Alec Stevens - new to the forum

Alec Stevens here. I am a professional artist, writer, and musician, and currently attend Times Square Church in NYC where David Wilkerson is the founding pastor. One of my favorite ministries on the planet is the School of Christ International, founded by B. H. Clendennen of Beaumont, Texas. If you're not familiar with this marvelous pastoral training/missions organization, see the website at http://www.socintl.org

I used to illustrate for [b]The New York Times[/b] Book Review for fourteen years, as well as for [b]The New Yorker[/b] magazine, and numerous other 'high profile' secular accounts over the past two decades. While such work pays well, it is of no eternal value. These days I freelance for various Christian journals, and also publish books, tracts, graphic novels, and such like via my own imprint [b]Calvary Comics[/b]:

http://www.calvarycomics.com

I've been aware of this Sermon Index website for a number of years, and regard it as an indispensible resource for these times.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Alec

I agree! I have a 1982 audiotape of this message, as well as a DVD of Bro. Clendennen preaching it at Times Square Church in July, 2006, and had the pleasure of meeting him backstage after the service. A truly great man of God, with all the marks of an apostle following his ministry. I don't use such terms lightly.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Alec <

> Just as well would be interesting to hear your take on matters ...

Such as...?

I agree! I have a 1982 audiotape of this message, as well as a DVD of Bro. Clendennen preaching it at Times Square Church in July, 2006, and had the pleasure of meeting him backstage after the service. A truly great man of God, with all the marks of an apostle following his ministry. I don't use such terms lightly.

Let me know if there is anything I can help you with on the site.

From my initial post you can probably determine where my theology is, but here are a few things:

I believe that the Bible is the plenary, inspired Word of God. The King James Version, based on the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts, is the best English translation, but even it has a few minor errors. Still, armed with a KJV Bible, a Strong's Concordance and an interlinear Bible I believe that one can very well, with prayer and the leading of the Holy Spirit, come into an understanding of even the most difficult passages of Scripture.

I am neither Calvinist nor Arminian, but I do not break fellowship with Christians who uphold such doctrines.

I believe in the imminent return of Christ for His bride in a pre-Tribulation rapture (which doesn't mean that we as individuals or as a nation cannot or won't ever go through any personal tribulation; just look at the underground church in China, for example).

The "prosperity gospel" and "the emergent church" are but two of many false gospels being proliferated in today's largely apostate western world. I don't hold to Kingdom Now/Dominion theology either, or "replacement" theology: God is not finished with natural Israel. Many will come to know Messiah during the Tribulation, and will succeed in preaching the Gospel to the entire world, whereas we Gentiles have failed to do so since the First Century, despite our growing technology.

I believe that Augustine's doctrine formed much of the basis for the tenets of the Romish church which the Reformers and Puritans regarded as the Whore of Babylon. With the Vatican having had over 68 million executed from 1300-1800 I cannot disagree. I believe the next pope may very well be the False Prophet who will call down fire in the presence of the Beast/Antichrist.

One might call me a 'classical Pentecostal', as I believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (with the initial evidence of glossolalia) is a separate event from salvation in Christ, and is necessary for empowerment for service ("tarry ye at Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from above", the promise of the Father). However, I'm appalled at much of the charismatic circus that abounds today on TBN and other venues. They "have not so learned Christ." Smith Wigglesworth was the real article, but many charlatans try to affiliate themselves with men like him, but these are of a different spirit preaching "another gospel which is not another."

I quite like the writings of A. W. Tozer, Leonard Ravenhill, Charles Finney, Hudson Taylor, etc. Though largely unpopular to say so nowadays, I was very edified by Jimmy Swaggart's ministry before his fall in 1988, as were many. R. A. Torrey and D. L. Moody also emphasized being filled with the Holy Spirit.

I believe that psychology and that the techniques of Freud, Jung, Maslow, Rogers et al have no place in the church of Christ. Dr. Martin and Deidre Bobgan's Psychoheresy Awareness ministry have much excellent material that is against psychology and for Biblical counseling.

There you have it in some very broad strokes, brother. Remember, you asked!

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Alec <

" Welcome brother Alec to Sermon index "

I was smiling from ear to ear and rejoicing in my heart when you said some things. You brought up "Smith Wigglesworth" whom i think a great deal of, not so much because of the miracles but because of his 24/7 walk with God in the Spirit, that most know nothing about when it comes to truly walking in the Spirit and operating in the gifts of the Spirit which we both know if you know Wigglesworth walked in "all" the gifts of the Spirit, thats incredible. I've read to my knowledge everything there is to know about that man. For someone that was taught for the first time to read and write in there early twenties by his wife (she never taught him to spell) and him moving so mightly in the Spirit is incredible.

You also mentioned "Time Square Church" with Pastors David Wilkerson and Pastor Carter Conlon of whom i also have a great regard for and listen to there sermons on a very regular basis. I've also been receiving David Wilkerson's Newsletters for about 25 years now. For me personaly i loved Wigglesworth's ministry as i did Leonard Ravenhills ministry so very very much. For todays timing and people i mainly go with Pastors David Wilkerson and Pastor Carter Conlon. All these men walked/are walking in the Spirit truly. It really blessed my socks off to see you mention them. This is just my personal account of how i feel, i only speak for myself. You will notice all these men are in my profile.

God Bless you Sir and again, welcome.

Alec,

Wanted to add that i'm literally taking this course, School of Christ International right now. It's awesome.

One might call me a 'classical Pentecostal', as I believe that the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (with the initial evidence of glossolalia) is a separate event from salvation in Christ, and is necessary for empowerment for service ("tarry ye at Jerusalem until ye be endued with power from above", the promise of the Father). However, I'm appalled at much of the charismatic circus that abounds today on TBN and other venues. They "have not so learned Christ." Smith Wigglesworth was the real article, but many charlatans try to affiliate themselves with men like him, but these are of a different spirit preaching "another gospel which is not another."

Alec,

What a privilege it would be if "Time Square Church" were my personal Church to go to if i lived in New York. One day i hope that i might be able to make the trip. The problem would be i would be coming alone and know nobody and that i have medical problems (not the you would notice). And also not knowing where to stay for say one or maybe two services. Oh how that would come true for me. I would be nervous coming by myself and not knowing anyone there and again where to stay for just one day if it were at all possible. My heart would over flow with joy. At 50 years of age, I have [u]never[/u] been out of my home state which is Florida.

>What a privilege it would be if "Time Square Church" were my personal Church to go to if i lived in New York. One day i hope that i might be able to make the trip.

I live 37 miles west of NYC, and many who attend live in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and elsewhere. It is sad that so many have to travel so far just to find 'a stream of water' in these days where, as in the youth of Samuel the prophet, "the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision."

You can see videos of some of the sermons of Times Square Church online [url=http://www.tscnyc.org/]here.[/url]

Bert Clendennen (of The School of Christ International) just concluded a three day pastors' conference in Alabama, and is scheduled to be a guest speaker at Times Square Church for the Tuesday evening service on the 16th of October. I'm very excited to hear him preach again, and was tremendously edified by his "Countdown to the Tribulation" series of sermons released on CD and DVD earlier this year. My favorite series of his messages is probably "Overcoming Through Prevailing Prayer" which he preached in 1984 tent meetings in Boston, MA. Tremendous teaching.

>I've always thought that many stories of the faith -- including the lives of men and women like Jim Eliott, Brother Andrew, Corrie ten Boom, David Livingstone, Nicky Cruz, etc... -- would be well received as graphic novels.

I agree, if they're prayerfully and intelligently done.

>I feel that graphic novels can help provide much-needed imagery to individuals whose imagination is slightly limited by vocabulary or grammar.

Actually, I regard the graphic novel (comics/sequential art) as a legitimate artform, with as much potential as the best work in fine art, literature, film, etc.

Some people are immediately prejudiced when they see narrative art in panel form, thinking that comics (a misnomer if not humorous material) are for puerile minds only. The fact is, many secular comics artists do the very same sort of work (for a lot more money) for television commercials or for motion pictures. The drawings are called [i]storyboards[/i], and are an invaluable tool for directors and cinematographers in setting up the main shots of a film.

Truth be known, I've been trained as an academic artist (as well as in 'modern' techniques), and it is a lot easier to draw or paint one picture and enjoy public acclaim than to create a series of images with the same characters, seen from different perspectives, and be 'dismissed' as a cartoonist (which I'm really not; I'm only using the format).

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise..."

>Alec, I've got a copy of your Sundar Singh comic book, it's very well done. Thank you for making the story of that man's sacrificial life available for a new generation!

My pleasure! I'm working on another one which I hope to have in print, should the Lord tarry, in spring 2008. More later.

B. H. Clendennen preached an hour and a half this past Tuesday at Times Square Church in NYC. You can hear his message [url=http://www.tscnyc.org/sermons.php?hl=881]here.[/url] It is called "Is Not This the Fast".

>It is good to have you here. Great comic artwork too.

Thank you!

>It seems that SI has a growing number of arts and music people.

>MC

I think one of the biggest challenges for an artist is to die to self and the "urgent" need for self-expression. On the other hand, if artists, musicians, etc. are truly broken and contrite, and the old, fallen nature crucified, then we are in a position to be vessels through whom the Lord can speak. Such is a rarity, unfortunately.