I am writing this to honor those who have helped me to grow in my faith. The Bible says to give honor to whom honor is due. First of all, I want to give glory and honor to my Lord and Savior Jesus. It was him working through these people that transformed my life.
My wife, Ginelle, is my soul mate, and has encouraged me and loved me in ways that words can't even describe. She has been a rock of support for me. I cherish her. My dad has always been there for me. He led me to the Lord when I was eighteen years of age. He taught me one thing that I have realized lately; he would always say: "If the Word says it, then it has to happen." He has an unswerving faith in God's Word. My mom has always been there to support and encourage me in my faith, also. My kids: Jeff, Jeremy, Amber, Chad and Thaddaeus have always been praying for me. My daughter in laws-Amber and Trish are God sends. Trisha's dad, CP Anderson, who is a pastor, has been a great encouragement to me, also. My grandkids; Samantha, Marisa, Nehemiah, Lili, Donovan, and Johnna put a smile in my heart. Samantha our eight year old lives with us as well as her mom. She has been a constant source of joy. My extended family, Jody and Cathy, and Kim and Lowell have always been there to meet any need. My church family at New Testament Church in Alexandria have been wonderful.
I look back and remember the Pastors who opened doors for me: The first couple who ever gave me an opportunity to minister were Roger and Myrna Stacy at Brookdale Assembly of God in Minneapolis, MN. Roger and Myrna, were genuine people; very kind and funny and sharptspiritually. Keith and Adrienne Knazze in South Minneapolis; Pastor Richard and DeVonna Stierlen in Ames, IA and Pastor Paul and Ilene Anderson in Alexandria, MN. I can't tell you how much I appreciate what these couples did for me. They all had different strengths and I learned from them. I also want to that Rev. Jim Allen. He helped me to get connected with two of these couples. I still look at him and see one of the strongest preachers and sharpest men I have ever know. I admire him. Ian Hall, was one of my professors at North Central University in Minneapolis, MN. He was my favorite. He seemed to possess a quality of understanding when it came to the gifts and moving of the Spirit. Much later in life, God would use his teaching and example to help me. Rev. Clarence St. John, Minnesota District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, is a man I greatly admire. I have know a few District Superintendents, but Rev. St. John, to me, was a different breed. He was a soul-winner, and a man of compassion. I am no longer an Assemblies of God minister, but I have reached out to him, and he has always shown me compassion. He is one of my heroes.
Now for the Five men who changed and transformed my life. They are: Pete, Andrew, Jimmy, Dave, and Ray. Pastor Pete Reishus-Senior Pastor at New Testament Church in Alexandria, MN. He has been my pastor for eighteen years. He has always been there for me. He has taught me integrity. He is a fantastic worship leader, and great Bible teacher/preacher. He has a humble servant's heart. I love the guy; what can I say. I also want to mention, Michael Towers, who was Pastor Pete's co-pastor for many years greatly helped me, too. Andrew Wommack, taught me about divine healing and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I came across him about six years ago when I was very, very sick. I have listened to his teaching CD's hundreds and hundreds of times. He is the only Bible Teacher/Preacher that I have run into that seem to have balanced Faith and Grace and seeing that power released through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let me just be blunt. No Andrew Wommack, no healing for me. No Andrew Wommack, no knowledge of how to move in the Gifts and revelation knowledge and divine healing principles for me. Jimmy Swaggart, a lot of people won't give him another chance. I understand that completely. He taught me the message of the cross and helped set me free from religious legalism and the sin nature. He showed me that God can give a man of a second chance. He did it all the time in the Bible: Moses, Peter, etc. Dave Wilkerson, inspired me through his prophetic teaching. He seemed to have the heartbeat of the church in his monthly newsletters. Someone sent me a teaching by him on Jeremiah 29:11-13-"I know the plans that I have for you." "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you." "When you seek me with all your heart, you will find me." I hung onto the Word for seven years. It kept me going when I was in horrible pain. And finally, Ray Comfort, Way of the Master, who works with Kirk Cameron; he taught me how to effectively witness and to be bold. I do share my testimony with the unsaved, and am bold. This area is probably my weakest; but God is helping me to be more effective.
Thank you for allowing me to share with you my heroes of faith.
In Christ's Love,
Scot Ashcroft
My wife, Ginelle, is my soul mate, and has encouraged me and loved me in ways that words can't even describe. She has been a rock of support for me. I cherish her. My dad has always been there for me. He led me to the Lord when I was eighteen years of age. He taught me one thing that I have realized lately; he would always say: "If the Word says it, then it has to happen." He has an unswerving faith in God's Word. My mom has always been there to support and encourage me in my faith, also. My kids: Jeff, Jeremy, Amber, Chad and Thaddaeus have always been praying for me. My daughter in laws-Amber and Trish are God sends. Trisha's dad, CP Anderson, who is a pastor, has been a great encouragement to me, also. My grandkids; Samantha, Marisa, Nehemiah, Lili, Donovan, and Johnna put a smile in my heart. Samantha our eight year old lives with us as well as her mom. She has been a constant source of joy. My extended family, Jody and Cathy, and Kim and Lowell have always been there to meet any need. My church family at New Testament Church in Alexandria have been wonderful.
I look back and remember the Pastors who opened doors for me: The first couple who ever gave me an opportunity to minister were Roger and Myrna Stacy at Brookdale Assembly of God in Minneapolis, MN. Roger and Myrna, were genuine people; very kind and funny and sharptspiritually. Keith and Adrienne Knazze in South Minneapolis; Pastor Richard and DeVonna Stierlen in Ames, IA and Pastor Paul and Ilene Anderson in Alexandria, MN. I can't tell you how much I appreciate what these couples did for me. They all had different strengths and I learned from them. I also want to that Rev. Jim Allen. He helped me to get connected with two of these couples. I still look at him and see one of the strongest preachers and sharpest men I have ever know. I admire him. Ian Hall, was one of my professors at North Central University in Minneapolis, MN. He was my favorite. He seemed to possess a quality of understanding when it came to the gifts and moving of the Spirit. Much later in life, God would use his teaching and example to help me. Rev. Clarence St. John, Minnesota District Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, is a man I greatly admire. I have know a few District Superintendents, but Rev. St. John, to me, was a different breed. He was a soul-winner, and a man of compassion. I am no longer an Assemblies of God minister, but I have reached out to him, and he has always shown me compassion. He is one of my heroes.
Now for the Five men who changed and transformed my life. They are: Pete, Andrew, Jimmy, Dave, and Ray. Pastor Pete Reishus-Senior Pastor at New Testament Church in Alexandria, MN. He has been my pastor for eighteen years. He has always been there for me. He has taught me integrity. He is a fantastic worship leader, and great Bible teacher/preacher. He has a humble servant's heart. I love the guy; what can I say. I also want to mention, Michael Towers, who was Pastor Pete's co-pastor for many years greatly helped me, too. Andrew Wommack, taught me about divine healing and the baptism in the Holy Spirit. I came across him about six years ago when I was very, very sick. I have listened to his teaching CD's hundreds and hundreds of times. He is the only Bible Teacher/Preacher that I have run into that seem to have balanced Faith and Grace and seeing that power released through the power of the Holy Spirit. Let me just be blunt. No Andrew Wommack, no healing for me. No Andrew Wommack, no knowledge of how to move in the Gifts and revelation knowledge and divine healing principles for me. Jimmy Swaggart, a lot of people won't give him another chance. I understand that completely. He taught me the message of the cross and helped set me free from religious legalism and the sin nature. He showed me that God can give a man of a second chance. He did it all the time in the Bible: Moses, Peter, etc. Dave Wilkerson, inspired me through his prophetic teaching. He seemed to have the heartbeat of the church in his monthly newsletters. Someone sent me a teaching by him on Jeremiah 29:11-13-"I know the plans that I have for you." "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you." "When you seek me with all your heart, you will find me." I hung onto the Word for seven years. It kept me going when I was in horrible pain. And finally, Ray Comfort, Way of the Master, who works with Kirk Cameron; he taught me how to effectively witness and to be bold. I do share my testimony with the unsaved, and am bold. This area is probably my weakest; but God is helping me to be more effective.
Thank you for allowing me to share with you my heroes of faith.
In Christ's Love,
Scot Ashcroft
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