Veteran's Day Tribute given in Huntsville, Arkansas by logging on to http://www.freedombiblecollege.org/vaday.html. You can also order other tapes and books by contacting the offices.

In August of 2003 we took possession of our "new" home office building. The building, located at 105 West Walnut, on the brick streets of historic Rogers, Arkansas. It is a beautifully renovated two story 1890s structure with maple floors and a beautiful staircase which leads to my office. 
("Before" images of the building: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5)
("After" images: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4)

As for everyone, one day God will call me home. When this happens it is God's will that Concepts of Freedom and its outreaches continue until Jesus returns. It is my hope that the Executive Board, along with the input and corporation of our branch presidents, will not tire or turn away. It is my desire that everyone will work together as a body to ensure the success.