Ephesians 81-82_01 Opening Part 1
Format: AUDIO
Publication Date: 1981-82
Victor Paul Wierwille was a Bible scholar and teacher for over four decades.
By means of Dr. Wierwille's dynamic teaching of the accuracy and integrity of God's Word, foundational class and advanced class graduates of Power for Abundant Living have learned that the one great requirement for every student of the Bible is to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Thus, his presentation of the Word of God was designed for students who desire the in-depth-accuracy of God’s Word.
In his many years of research, Dr. Wierwille studied with such men as Karl Barth, E. Stanley Jones, Glenn Clark, Bishop K.C. Pillai, and George M. Lamsa. His formal training included Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology degrees from Mission House (Lakeland) College and Seminary. He studied at the University of Chicago and at Princeton Theological Seminary from which he received a Master of Theology degree in Practical Theology. Later he completed his work for the Doctor of Theology degree.
Dr. Wierwille taught the first class on Power for Abundant Living in 1953.
Books by Dr. Wierwille include: Are the Dead Alive Now? published in 1971; Receiving the Holy Spirit Today published in 1972; five volumes of Studies in Abundant Living— The Bible Tells Me So (1971), The New, Dynamic Church (1971), The Word's Way (1971), God's Magnified Word (1977), Order My Steps in Thy Word (1985); Jesus Christ Is Not God (1975); Jesus Christ Our Passover (1980); and Jesus Christ Our Promised Seed (1982).
Dr. Wierwille researched God's Word, taught, wrote, and traveled worldwide, holding forth the accuracy of God's "wonderful, matchless" Word.
OPENING OF EPHESIANS
September 2, 1981
Wednesday, September the 2nd, 1981 – Gunnison, Colorado. Yes, it is written.
God bless and greetings to you, the Way Corps, at the headquarters of the Way
International, New Knoxville, Ohio; and to the first year in residence, Family 8, and the
Family 6th Corps, plus the rest of the Corps at the Way College of Biblical Research and
Teaching, Indiana Campus, Rome City, Indiana; and you the 12th Corps, in your first year
in residence, and the 10th Corps plus spouses, and all the graduated Corps at the Way
College of Emporia, Emporia Kansas. They report in from International, tonight, at 81
degrees and overcast; and the Way College of Emporia reports in at 78 degrees and clear;
and the Indiana campus, 66 degrees and overcast; and of course here at Camp Gunnison,
it’s a beautiful 70 degrees, partly cloudy, and dial-a-Corps night. Just imagine, who’s in on
this number one, tonight? [laughter] Our Gerald and Sue Wren, and they got 28 Corps with
them in Orlando Florida, 83 degrees, partly cloudy. And Portland, Oregon tonight reports
in with Allen and Stacey Ripke and their Corps at 75 degree and clear. Seattle, Washington
tonight, with Randy and Desiree Feese and their entire Corps, and they’ve got 26 Corps
with them tonight, 73 degrees and clear. And Spokane, Washington tonight, with Michael
and M.J. Strauhal at 70 degrees and sunny, they report in. And Yakama, Washington, with
Tom Lowden and his Corps there, 73 degrees and clear. And from all of us, the Way
Corps, here at Camp Gunnison, the Way Family Ranch, Gunnison, Colorado, here from
the Gunnison Corps to all of you we say:
{Audience shouts: We love you with God’s call to love. [Audience continues cheering
and applause.]}
Ah, you’re beautiful, give them applause. {Audience cheers and applause.}
That’s from Camp Gunnison [laughter]. Oh, bless your hearts. Last year on the same
date of the month of September, I opened the Corps with a poem that I’d like to share with
you tonight also:
One sailboat drives east and another drives west
With the self-same winds that blow,
‘Tis the set of the sails and not the gales
Which tell us the way to go.
Like the winds of the sea, are the ways of men,
As we voyage along through life.
‘Tis the set of the sail that decides its goal,
And not the calm or the strife.
Special love and greetings to all of you Corps coordinators and Corps directors. And of
course the Corps Director today is Reverend Craig Martindale, and our first Corps director
was my wonderful, beloved friend and son of God, George Jess, who is also there this
evening at International. And this year I have three assistants: One is Walter Cummins who
is head of the research department. And you see the Way Ministry is research, teaching and
fellowship. And this year having these three assistants—they work with me along these
lines and in training and development of what we have in mind for the future—Walter
Cummins in research, and Reverend John Townsend in the teaching, and Vince Finnegan
in fellowship ministry. In other words, biblical research, teaching, and fellowship. In
addition to Johnny Townsend being in this category of my assistance in the teaching field,
he’s the coordinator of the Corps at the Way International this year. And the coordinator of
the Way College of Biblical Research and Teaching, Indiana Campus, where we have our
Family Corps Coordinator, Bob Moynihan; and the Way College of Emporia, Emporia
Kansas with John Lynn. And of course here at Camp Gunnison, the Way Family Ranch,
we have Tom Jenkinson. Good evening, to all of you gentlemen up there. Craig
Martindale, are you here with me tonight?
[Craig Martindale] Yes sir, I’m right here. Rest assured I can hear you, I guess. God
bless and greetings.
[Dr. Wierwille] George Jess? Are you at International tonight? God bless you.
[Craig Martindale] George Jess is with us, as well as Reverend Townsend.
[Dr. Wierwille] And Johnny Townsend; and at the Way College of Biblical Research,
Bob Moynihan; and John Lynn at the Way College of Emporia; and here, of course, at the
Way Family Ranch, Tom Jenkinson is here. Reverend Craig Martindale, will you take it
away from International, please? And give your greetings as the Corps Director.
[Craig Martindale] God bless, and greetings to all the Way Corps, and all the locals
that are brothers and sisters on the phone hookup. I bring you love and greetings from all
the in-resident Corps, interim Corps, grads, and recognized here at headquarters. Bring you
special greetings from my wife Donna, our Corps Director’s office here at International;
I’d like to mention especially our Associate Corps Directors this year: Reverend Moynihan
and Reverend Lynn and at the opening of our 12th year of training the Way Corps. I was
thinking about tonight, thinking that this is the first year since 1974 that I’ve had the joy to
be at headquarters for an opening of the Corps, ever since I’ve been at Way College of
Emporia since that time. And it’s also great to be in the middle of the class in the Book of
Acts that we’re doing here and filming. Right now, I’m sitting at the teaching set of the
Book of Acts, which I’ve come very familiar with. And it’s certainly a joy to have the
BRC full upstairs, downstairs and overflow at the OSC lecture room with Way Corps that
are here. At this time, I’m blessed to rep…represent our Corps grads on the field, Corps 1
through 9, and Family 1 through Family 5—fifteen hundred. And eight men and women
are Recognized Corps of a 121 around the country and world. Our interim Corps, which
totals 592, right now. And our in-residence Corps total, which comes to a real new
building 8-8-8 (eight hundred and eighty-eight) in residence. So we’ve got a grand total of
3109 of Way Corps alive and well on the face of the earth, standing on God’s Word
tonight. We have special greetings that have come in from different places around the
country and world that I’d like to read to you now, or give you their names anyway. The
ones that have called into headquarters, to give their love to all of us and the Way Corps
household at campus locale opening tonight: From Robert Belt and the saints of the
Midwest region; Duke and Cathy Clark and the Corps of California; Michael Fort and the
Kentucky Way Corps; Tom Jenkinson, all the Way Corps and staff of the Way Family
Ranch in Gunnison; John Lynn, Way Corps and staff at the Way Corps College in
Emporia. Jeb and Deborah Mohn and the saints at the Mid-Atlantic Region; Robert
Moynihan, the Way Corps and staff of the Way College of Biblical Research at the Indiana
Campus; Ronnie and Cathy Sink at the Nebraska Way Corps; Steve and Cathy Strzepek
and the Corps and believers in the Northeast Region. By phone and telex, we got messages
from John Butler and the Corps household in the North Central Region; Steve Kerman and
the household of believers from the country of Columbia; Joe and Ruthie Guarini and the
Way Corps in New Jersey; John and Maryanne Hendricks and the Way Corps of North
Carolina; Rob and Michelle Kehoe and the Way of Illinois; Mr. and Mrs. Britt Lynn and
the Way Corps in West Virginia; Joh…okay, Linda MacDuffie and the Way Corps of
Northern Florida; Wolfgang and Hellen Schneider and the saints of Germany; Dale Sides
and the saints and executive committee of Wyoming; Gerald and Sue Wren and the Corps
of Florida. And then we have up front in the BRC tonight, some gorgeous floral
arrangements for you that are here from my right to your left from Indiana campus, the
Way college of Emporia, Camp Gunnison and the L.E.A.D. outdoor academy Doug and
Jane McMullen sending their heart and love. There are a couple of messages here that I
thought represented the heart of the people as they wrote in and called in that I would like
to read.
We stand shoulder to shoulder with you in heart as we the household of the way
Corps begin a new year. God’s call to love can be answered daily as we make “It
Is Written” our immediate reaction to life situations. That calling will deepen in
our hearts as we stay meek and humble to God and His Word. We are privileged
beyond measure to be a part of God’s elite. The player-coach relationship
developed within the Corps program will greatly aid us to better serve His people.
May we unitedly move forward with unprecedented heart and commitment to hit
the stride of love. God bless you abundantly.
That message was from Reverend Moynihan.
This one:
We the Corps of California, 128 strong at my last count send our love and
blessings to you on this the opening of another Corps year. May this be the greatest
year of training ever. The Corps principles remain as the basic guidelines of our
walk and as we strive to move ahead in light of these we will exemplify the
greatness of our Corps training, thanks for all you’ve done and continue to do.
That’s from Duke and Cathy and the Corps in California.
This one was expressed from Wolfgang and Helen Schneider in Germany:
God bless you and greetings to you in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. We are proud and thankful in our hearts to be a part of the opening of the
New Year for the Way Corps in prayer and believing for God’s best for the
occasion. There is nothing greater for learning than the Corps. Rejoicing together
with you in His service.
And then this one from Jeff Mohn:
Our hearts are with you on this momentous occasion of the opening of the Corps.
We are truly excited as you embark on the greatest leadership program ever to be
held throughout history. The spiritual power that is concentrated at our root locals
must have the powers of darkness terrified as they realize that your life is based
upon “It Is Written”. As we continue to live as he lived because it is written we will
see God’s Word rightly divided, grow and take preeminence in our culture.
Those are a few of the great messages that came in from around the country and world.
I’d like to express my personal welcome to all the Corps that are in residence in the
training program especially this year, and very especially our Corps that have just come in,
in the last two days, our 12th and Family 8. And I’d like to welcome aboard to the Way
Corps leadership team for the first time, Charlie and Tracy Preston, who are assisting Tom
and Arlene at Gunnison. I’d like to welcome back John and Naomi Townsend officially,
who last year were in the Midwest Region and the rest of our great men and women you’ll
be hearing more of are back to help us again, in coordinating working with the Corps. And
finally before I turn it over to Mr. George Jess, I’d like to give of course the greetings of
the other two members of the Board of Trustees that are here, Don Wierwille and Howard
Allen who certainly send their love and heart to all of you on this great momentous
occasion of the 12th year of the Corps in residence.
[Dr. Wierwille] Hey Craig.
[Craig Martindale] Yeah.
[Dr. Wierwille] Are both Don and Howard in there?
[Craig Martindale] I saw Don.
[Dr. Wierwille] Yeah, I think Cr…Howard went up to Indiana.
[Other] He stopped by today, he said hi to us on his way home.
[Dr. Wierwille] Is that right?
[Other]Yes
[Dr. Wierwille] That’s beautiful, well bless your hearts, it’s great to hear. Is George
Jess coming on here?
[Craig Martindale]George Jess should be ready to go.
[Dr. Wierwille] I wonder what George Jess, the first Corps coordinator…put George
on, bless your heart.
[George Jess] Greetings Dr. it sure is great time to have another…starting another
Corps.
[Dr. Wierwille] You’re wonderful George.
[George Jess] I just love you all; each and every one of you and it’s going to be another
great year. You know sometimes we don’t feel like a very important person or act like it,
but that has nothing to do with it. It’s the word of God that counts and we are VIPs among
VIPs. And we started cleaning out the Horseshoe Pond this week and we’re having a great
learning experience. Pumping that sledge from the…sludge from the bottom of the pond.
And next week, starting Monday evening I’m going to Rome City to start making wine.
[Dr. Wierwille] Start what?
[George Jess:] Making wine.
[Dr. Wierwille] That’s wonderful so we’ve got wine for the holiday season.
[George Jess] Right.
[Dr. Wierwille] I’m glad you’re teaching the Corps good {George chuckles}. Well,
George, I sure like to thank God for you because, you stood with me when we first had the
dream of this and I’ll always be grateful and thankful to God for your stand on the Word
with me George.
[George Jess] Well, I’ve been benefited more than anybody else I believe. Bless your
heart.
[Dr. Wierwille] Bless yours sir. Alright, thank you very much George. Johnny
Townsend, I think you’re there as the coordinator of the Corps at International, and I know
Johnny you have something you’d like to share, come through Johnny.
[Johnny Townsend] Hello Dr. Wierwille {Johnny chuckles}. Bless you. So God bless,
and love and blessings to all of you wonderful Corps, in the name of Jesus Christ, from the
beloved heart and home of God’s Word where the outreach of the ministry started almost
40 years ago. And it’s a tremendous joy to be a part of the Corps household here, and
we…love and blessings to everyone along the party line and tonight. We’re here 416
strong, and in the front of our auditorium tonight, we have 73 in-residence Corps, and 72
10th and one 12th Corps. And our Jerry and Rosie Jacks, who are the in-resident
coordinators, and seated behind them in the auditorium, we have 55 interim Corps here
with Chip Allen and Mary Jean Gunning as the interim coordinators; and we have 288
Corps on staff here: 259 grads, 12 recognized, 14 spouse, and 3 honorary, and we also
have one apprenticed Corps on staff. So, we’re real excited to give this 416 Corps, and
we’ve had a fantastic time here these past two weeks. It seems like two months ago, but
only two and half weeks ago, we began the Rock of Ages cleanup. And tonight, I had here
in front of me a letter from one of our wonderful 10th Corps women that was written to
Craig Martindale, and he passed along to me, that I thought really epitomizes some of the
great heart of this wonderful Rock of Ages cleanup that we do with our senior Corps who
are coming back in residence (this year was our 10th Corps and our Family 6). And she
writes that at the beginning of this Rock of Ages cleanup, because her husband had to go
back to Emporia, she couldn’t return with him. She was a little bit disappointed, but as the
cleanup started, she was thankful for…that one of them had the opportunity to be a part of
it.
It wasn’t necessarily the work I enjoy, but the privilege to oversee the 15-20 people
(my 10th Corps brothers and sisters) in making sure they were blessed and busy
working. It was a humbling experience, because there was no doubt most of them
could do what I did, and do a better job. What also blessed me was the relationship
I got to develop with people that I very rarely spoke to my first year in the Corps. I
sure am thankful to God for being on the Rock of Ages cleanup crew, and for the
love, respect and vision I gained for the 10th Corps.
And that’s from our Evelyn Augustine, and I thought that was a great letter to set some
of that wonderful heart of the Rock of Ages cleanup.
[Dr. Wierwille] That’s sure wonderful Johnny. That was a great letter.
[Johnny Townsend] Now, I thought you’d be blessed to know that we’re finally
moving in our new OSC dining room, and we had our first meal with the Corps and staff
together there August 24th, dinner on Monday, and this past August 29th, we had our first
staff meeting of the year. We have 458 men and women here on staff at International, and
we’re having a fantastic time here and very thankful to be part of the ministry of God’s
Word.
[Dr. Wierwille] Well, I’m glad to have that place open; I guess we opened it for the
teaching session on the 39th anniversary in October, don’t we.
[Johnny Townsend] Yes sir, that’s right.
[Dr. Wierwille] That will be a wonderful time. Well, we sure love you Johnny.
Anything else on your heart you want to share with the Corps?
[Johnny Townsend] No sir, just very excited about the year. Thankful for the privilege
and looking forward to responding to God’s call to love and the Book of Ephesians.
[Dr. Wierwille] And Johnny, I’m proud and thankful to God to have you and Naomi as
my assistants up there to help with the Corps this year also at International.
[Johnny Townsend] Thank you for the privilege.
[Dr. Wierwille] All right, the Way College of Biblical Research and Teaching Indiana
Campus, Family Corps Director Bob Moynihan, coordinator, he’s up there. Bob
Moynihan. Bob, how are you in Indiana tonight?
[Bob Moynihan] We’re fantastic, sir. And on behalf of Mrs. Ermal Owen, the
executive committee, my wife Dottie, Foster and Tish Smith, all of our Way Corps, our
staff, the Junior Corps, the Mini-Corps, The Way College Biblical Research, I greet you in
the wonderful loving name of Jesus Christ. We have 46 staff folks here with their 18
children; 59 men and women in the Family 6 with their 48 children; 21 Tenth Corps; 90
Family 8 Corps with their 69 children: totaling 216 adults, 135 children. We didn’t count
the cows and the sheep and all the rest of the stuff. But we represent 35 states in the United
States of America, and also Canada and Great Britain this year. And I think it’s significant
that the first Way Corps started with nine members and tonight we have 3109 Way Corps,
and it’s a privilege to be a part of that household. And I was thinking about Galatians
chapter 5 tonight, because we sang the Way Corps hymn “The Family of God,” and how it
says in Galatians 5 there about brethren, we have been called unto liberty as the brethren of
the household of faith. We’ve been called unto liberty. So later in the verse it says: so by
the love of God, we shall serve one another, and that serving one another is in the
household of God. And what a privilege it is as the brothers of Jesus Christ and one
another of the Corps household, to stand shoulder to shoulder with one another in this year
of God’s call to love. And that love is going to energize us to great feats, great believing
and service in the household. It’s a privilege to represent the Family Corps here in the
Indiana campus sir, and we send our love to you in Gunnison.
[Dr. Wierwille] Thank you Bob, to you and Dottie and everybody else there, we sure
love you, and thank God for you. And I’m blessed to have all of you to help to develop the
Corps, especially the Family Corps, which I think is one of the greatest concepts any
individual ever had for a family. I’m pretty grateful. Well, now, let’s go to the Way
College of Emporia in Emporia, Kansas. John Lynn, are you with us tonight?
[John Lynn] I’m here Dr. Wierwille, God bless you sir. We sure love you, and all of us
here send greetings to all of you, greetings from the tourist capital of the Midwest, The
Way College of Emporia. We have a beautiful orange sun setting out of a blue sky over a
bright green grass here on our 40 acres, and I have right in front of me the Emporia
Gazette. In this evening’s copy, and right in the middle of the top of the first page is about
a one foot square photograph of a group of students on the first steps of Kenyon Hall
beneath our big red and white banner, the Way College of Emporia, and the caption says,
“Getting Acquainted.” Talks about the opening of the Way Corps here, so I thought that
was significant that even the Emporia Gazette is heralding this particular night. And we are
growing here at one of the five greatest spiritual training camps in the world. Our team of
player coaches is intact and wired to the hilt for the most fabulous year of their lives. We
have 197 returning lettermen this year. The tenth Corps who picked up two Corps spouse
grads on waivers to add to the team. And they range in the tenth Corps in age from 20 to
38, and they are back from a successful season, last year on the field. They reported to
camp here August the 23rd and we had eight absolutely fabulous days together. Everyone is
completely healed from any last remaining bruises, and we’ve been reviewing our game
plan and prepared to welcome what I would call a bumper crop of rookies, and yesterday
those rookies rolled in 387 12th Corps, along with four Corps grad spouses; and 12th
Corps ranges in ages 19 to 39, and they look eager and ready for the greatest year of their
lives.
[Dr. Wierwille] John it sounds like your training season is ready to roll.
[John Lynn] We’re ready to roll; we got 49 states and Washington DC represented.
Nobody from Utah. We’re going to pick someone up on a free agent or something. And we
also have the following 15 countries represented here: Argentina, Canada, Chili, England,
Finland, Germany, Holland, India, Iran, Ireland, Mexico, Norway, Puerto Rico, Scotland
and Zaire.
[Dr. Wierwille] And again how many countries, John?
[John Lynn] 15 countries.
[Dr. Wierwille] Oh that’s beautiful, God bless.
[John Lynn] Fifteen countries represented and we’re expecting about 81 college
division students on the tenth of September, and Pat and Dave and Judy Bedard, along with
Ross Tracy and Gene Bianchi, our executive committee, and all of our total of 38 staff are
thrilled at the anticipation of this year and the privilege and joy to work with the greatest
spiritual athletes in the world. And we certainly thank you for the privilege, and we send
our great love and blessing to you and Mrs. Wierwille and the Board of Trustees and all of
the brothers and sisters to the other locations, and we’ll be standing with you in this year in
answer to God’s call to love. So, God bless.
[Dr. Wierwille] Thank you John, sure love you and Pat and all the leadership there.
How grateful I am to God just for the privilege of opening another year of the Corps. It’s
just unbelievably burning in my soul and the greatness of our day and times in which we
live. Well, we’ve got some great spiritual athletes over here at Camp Gunnison, The Way
Family Ranch, and here is Tom Jenkinson to send his love and greetings on the party line.
Here’s Tom.
[Tom Jenkinson] Well, God bless you and greetings in the name of Jesus Christ who
makes all other history look pale, from the world’s greatest Christian camp, and indeed,
it’s the most beautiful Christian Camp, and that’s Camp Gunnison. We have here 59 inresidence
10th Corps, and we have people who represent the great country of Ireland and
also Canada. And we have 51 staff who are here, who are responsible for the building, the
construction of this gorgeous camp here. As we enter into our 6th year of operation, we all
here at Camp Gunnison look forward to the privilege and indeed the responsibility of
standing with you in the Way Corps household. And all of us here on our executive
committee which is Arlene and I, Roger and Mary Mittler, Charlie and Tracy Preston, plus
all of our staff look forward to seeing you graduating Corps here at Camp Gunnison one
time or the other this year to assist us in developing this 105 acre Christian camp. By the
way, in the past week, the Corps here has been actively involved in a variety of exciting
work projects, including going back into the national forest at an elevation of
approximately 10,000 feet to collect firewood. It’s a tremendous thing that they’re doing,
especially in light of Dr. Wierwille sharing on the Corp Principle III video. We’re also
actively involved in the completion of our gorgeous dormitory here at the Gunnison triplex,
where on the second floor will be available to house 42 Corps in some of the most
beautiful facilities you could ever imagine, including, with their own private decks and
everything. And we’re very grateful for your love and stand with us as we move positively
to the place of Family Commons project here, which is a five level administrative
auditorium and guest facility, which we are currently working on and the planning
commission and county commissioners to get approved here; we’re grateful that we can
stand together to accomplish that. So, we here at Camp Gunnison are grateful this night to
stand with you here at Camp Gunnison in the great Way Corps household. Thank you Dr.
Wierwille.
[Dr. Wierwille] Thank you Tom. Sure grateful, to you and Arlene and all the rest of the
Corps leadership here at Camp Gunnison. Craig Martindale, how are you there at
International, right now? [lots of background noise] Craig did you go on a vacation
someplace, or are you still there?
[Craig Martindale] I’m right here.
[Dr. Wierwille] Okay, how are you?
[Craig Martindale] Wonderful.
[Dr. Wierwille] Okay, Craig?
[Craig Martindale] Yes sir?
[Dr. Wierwille] We have nothing here that our people in the Corps could hear from
you…
[Craig Martindale] Oh.
[Dr. Wierwille] …or from Johnny Townsend. Am I right Chris? And Craig,…
[Craig Martindale] Yes sir.
[Dr. Wierwille] …it’s important enough, what you said, that I think you ought to repeat
the salient information you shared, not particularly the letters and greetings, you can
mention who they were…
[Craig Martindale] Okay.
[Dr. Wierwille] …then Johnny Townsend will put you back on to share a little bit of
your heart, just recapitulate. Because, we never came through on you or Johnny Townsend
here at International. John Lynn, you were wonderful and all the rest of you. And now, can
they hang up over there and uh…Chris Geer? Or do we keep them on the phone, until we
finish now? Coulter can answer that question only up there. So, what do we do on this, Joe
Coulter, can you report in to anybody that I can hear what’s going on?
[Craig Martindale] He’s asking do we hang up the other phones?
[Dr. Wierwille] Sure, is a beautiful night here in Colorado.
[Craig Martindale] Joe said yes, John and Bob can hang up.
[Dr. Wierwille] Everybody can hang up except you,
[Unknown Speaker] God Bless.
[Craig Martindale]That’s right.
[Dr. Wierwille] All right, God bless all of you fellas.
[Unknown Speaker] See you later.
[Craig Martindale] See you later. Happy Trails.
[Dr. Wierwille] [Laughter] Alright. Craig Martindale, take it away. It’s all yours.
[Craig Martindale] Okay, God bless, thank you sir.
[Dr. Wierwille] You’re talking to Gunnison only.
[Craig Martindale] Gunnison, okay.
[Dr. Wierwille] And everybody here is hearing it sir.
[Craig Martindale] Well, praise the Lord, I’m looking forward to getting out there real
soon.
[Dr. Wierwille] Someday we’re going to have as good a telephone system as the Lord
can develop.
[Craig Martindale] That’s right.
[Dr. Wierwille] We won’t have a problem with it, but the Lord will give us a great
connection.
[Craig Martindale] That’s right. {Chuckles} Hotline.
[Dr. Wierwille] Okay, well the people here at Gunnison, the Corps, are just waiting to
hear what you really have in your heart Craig, as the Corps director, okay.
[Craig Martindale] Okay.
[Dr. Wierwille] It’s all yours.
[Craig Martindale] Well, I bring you all my love and greets and also from Donna and
our Corps directors’ office here at headquarters, that’s servicing at this time, over 3100
Way Corps around the nations of the world. And also I wanted to mention, especially this
year, working with our two associate Corps directors Bob Moynihan and John Lynn, we’ll
be working closely together on the supervision of the Corps out on the field and all the inresident
training programs. And I was mentioning that this was the first time since ‘74 that
I’ve been at Headquarters, for an opening of the Way Corps. I’ve normally been at the
Way College of Emporia since that time, but it’s a joy to be, as I was earlier, sitting at the
teaching set, where the Book of Acts is being taught, where we are putting on video the
Rise and Expansion of the Christian Church from the greatest teaching platform in the
14 EPHESIANS 1981—1982—Taught by Victor Paul Wierwille
world here in the Biblical Research Center. And I was sharing, that right now we have
grads of the Corps around the country and world: Corps 1-9, and Family 1 through Family
5 – 1508 Way Corps graduates; Recognized Corps (at this time we have a 121 recognized
men and women), interim Corps on the field (that’s 11th, Family 7), and leave of absence
Corps – 592; and then our in-residence Corps at this time numbers 888, (we’ve got triple
new beginning here so we’re raring to go); and that gives us a total of 3109 men and
women in the Way Corps household at this time around the country and world.
I wanted to give my special greetings to the newest members of our Way Corps
leadership household, and that is your Assistant Corps Coordinators out there at Camp
Gunnison, who I know have just been right in there learning and pitching and moving, and
that’s Charlie and Tracy Preston; as well as welcoming John and Naomi Townsend back in
Corps leadership after being on the field for a year. Then I believe the rest of our
leadership at the different campuses are back for another year, and we just have a great
contingent of men and women ready to coordinate.
We did receive a number of great greetings, phone messages, floral tributes from
around the states and the countries, and I wanted to read to you who sent these greetings in,
on the opening of the Corps, to all of us here tonight. From Robert Belt and the saints of
the Midwest region, from Duke and Kathy Clark and the Corps of California, from
Michael Fort and the Kentucky Way Corps, from your Tom Jenkinson and the executive
committee, its Corps and staff out there at Camp Gunnison, from Reverend Lynn the Way
Corps and staff at the Way College of Emporia, from Jeff and Deborah Mohn and the
saints of the Mid-Atlantic Region, from Robert Moynihan, the Way Corps and staff of
Way College of Biblical Research Indiana Campus, Ronnie and Cathy Sink and the
Nebraska Way Corps, Steve and Cathy Strzepek and the Corps and believers in the North
East Region. Then we had these messages come in by phone, and over our new telex
machine. John Butler and the Corps household in the North Central Region, Steve Gromit
and the country of Columbia and the household of believers there, Joe and Ruthie Guarini
and the Way Corps of New Jersey, John and Maryanne Hendricks and the Way Corps of
North Carolina, Rob and Michelle Kehoe and the Way of Illinois, Britt and Mickey Lynn
and the Way Corps of West Virginia, Linda MacDuffie and the Corps of northern Florida,
Wolfgang and Helen Schneider and the saints of Germany, Dale Sides and all the believers
from Wyoming, and Gerald and Sue Wren and the Corps in Florida.
And then we have beautiful floral tributes here tonight from all of you campuses, and
so thankful for your love and thoughtfulness: Indiana Campus, Way College of Emporia,
Camp Gunnison, and L.E.A.D. Outdoor Academy wonderful greetings from Doug and
Jane McMullen who will be receiving our first L.E.A.D. group coming up on around the
13th of September, and that’s going to be a fantastic thing. So, from my heart, Donna’s,
special love to Dr. and Mrs. Wierwille on this great night and all of you there at Gunnison,
and we’re looking forward to seeing you real soon here out there in the high country. So,
God bless you and love you all.
[Dr. Wierwille] Now, Johnny Townsend.
[Craig Martindale] I’ll give it over to Reverend John Townsend now.
[Johnny Townsend] Hello and God bless you. And love and blessing from all the Corps
and leadership and believers here at International headquarters, we’re very excited and
very expectant about this wonderful year and our response to God’s call to love. And here
tonight in the BRC, we have 416 Corps here representing our men and women on staff and
in-residence Corps here this year; we have 72 10th Corps and one 12th Corps, who are part
of our in-residence contingency; we have 55 interim Corps here on staff this year, and
Chip Allen and Mary Jane Gunning are the coordinators of the Corps this first block; and
then we have 288 Corps on staff, that includes 259 graduated Corps, 12 recognized, 14
spouse, 3 honorary, and a partridge and a pear tree. So, that gives us a full house there.
And we’ve been very blessed by just all the wonderful work that we’ve done this past
two and a half weeks. It seems like it’s been a lot longer than that, but two and a half
weeks ago is when we began the Rock of Ages cleanup after the Rock, and one of our
wonderful Corps was sharing some of her heart, Evelyn Augustine of the 10th Corps, and
how blessed she was to be a part of that cleanup. And she stated that it wasn’t necessarily
just the work that she enjoyed, but the privilege to oversee 15 or 20 people, her own 10th
Corps brother and sisters, and making sure they were all blessed and busy working. And it
was a humbling experience, because it was no doubt the most that those people could do
was what she was doing and do a better job. And what also blessed her was the
relationships she got to develop with people that were very rarely spoke to during her first
year in the Corps, and thank God for the privilege of being a part of that Rock of Ages
cleanup crew. And I thought that letter said some of the beautiful heart of what went on
here during our Rock of Ages cleanup. And of course, we’ve moved into our new dining
facility in the Outreach Service Center, and we had our first meal with all the Corps and
staff there this past Monday, August 24th, and then August the 29th, we had our first staff
meeting of the year with all our staff intact. And we’ve been very thankful and blessed to
be working here on the grounds getting things ready, and looking forward to moving into
this great year with the Corps. So, love and blessings from all the Corps here at
International on behalf of my wife Naomi, myself, and all the household here.
[Dr. Wierwille] Thank you Johnny, and this finishes the conference call for tonight
from all of our campuses, and we were blessed to have all of our campuses tuned in on this
wonderful night. Now, we’ve had some wonderful greetings and other blessings here at
Camp Gunnison, and Tom Jenkinson, I’d like for you to share what we have received at
this end with all the Corps household—Tom.
[Tom Jenkinson] First of all, we’ve received greetings from Michael Fort and the
Kentucky Way Corps that says:
Bless you abundantly in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. As you sit there in your
seat preparing to hear our Father in the Word, Dr. Wierwille, to open the great
book of Ephesians, I am sure you are understanding to a greater degree, God’s call
to love for your life this year. The privilege of being in-residence Way Corps will
unfold to you with each passing day as you sink your teeth into God’s Word and the
training program. The Way Corps in Kentucky, the “United We Stand State,” love
you and pray that you will be the greatest leaders ever trained in the Way Corps
program.
Standing with you, Michael Fort. This also comes to us:
We the Way Corps of New Jersey are thrilled and thankful to the Father for what
the Way Corps means to our country and the world, especially today the opening
day of the Corps for 1981-82. Our hearts are knit together with yours. We are
believing this year will be the greatest year ever for the Corps. We love you and
stand with you this day and every day. In God’s love, Joe and Ruthie Guarini.
Then this came to us:
God bless you, and greetings on this most significant day, the opening of our Way
Corps training. We love you and lift you, thanking God daily for our leadership for
our Way Corps. Love in Christ, Rob and Michelle Kehoe and the Way Corps of
Illinois.
This came to us:
Our call to love includes our preparation in training to be the best for Him. We
love you and are thankful for all the Corps on the opening of God’s “training
camp” for true athletes of the spirit. Competing with you, Lou Guigou and the
saints of Toms River, New Jersey.
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ. Our thoughts and prayers are with you on
this special night. Luke 24:32 says, “And they said one to another, Did not our
heart burn within us while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us
the scriptures?” May this verse live for you tonight and throughout the year, Mr.
and Mrs. Britt Lynn and the Way Corps in West Virginia.
This note came especially to Dr. and Mrs. Wierwille:
My heart is with you on this opening night of the Way Corps. There is a handful of
people who love life and all of its manifestations. These people who hunger for a
living are the Way Corps.
And then this short poem entitled “Reach High”:
The best is always kept upon life’s top most shelves
But not beyond our reach if we will reach beyond ourselves.
I love you all very much, Elaine Perrotti, (who works for Dr. and Mrs. Wierwille in
their home.)
Greetings to you in the powerful name of the Corps grad of all times Jesus Christ,
[Dr. Wierwille laughs in background and Tom Jenkinson chuckles] the saints of the
Midwest region stand with you in prayer and believing for this to be the greatest
year of training ever for you. You are truly God’s gold medalist trainees in the
modern day school of the prophets. The Word that you build in your life, this year
will enable us to unitedly take the Word over the world and keep it there. The Word
of God is still the standard for life and living truly “It Is Written”. Love in Christ,
Robert Belt and the saints of the Midwest region.
This came from the Limb coordinators of the Southwest region which includes: Wayne
and Carrie Merrill, Gary King, Jeff and Debbie Duclos, Franklin and Linda Smith, Walt
and Shelly Luke, Larry and Kenzie Larson, Willie and Linda Cisneros:
God bless you abundantly as we embark upon the greatest year of Way Corps
training as we are gathered together in preparation for our 40th anniversary
weekend, our hearts and thoughts turn to you knowing that once again, “It Is
Written” will be etched upon the heart scrolls of Way Corps men and women. We
are spiritual athletes competing with you. The bondage is broken. GO ye; we are
bēma bound. We love you and rejoice with you in the opening of another year of
the Way Corps.
Then this came to us.
God’s greatest blessings to you in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Our hearts
are with you on this momentous occasion of the opening of the Way Corps. We are
truly excited as you embark on the greatest leadership program ever to be held
throughout history. The spiritual power that is concentrated in Gunnison must have
the powers of darkness terrified as they realized that your life is based upon, “It Is
Written”. As we continue to live as he lived, because “It Is Written” we will see
God’s Word rightly divided, grow and take preeminence in our culture. We rejoice
with you as you begin this unique training called the Way Corps.
That’s from Jeff and Deborah Mohn and the saints of the Mid-Atlantic region.
Greetings and God bless you on this opening night of the Way Corps, in the
wonderful and powerful name of our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our
hearts and prayers are with you this evening as you embark upon the training of
the greatest spiritual athletes the world has ever seen. As we strive together for the
faith of the Gospel, be well assured that we are standing fast with you in one spirit
with one soul. “It Is Written” is sounding out throughout the whole world this
notable evening and we rejoice with you. Standing together in God’s call to love,
Steve and Cathy Strzepek and the Way Corps and believers in the Northeast region.
Then we received this message from the Way Corps and staff at the Way Corps
College of Emporia:
We at the Way College of Emporia send our love and greetings to you on this
momentous occasion, we are privileged to stand with you as Way Corps and
answer to God’s call to love.
And they also sent us some beautiful flowers along with this message was stated:
God bless you our excitement and joy is with you on this opening night. We love
you.
Then from the Way Family Corps and staff, and the executive committee of the Way
College of Biblical Research, Indiana Campus we received this:
We stand shoulder to shoulder with you in heart, as we the household of the Way
Corps begin a new year. God’s call to love can be answered daily as we made “It
Is Written” our immediate reaction to life situations. That calling will deepen in
our hearts as we stay meek and humble to God and His Word; we are privileged
beyond measure to be a part of God’s elite. The player-coach relationship
developed within the Corps program will greatly aid us to better serve His people.
May we unitedly move forward with unprecedented heart and commitment to hit
the stride of love.
And it’s signed, “God bless you abundantly.” Then this one to Dr. Wierwille:
Blessing and greetings to you in Christ Jesus on the opening night of the Way
Corps. We are thrilled to again, be a part of these dynamic teachings. Thank you
for the honor and privilege. We love you, Your interim Corps at International
Headquarters.
And the staff at the International Headquarters send to Dr. and Mrs. Wierwille, a
beautiful arrangement of red roses with this card that was attached:
God’s best to you on the opening of our 12th Way Corps year. May Ephesians live
more splendidly than in the days of the School of Tyrannus, - the Way Corps and
staff at the Way International.
[Dr. Wierwille] Thank you Tom. You know last night as Tom and Charlie Preston, the
Corps coordinators here at Camp Gunnison, met with the 1981-82 Corps here and during
the singing of one of the hymns, Mrs. Wierwille and I walked out on the south porch of the
barn, and with our arms around each other, we looked up towards the heavens, and the slit
of a moon was right above Saturn and Jupiter, who rendezvoused in a conjunction just
before Corps week. Yes, the heavens were gorgeous. And then looking south on the earth
we could see as far as the mountain range of the Uncompahgre National Forest where bear
claw is located. And the exec…exquisite sight of both the heavens and the earth draped in
a golden glow caused our hearts to be filled with joyful thanksgiving for our lives and for
our ministry. And then I thought of the words of Lisa Lochridge’s…Lisa Lochridge
Tracy’s song “Galilee.” And my heart was so stirred for the Corps last night that I thought
that tonight I wanted to listen to it again with you my Corps. Kids, just hear it in your heart
and with all your mind and in the very depth of your soul, “Galilee.”
[SONG PLAYS] “Last night I went to Galilee. In my mind I walked along the sea. I
saw my savior as he walked and taught the Word. And as I listened I believed every word I
heard….”
[Dr. Wierwille] People many times ask, “What is ‘The Way’?” And the Corps of
course, is a part of the Way Ministry. And the Way is a fellowship of the followers of the
Lord Jesus Christ, for the manifestation of the more abundant life. A follower of the way is
filled with, and he manifest power from on high (holy spirit) and he is one who freely
avails himself of fellowship meetings, for his spiritual nurture and growth. And the way
fellowship is cemented together by the spirit of God with each individual believer being
transformed by the renewing of his mind according to the Word of God. And Ted, I’d like
for you tonight to sing “God’s Way People”.
[SONG PLAYS] “…God’s Way people, that’s you!”
[Dr. Wierwille] Thank you Ted.
[CHEERING]
[Dr. Wierwille] Ah, that was beautiful. You know Craig, I wrote a letter to the Way
Corps, and perhaps you and I can get together and see if we can’t get this letter sort of
shared with all the Way Corps, not only those that are joined with us tonight, but all of our
Corps across the nations of the world. I wrote:
God bless and greetings to you in the wonderful name of our living lord and savior,
Jesus Christ. This is the opening of another year for the continued outreach of
God’s Word. The greatness of the Corps Week and the Rock is now a memory
only. This is another Corps year—a new year.
Spiritually, Corps Week is the most important time for the Corps household
because we all get together and share our love, open our hearts and are blessed with
one another. But I do not believe anything dare ever take the place of this unique
week of the Corps…Way Corps fellowship. Corps Week must always be your top
priority when planning your yearly schedule.
The Rock of Ages is the second most important yearly Corps responsibility. It is
OPENING OF EPHESIANS—September 2, 1981 19
the welcoming home of our W.O.W. vets and our motivated believers and friends.
The Rock of Ages is the Corps’ act of love.
You dare never lose sight of this opportunity in providing the best homecoming for the
W.O.W.s.
In my heart the Way Corps is like the School of the Prophets in the Old Testament.
And like you mentioned Craig and John, earlier, the school of Tyrannus in the Book of
Acts.
Therefore, it is the love of Christ that constraineth you. You Way Corps no longer
live for yourself but you live for Him. As you walk in fellowship with Jesus Christ,
you will be in fellowship with God, and you will evidence and manifest that you
are a new creation with a new nature IN Christ and that ALL old things are passed
away; behold, ALL things are become NEW. God, who reconciled you, brought
you back to Himself by Jesus Christ, has given to you the ministry of
reconciliation, including the Word of reconciliation, so that you could be a
successful ambassador for Christ, reconciling others to God. You represent and are
the righteousness of God when you are IN Christ Jesus. Yes, you are a worker
together with God. Corps, what a joy and privilege, yet what an awesome
responsibility in the NOW of this our times, the day of salvation! So you have to
walk and work, that the ministry be not blamed and that you stand approved as a
minister of God. Live and speak the Word.
And I’d like for you to take the Bibles and turn to 2 Corinthians, chapter 5. And Tom
Jenkinson, I’d like for you to read 2 Corinthians, chapter five and chapter six in the light of
what I’ve just shared in this letter to the Way Corps, Tom.
[Tom Jenkinson] Verse one of 2 Corinthians 5:
1 Corinthians 5
1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a
building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which
is from heaven:
3 If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked.
4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would
be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.
5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given
unto us the earnest of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the
body, we are absent from the Lord:
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be
present with the Lord.
9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may
receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be
good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made
manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
20 EPHESIANS 1981—1982—Taught by Victor Paul Wierwille
12 For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on
our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance,
and not in heart.
13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for
your cause.
14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for
all, then were all dead:
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have
known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and
hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing
their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us:
we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made
the righteousness of God in him.
[Dr. Wierwille] That’s fantastic, now the 6th chapter, just keep going on with it Tom.
[Tom Jenkinson reads]
1 Corinthians 6
1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the
grace of God in vain.
2 (For he saith, [he] have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation
have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of
salvation.)
3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in
afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by
love unfeigned,
7 By the word of [God], by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the
right hand and on the left,
8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers, and yet
true;
9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened,
and not killed;
10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having
nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11 O ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, our heart is enlarged.
12 Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels.
13 Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also
enlarged.
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth
with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of
the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the
Lord Almighty.
[Dr. Wierwille] Isn’t that tremendous to be His sons and His daughters; the God who
created the heavens and the earth. Boy, when that thing ever gels in your soul, the days of
negatives, defeats and frustration are all over with. And the Word of God’s the will of God.
We are God’s sons and we are God’s daughters, called by Him for a specific time and a
specific way to be the greatness of the Way Corps, just tremendous. And in the light of this
great truth that we’ve just read from Corinthians here and what I shared with you regarding
the schools of the prophets of the Old Testament and the school of Tyrannus in the Book of
Acts, I’m reminded of the time we opened Way Productions in Ohio, a number…well,
quite a few years ago, I guess…ten or whatever it was. The man who inspired me and
blessed me so much and one who I love so tremendously because of his ability to write and
to produce things that turn people on is Ted Ferrell. And I’d like for Ted Ferrell, in the
light of what we’ve just read in the Word and what I’ve shared with you, to open with that
song that we originally opened with for my entire Way Corps, “This Could Be the
Beginning.” Come on, Ted.
[SONG PLAYS] “This could be the beginning, something great for you….”
[Dr. Wierwille] That’s wonderful.
[CHEERING]
[Dr. Wierwille] I carried on in my letter saying:
If you enjoy and have the joy of watching T.V., or card playing and the joy of late
nights, and so forth, as some of you apparently do, why not the joy of work? When
the privilege as well as the responsibility before God for the ministry really hits
you, you’ll start enjoying the joy of work. None of you have given 40 years of your
life FOR the ministry, but you literally owe your life TO the ministry. So let’s keep
the facts straight.
From Matthew 12 chapter—chapter 12, verse 46-50 I want you to turn to that and I
want Tom to read it. Matthew chapter 12:46-50, Tom read that please:
[Tom Jenkinson] All right, beginning in verse 46.
Matthew 12:46-50a
46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren
stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand
without, desiring to speak with thee.
22 EPHESIANS 1981—1982—Taught by Victor Paul Wierwille
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and
who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my
mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father…
[Dr. Wierwille] Okay, do you get that? Whosoever shall what? {do.} Do, the will of
my what? {Father.} Go on Tom....
[Tom Jenkinson]
Matthew 12:50b
…which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
[Dr. Wierwille] All right, now turn to Mark. The gospel of Mark, chapter 3, and Tom
read verses 31-35.
[Tom Jenkinson] Verse 31.
Mark 3:31-35
31 There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent
unto him, calling him.
32 And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy
mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.
33 And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?
34 And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said,
Behold my mother and my brethren!
35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same…
[Dr. Wierwille] Okay, whosoever shall what? {do.} Do, one thing, what? {the will of
God.} The will of God. In…in…in…in Matthew it was the will of my Father, remember?
Here it’s the will of who? {God.} Okay, go on.
[Tom Jenkinson reads]
Mark 3:35
…the same is my brother, and my sister, and [my] mother.
[Dr. Wierwille] Now, go to Luke, chapter 8—Luke, chapter 8, and I want you Tom to
begin reading with verse 19-21, okay Tom?
[Tom Jenkinson] Verse 19.
Luke 8:19-21
19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him
for the press.
20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren
stand without, desiring to see thee.
21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are
these which hear the word of God, and do it.
[Dr. Wierwille] Okay, who hear and (the Word of God) and what? {Do it.} That’s in
Luke. Is that the last verse there?
[Tom Jenkinson] Yes sir.
[Dr. Wierwille] You see, he never mentions his Father, because he’s talking about
doing the will of what? He couldn’t mention God, God is his Father. But his mother, his
sisters and his brothers he mentions right? A tremendous truth, and if you will note
carefully the Word of God—the Word of God, see? To do the will of God, or to do the will
of my Father in Matthew, is doing the will of God in Mark, which is hearing and doing of
the Word of God in Luke. Tremendous. The will of my Father equals the will of God,
equals the Word of God. So, the Word of God is the will of God. Who is my Father, also?
God, tremendous things. You know in Matthew 10:37 it says:
Matthew 10:37a
He that loveth father or mother more…
Now, there it’s father or mother, right? Tremendous truth.
Matthew 10:37b
…more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter
more than me is not [what?] worthy of me.
And in Psalm 27, verse 10 it says:
Psalm 27:10a
When my father and my mother forsake me,…
And some of you in the Corps do not have the support of your father or your mother.
Some of you are even exposed if you go back to get yourself deprogrammed if you’re not
strong enough. Psalm 27, verse 10 very plainly says: “When my father…” The word
“when” is the word “if” also;
Psalm 27:10b
…[if] my father and my mother [should what?] forsake me, [if they turn
their back on me], then the LORD will take me [what?] up.
Then the LORD will take me up. You’ve got to get to the place in the Corps that you
trust God, you trust His Word, and God is the one who is your source of supply in every
category should your parents, even whom you love and whom you respect, turn against
you. And I know how difficult that has been for some of our Corps people; and perhaps
how difficult it is for some of you now. But you know something? All I know, is that when
you hit those times in the light of the greatness of God’s Word, you have to just crawl back
into Daddy’s arms. And tonight, I’d like Branded with David Lutz to do that great number
David Lutz wrote, “Back in Daddy’s Arms.” Take it away David.
[SONG PLAYS] “…and I finally remember God has not forgotten me.”
[Dr. Wierwille] Thank you David Lutz. {Audience cheering.}
That’s right. I know of no other way, if everybody else leaves you or forsakes you, then
to just crawl back into Daddy’s arms, and just let Him wrap His arms around you, and love
you with all the tenderness and the greatness of His spiritual presence. [Dr. Wierwille
continues reading his letter to the Corps.]
And you know, it’s because you and I are identified with Christ Jesus that you and I
are identified one with another. We are literally the household of God, and there is
no distance in God, Corps, no distance. So, where you are, where the Corps is,
that’s where I am with you – in Him. We’re together as one. No matter where our
physical locations in the world may be.
24 EPHESIANS 1981—1982—Taught by Victor Paul Wierwille
I do so desire for the Corps to know this, to understand it, and to believe it: The
“unity of the spirit” of the Way Corps is our oneness in Him, Corps. You want
God’s best, so Way Corps, you have to be your best for God.
You always have to think about tomorrow in terms of what you are doing today,
and do today what makes for a bright tomorrow. You the Way Corps have so much
to do in life, and you have such little time to do it. So, you have to make each
moment of your lifetime a success. Remember, “tripping out” – “sluffing off” –
today, will trip you up tomorrow, and you’ll be flat on your face the day
afterwards. Criticism is useless—constructive recommendations, valuable.
In Proverbs 27:6 it says:
Proverbs 27:6
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
So you keep the lock box of your soul keyless.
In Proverbs 18:7, 8 it says:
Proverbs 18:7, 8a
7 A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds…
And in Proverbs 26:20b it says:
Proverbs 26:20b
…so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.
And especially Way Corps, people your lives have been changed. Claudette, let’s do
“Changed.”
[SONG PLAYS]
[Dr. Wierwille] Thank you Claudette and God bless. Every time I hear that great song I
think of the PFAL class ‘77 when the last time that really Uncle Harry was with us, and all
the greatness of Uncle Harry, and she sang that song, and you’ve seen it on the film with
the board of trustees sitting in the front row and Uncle Harry.
Well now, in my letter to the Way Corps, I have a few excerpts from the Corps to
Corps:
Excerpt number one:
Thank you for believing and loving the unlovable because five and a half years ago
I was a woman with four “clubbed feet,” (and she took this from Niatross)
{audience laughter}. First, an alcoholic, secondly a heavy drug addict, thirdly a
prostitute, fourthly a lesbian. But thank God I’m none of these anymore. Tears of
joy and thanksgiving run down my heart and face as I write this letter because I
know it could only be God, His Word and wonderful people like you who have
helped transform such a confused woman.
1 Timothy 1:12-14:
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me
faithful, putting me into the ministry; who was before a blasphemer, and a
persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in
unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love
which is in Christ Jesus.
Excerpt 2:
Ten years ago, on July the 1st, I finished my first class on Power for Abundant
Living. Ten years ago, on July the 2nd, I first met you, Dr. Wierwille. Ten years
ago this August, I attended my first Rock of Ages. Ten years ago, I was first
commissioned as a WOW. Remembering back ten years, at my first signing as a
WOW, my heart swells with thanksgiving for the WOW program. It builds heart
and it builds stamina in my life.
Tomorrow night one who was in my WOW family will be ordained, [Dr. Wierwille
pauses and voice cracks up] and I am one of his escorts. When he asked me, I
couldn’t even speak; I was so blessed that I just cried. His life and mine are great
examples of what WOW builds into persons: yes, even in just a short ten years—
yet the highest of all the highs—ORDINATION.
Excerpt 3:
When we were Limb coordinators the ministry always took such good care of us in
order to give us the most time to move the Word. I was constantly amazed and
humbled at how you and the ministry always saw to it that we had the very best in
home, cars, salary and so forth. I knew it was God who was supplying our needs
through the Way Ministry, but really my mind had not yet come to the right place
and the true greatness of it all. I never had to face up to just believing God – for
instance, the opportunity to have God “plop” things in my lap when looked like
there was absolutely no way.
And when you’re a Limb leader, people just seem to have that special awe and
respect for you, and especially so if you’re ordained. They share their lives with
you, do special little favors for you. But, that’s not so when you “take over” a Twig
at the level of the Twig and are asked to build a Branch by the power of God. You
then have to prove your leadership to them, to get them to trust you and believe in
your leadership. That’s when I really learned to trust and believe God. Also, please
note that a Limb coordinator is not necessarily having problems if he’s assigned to
another type of leadership. As a matter of fact, it takes a great spiritual Corps man
of weakness, tenderness, patience, and confidence to be assigned to an area where
there is little to start with, but much to be gained.
Excerpt 4: “I must admit…”
I hate to read you this letter, but it’s what I’ve got:
I must admit that I have not been and am not doing well. The problem is always
simply I am not believing the Word. I have not intentionally tried to not do the
Word, but it has been hard for me to believe in myself and what the Word says I am
and have because of my past failures. I know the Word is true and not my
experiences, but I’ve not been able to apply the Truth in how I think of myself and
how I apply myself. In my own eyes, I, a Corps grad have been a failure. Thus I’m
not coming to Corps week or the Rock of Ages because I do not feel I can be
actively involved with the ministry that gave me life. I’m also in severe financial
difficulties.
Well now, we go back to me [the letter continues from Dr. Wierwille]:
The question has come up about the loss of rewards. What are you worried about?
Just live God’s Word every day and you won’t have to worry about losing rewards
{audience laughter}. To me that’s simple [Dr. Wierwille chuckles]. There’s no
room for condemnation when you are in Christ Jesus. So, believe and live the
Word.
Times and circumstances, Corps, change, but the Word doesn’t. And we, the Way
Corps, dare not fail, and we dare never fall into the error of tradition, of doing the
same thing year after year because it worked previously a few years ago. We teach
the same Word all the time but new situations demand new approaches. Do what
you need to do NOW to move the Word. Once you move, God will show you
which way you need to go.
Proverbs 3:5, 6 says:
Proverbs 3:5, 6
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he [God] shall direct thy paths.
Since there is no distance or time between us. you as a Corps be sure to develop and to
continue to develop and to pray for your “lift list,” and do it at least three times a day—
maybe 7, 11 and 3 would be good hours. Because we as Corps are joined in heart, soul,
mind and spirit as ONE. And God hears and God answers prayer. In Mark chapter 11, in
verse 24 it says:
Mark 11:24a
Therefore I say unto you [Corps, whosoever in the Corps—whatsoever you
in the Corps] ye desire, when ye pray, believe that [you have received]…
—Is the text. That you have received. And the word received is lambanō.
Mark 11:24b
…and ye shall [absolute tense] have….
In the Gospel of John chapter 14, in verse 13, it says:
John 14:13
…whatsoever ye [the Way Corps] shall ask in my name, that will I [what?]
{do}, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
And verse 14:
John 14:14
If ye shall ask any thing [anything that God promised in His Word, that
agrees in His Word, if you ask any thing in his name, he will,] I will [what?]
{do it}.
When can we get our minds renewed to believe the Word rather than tradition or what
people have said. In chapter 15, in verse 16, listen to this:
John 15:16a
[You] have not chosen me but I have [what?] {chosen you}, and ordained
you [your called; whenever you’re called, you’re ordained], that [you]
should go and bring forth [what?] fruit and that your fruit [that you bring
forth] shall remain [The Word is going over the world. It shall remain.]: that
whatsoever…
Not what—not who, but you who, as a son of God.
John 15:16b
…that whatsoever [you] shall ask of the Father, in my name [in the name of
Jesus Christ], he may [what?] give it [to] you.
Chapter 16, verse 23. This is why you keep your prayer list moving. Verse 23.
John 16:23
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whatsoever [whatsoever] ye shall ask the Father in my [what?] name, he
[my Father; the Father of the Lord Jesus Christ—who is God Almighty, he
will—absolute tense] will give it [to whom] you.
That, Way Corps, that’s believers. In the epistle of 1 John chapter 3, verse 22.
1 John 3:22a
Whatsoever we ask...
But it’s a…dependent upon verse 21:
1 John 3:21
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we [have what?]
confidence toward God.
If you’re living in condemnation and fear and worry and anxiety you might as well
quite praying, just act on the Word until you’re through with that. Then—
1 John 3:22
…whatsoever [you] ask, we receive [lambanō] of him, because we keep his
commandments [stay in alignment and harmony with him], and do those
things that are pleasing in his [what?] sight.
In Chapter 5 of 1 John verse 14.
1 John 5:14
And this is the confidence [the assurance, the trust, the absolute believing]
that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will [and you
always know his will because of his what? {Word}. If you ask anything
according to his will, he what?], he heareth us:
He hears us. God hears and God answers prayer Corps. Look at verse 15.
1 John 5:15
And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have
the petitions that we desired of him.
In John chapter 11….John Lynn told me the other week at the Emporia campus that
this year, he was going to really study prayer in the Word and how to become more
effectively proficient in prayer. I think that is tremendous. In the Gospel of John chapter
11, listen to this promise in God’s Word. In verse 22, Martha speaking to Jesus, said:
John 11:22
But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will
[what?] {give it thee}.
And out of that request Lazarus was raised from of the dead, after he had been dead
how—three days, whatever…four? Stinking. Something. In the Gospel of Matthew chapter
18, these great promises of God in His Word are what we once printed as a Mountain Top
Checkbook. I don’t know if it’s still available or not. If it isn’t it ought to be. The Greatest
promises in God’s Word to every believer Matthew 18, listen to verse 19:
Matthew 18:19a
Again I say unto you, That if [what?] two of you shall agree…
And the word “agree” is symphonize, and in a great symphony you cannot have blue
notes. Symphony is a great symphony because the whole musical structure, fits like a hand
in a glove; it agrees; they compensate each other. Look at the greatness. “…if two of
you…” 18:19:
Matthew 18:19a
…if two of you [symphonize is the word “agree”; symphonize] on earth as
touching any thing [that you] that they shall ask [the two], it shall [absolute
tense] be [what?] {done} for them of my Father which is in [where?]
{heaven}.
Boy if just two agree on anything and they really believe, God is going to do what?
{anything}. That’s why you’ve got to keep that lift list up there. You’ve got to pray;
you’ve got to believe. It is still God who hears and answers prayer, and we need to spend
more time praying with our understanding and praying in the spirit.
And that Mountaintop Checkbook at the close of it, I had this poem printed:
The bank had closed; my earthly store had vanished from my hand;
I felt there…that there was no sadder one than I in all the land.
But my washerwoman, too, had lost her little mite with mine,
And she was signing as she hung the clothes upon the line.
‘How can you be so gay?’ I asked; ‘Your loss, don’t you regret?’
‘Yes, Ma’am, but what’s the use to fret? God’s bank ain’t busted yet!’
I felt my burden lighter grow; her faith I seemed to share;
In prayer I went to God’s great throne and laid my troubles there.
The sun burst from behind the clouds, in golden splendour set;
And I thank God for her simple words: ‘God’s bank ain’t busted yet.’
And now I draw rich dividends, more than my hands can hold,
Of faith and love and hope and trust and peace of mind untold.
I thank the Giver of it all, but still I can’t forget
My washerwoman’s simple words, ‘God’s bank ain’t busted yet.’
Oh, weary ones upon life’s road, when everything seems drear,
And losses loom on every hand, and skies seem not to clear;
Throw back your shoulders, lift your head, and cease to chafe and fret,
Your diver…dividend will be declared: ‘God’s bank ain’t busted yet!.’
And the one who does that for us is God, and He is that one. And I’d like for the
Victors to sing “Yes There Is One.”
[SONG PLAYS]
[Dr. Wierwille] Thank you very much the Victors, we love you {Audience applause}.
And now in my Corps letter I put three remembers in the line:
REMEMBER, REMEMBER, REMEMBER,
Jesus Christ gave himself for you. He needs you to give yourself for others to enjoy
him.
Also, the old man never gets better, he’s not sick, he’s DEAD {audience laughter}.
Then, most people are slow learners so be patient, be loving.
Then, Christianity is what the Bible says, not people. (These are things you have to
remember.)
You have to also remember that you are what the Word says you are.
And remember to act your knowledge of the Word.
And remember that service requires ability plus heart.
You know my heart cries and it breaks when I see our Way Corps—and worse even
our ordained clergy—being so slyly tricked by the adversary that they don’t even
notice it’s happening to them until the adversary’s “got them”; they’re falling right
back into the old sense knowledge worldly stuff, forgetting what God trained them
for in the Way Corps; not putting God first, not reading the Word first in the
morn…first thing in the morning, praying or even leading a “hot” Twig. I want you
to turn to Matthew chapter 13 and listen to this.
Matthew 13:3-8
3 And he spake many things [verse 3, Matthew 13:3] unto them in parables,
saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow;
4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came
and devoured them up:
5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith
they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:
6 [Verse 6] And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they
had no root, they [what?] withered away.
7 [Verse 7] And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and
choked them:
8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold,
some sixty…, [and] some thirtyfold.
Now look at verse 9.
Matthew 13:9
Who hath ears to hear, [what?] let him hear.
Now go to verse 18.
Matthew 13:18
Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
If you have ears to hear.
Matthew 13:19a
When any one…
Anyone. Any, what? One. Just not Way Corps, but ladies and gentlemen Way Corps
has to be included in “any one” right?
Matthew 13:19-21
19 [If] any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not,
then cometh the [what?] wicked one, and catcheth away that which was
sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 [Verse 20] But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he
that [what?] heareth the word, and anon [immediately] with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself,…
I want you to notice verse 21 and 22 very carefully, Corps:
Matthew 13:21-23
21 Yet hath he no root in himself, but dureth [stays solid] for a [what?]
{while}: [but] when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word,
[immediately; “by and by” is immediately] he is offended [he trips out,
“stumbles” is the word. He trips out].
22 [Verse 22] He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth
the word [heareth the word]; [but] the [cares] of this world, and the [delight
in] riches, choke the word, and he becometh [what?] unfruitful.
23 [Verse 23] But he that received seed into the good ground is he that
heareth the word,…understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth
forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, [and] some thirty.
[Letter to the Corps continues.] You know Corps, my heart’s not only hurt but its
torn apart because of what I’ve seen among some of our Corps and as I’ve said,
worse even among men whom I’ve had the responsibility to ordain. We are a
specially called people.
And this brings me to another tender spot in my soul for the Corps. Why don’t you
Corps men marry Corps women and vice versa? I think I know men and women’s
hearts, and I know you Corps men and women. You see especially on your interim
year, you get lonely at times, but—listen—who would be better qualified to fulfill
your life than a Corps companion, a Corps helpmate?
You know it might be a great idea to have a Way Corps Heart’s Club [audience
laughter, then Dr. Wierwille laughs] getting really to know each other much better.
Some of you Corps men are forcing great Corps women to look outside the Corps
household for their life’s companion. I’m not saying there aren’t good men and
women that aren’t Corps, but when you’re single and on the field, the (quote)
“grass really looks greener” (end of quote) out there, many times because of your
circumstances and loneliness.
If you as a Corps man or Corps woman on the field, including all graduated Corps,
need, and are looking and are interested in a lifetime companion and helpmate;…
Listen to this now Corps [audience laughter, then Dr. Wierwille laughs], here we go:
[Letter to the Corps continues.] …send me, V.P. Wierwille, an exciting resume of
yourself {audience laughter and yelling “whooa”}—your heart’s desire and so
forth, and a pretty picture {audience continues laughing}, and I’ll see what Mrs.
Wierwille and I can do for you and help you with {audience laughs more and
applauses}.
I think I suggested this to the Corps three or four years ago, they haven’t done anything
about it so I and Mrs. Wierwille are going to act after three or four years. If my leadership
won’t we will, so we are willing to help [taps]. We’re ready to go; Mrs. Wierwille is very
especially {audience laughter}.
Now to my first year Corps in-residence – I know first year Corps in-residence,
Family 8, 12th Corps, it’s a new way of life for you; so quit right now trying to
figure out, should you be here?
[Audience and Dr. Wierwille laugh] I know you guys [laughter continues].
Yes, you should—you are here—get with it. Be thankful—blessed and happy. Just
get into everything and get everything into you, that you are asked to do, and do it
with joy. The walls the adversary in the world has caused you to build around your
heart will come tumbling down. Write sponsors faithfully and your parents and so
forth. Be sharp. Get honest and stay honest in the Corps—confront each other
immediately when one or the other of your Corps brothers or sisters is off of the
Word in their life and walk. Because we are building men and women today for
tomorrow’s competition.
We are “Building a Bridge”; The Victors, bring it on boys:
[SONG PLAYS] “I’m building a bridge. God gave me the plan….”
[Dr. Wierwille] And may the Way Corps continue to build a bridge for the future
{audience applause}.
According to a special report from the Plymouth Rock foundation, there is a
resurgence of religion in America. One of the reasons is (quote) “it helps to
rekindle self-confidence in the face of adversity and provides a reason for enduring
faith and optimism” (end of quote). They feel the American public, that there is
(quote) “a crisis of leadership” (end of quote) that there is a very evident (quote)
“lack of leadership and the lack of confidence in leadership position” (end of
quote), that the leaders tend to be less religious than the general public and that the
leaders (quote) “may be out of touch with the current faith that appears to be
gathering strength among the public” (end of quote). The survey also suggests that
religious leaders are the one group most in the position to lead America in this
time, that there is a wonderful spot for (quote) “a truly visionary leader” (end of
quote). Ladies and gentlemen the Corps could be the key, if you the Corps, got the
“makin’s.”
What is the Way Corps?
Not ancient walls [voice cracks then he taps on desk] and ivory-mantled
towers [voice cracks again],
Where dull denominational traditions
Rule with iron hand
Believers’ deeply springing powers.
Not spacious pleasure courts
Or lofty temples of athletic fame
Where devotees of sports mistake a pastime
For life’s highest game;
Not fashion, nor renown
Or wealthy patronage and rich estate;
No, none of these can crown the Way Corps with light
And make it truly great.
But equipped believers, ambassadors strong and wise
Who teach because they love the teacher’s task
And find their richest prize
In eyes that open, and in minds that [what?] ask.
That’s the Way Corps. And here at Gunnison Colorado, we filmed one day that great
number the star of the show, and that’s Jesus Christ. And here is Vicki May Allen singing,
“The Star of the Show,” take it away Vicki.
[SONG PLAYS] “...lord, I’ll remember who is the star of the show….it’s you lord,
gave my life meaning; it’s you lord, that keeps my heart singing…”
Thank you Vicki, we loved that very much {audience applause}. And this, to all of you
Corps who have joined us tonight at all the locations on this Wednesday night, September
the 2nd 1981, in this the practical opening of this year for the Corps on this September the
2nd, here from Gunnison, Colorado. I thank God for allowing me to live again and to be a
part of this wonderful Corps opening, for this year and to be able to join with you tonight
all over the country from Gunnison, Colorado. Yes Corps, “It Is Written” [voice cracks].
Good night {audience applause}.