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2012 - a Year Challenging of Change There have been a number of dramatic changes at the Hour of Power recently in an effort to return the programme to the format that the supporters have enjoyed for decades. John Charles, the new president of Crystal Cathedral Ministries is adamant the Hour of Power will continue.

The Hour of Power has been a source of hope for hurting people around the world for more than 40 years and the Board of Directors and new management team believes they have a God-given responsibility to preserve the ministry and widen its impact for future generations in a positive way. One of the most contentious and upsetting issues with supporters has been the complete change in the music. The new management team has reintroduced the more traditional worship format that the Hour of Power has been associated with and has been so popular. The choir is being rebuilt and will be led by Biol with Tom Leonard at the Hazel Wright Organ.

The first service under the new leadersh ip on Sunday 18th March e n j o y e d t h e b e s t attendance in close to a year with many people expressing their joy at the return to a style that has

been enjoyed for decades.

Hour of Power New Zealand will be broadcasting the new services in a few weeks and viewers can look forward to enjoying hearing the opening hymn, “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You,” by Ludwig Van Beethoven, some well loved traditional hymns and pieces such as “Toccata” on the Hazel Wright organ.

John Charles was thrilled at the support and encouragement and is looking forward to steadily rebuilding the work that God began with Dr. Schuller.

John Charles arriving for the morning service with the interim pastor, Dr. Lawrence Wilkes

Welcome Back JohnTebay!John Tebay is back on the music team at the Crystal Cathedral and you can see him directing the re-established choir in the weeks to come.

There are also a number of traditional musical guests and choirs that will be appearing in the future including the Biola University Choir. Look forward to enjoying beautiful Church music and hymns with us on Hour of Power!

Encouragement From Haggai The changes at the Crystal Cathedral have created an enormous amount of hurt and sadness in the hearts of many thousands of supporters. There are, however some, thought provoking, parallels that can be found in the Word of God.

encouraging

God sent the prophet Haggai to the nation of Israel to rebuild His temple which had been destroyed by the Babylonians. The Bible tells us in the book of Ezra in chapter 3 that some of the older people, who could remember the larger and more beautiful Temple of Solomon, wept when they saw the smaller, plainer Temple of Zerubbabel. The prophet Haggai comforted them by assuring them that the glory of this latter house should exceed that of the former, because the Lord (Jesus Christ) was to come to this temple, and fill it with His glory and in this place will He would give peace. (Haggai 2:9)

This is the promise God gave Israel. The glory of the latter house was far greater than the former. It did not have the silver and gold that Solomon’s had, it was smaller and plainer, but it was the very place in which Jesus ministered almost 500 years later.

The future Hour of Power church building may never be

as physically impressive as the stunning Philip Johnson designed glass sanctuary. It may never regain its former prominence as a tourist landmark but this “latter house” will be filled with God’s glory as long as we allow Jesus to be there.

We need to be open to build on Dr. Schuller’s foundation and pray for the new management for the work ahead.

As we are obedient to God, we will see his glory once again not only bless this worldwide ministry, but also our lives.

We are in the painful process of change and it is hard to imagine that a new building can compare with the physical beauty of the Crystal Cathedral - but we are reminded that the presence of the Lord overcomes fears, disappointments, and discouragement and His presence can and will surpass anything man can build.

Who is John Charles?John Charles, the new president of Crystal Cathedral Ministries has been with the organisation for well over a decade.

John has held many positions within the Crystal Cathedral from Director of Human Resources, to Director of Development and Public Relations.

efore joining the Ministry, he retired as senior executive with SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories. He has been on the board of numerous

He holds a degree in Medical Technology and b

organisations in California.

John’s background in the corporate world , strong faith in Christ and belief in the original vision of the ministry gives him the ability to lead and make the tough decisions needed to put the church and the Ministry back on a sound footing.

Pray for John Charles and the Management as the navigate a way through the present difficulties

From Our Supporters

A Solid Word from Dr. Wilkes

In spite of all the recent turmoil at the Crystal Cathedral many viewers are still being touched by the weekly broadcasts of Hour of Power and we are thankful and encourage by the positive local feedback that we receive. Below are a few examples.

I always enjoy watching and listening to the inspirational messages and amazing musical worship that you provide each week before I attend my own church or wherever I may be. Thank you for constantly reminding us of God's presence in our daily lives. He is certainly constant with His blessings and love for each of us. Keep up the good work.

F T, New Zealand

We love to be part of this wonderful ministry and pray that many may have the privilege to be part of this benefit through your wonderful church service. We as a family love to be part of this ministry and extend out hands to reach thousands through your ministry.

A F, New Zealand

The Hour of Power programs helped me enormously through a very difficult period. I've been able to get refocused on the positives of life, count my blessings and grow spiritually through the trials. Watching your programmes has kept me 'Christ focused' and keeping full of joy, peace and hope as I've trusted God through this.

B G, New Zealand

Sometimes it is hard to accept change but the messages from the Crystal Cathedral are always a blessing. Those who have been guided to preach always hit the spot for me.

L Q, New Zealand

Dr. Lawrence Wilkes delivered the message on the 18th of March and it was on the subject of new beginnings.

He has long been involved with the since 1991 and is respected and

. At the end of 2006 he mainly involved with weddings and funerals.

Dr. Wilkes has a strong theological background having earned his Bachelor of Religious Education at Providence College and Theological Seminary; Bachelor of Arts in History at the University of Sioux Falls; Master of Divinity at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary; and Doctor of Philosophy at California Graduate School of Theology. He is currently President of the California Graduate School of Theology.

He was born in Canada and became a Christian at age 20 and felt a definite call to ministry at that time. He was

Crystal Cathedralwell liked by the

congregation became an on-call minister,

ordained into the ministry by the North American Baptist Conference in 1965. He was Dean of the Robert Schuller School for Preaching for a number of years and while he was there he developed a unique video library of over 3,500 video tapes of famous preachers and was also responsible for developing the Doctor of Ministry programs for the school.

New Viewing Time! Contact Us

Mail: Hour of Power P. O. Box 26209 ,

Epsom , AUCKLAND 1344

Telephone: (09) 529 5529 Fax: (09) 529 5527

Email:

info@hourofpower.org.nz

Office Hours: Monday - Friday: 8.30am - 3.30pm

Dr. Ben Carson in New Zealand

Hour of Powerairs on Sundays on Prime TV

7am at

We have had an excellent response to the Dr. Ben Carson interview we featured on our New Zealand Hour of Power programme from the 18th March.

Dr. Carson is an outspoken Christian who attribute his success to his faith and to prayer. He was invited to New Zealand by Duffy Books to encourage local youth to work hard, to read and to pursue their dreams.

Benjamin S. Carson Sr., M.D., had a childhood dream of becoming a physician. This dream seemed impossible as he grew up in dire poverty in a single-parent home. He had poor grades, a horrible temper and low self-esteem. His mother only a third-grade education, but this Godfearing woman challenged both of her sons to strive for excellence and Carson persevered. Today he is a full professor of neurosurgery, oncology, plastic surgery and pediatrics at the prestigious Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and he has directed pediatric neurosurgery at the Johns Hopkins Children’s

Center for nearly a quarter of a century. Dr. C a r s o n ’ s c a r e e r highlights include the f i rs t separat ion of Siamese twins joined at the back of the head in 1987 and the first completely successful separation of type-2 vertical twins in 1997 in South Africa.

He has been involved in m a n y n e w s w o r t h y operations and holds more than 50 honorary doctorate degrees but above all, he is known in the Christian community as a man who places God at the forefront of every aspect of his life and has a sound belief in adhering to the principals found in the Bible.

Siamese

We have copies of this inspiring, 22 minute New Zealand interview available from the Ministry on DVD for just $20.

What is Happening to Hour of Power?Our New Zealand Ministry along with all our International Ministries have been keeping much of our focus on the Crystal Cathedral and what is happening there. It seems like a whole lot of changes are in process?

Today I write to tell you there are no major or critical changes happening at all.

The good news is that everything that is our Positive Christ focused ministry of Hope and Help to the world continues reaching hearts and homes in New Zealand and worldwide as we continue to televise Hour of Power every week.

Hour of Power has remained constant since its beginning, spreading the Good News of Jesus to the world. Its founder was Robert Harold Schuller and our positive Christ-centred message has been shared by many preachers including Dr Schuller, Robert Anthony Schuller, Robbie Schuller, Sheila, John Maxwell, Norman Vincent Peale, Bishop Ulmer, Tony Campolo and many, many other great preachers.

Hour of Power has introduced thousands of inspiring pulpit guests and had a tradition of great music from organ, piano, orchestras, and other instruments. Singing has ranged from choirs to soloists. The music has spanned classic to contemporary.

The music tradition, the inspiring pulpit guests and great messages from great preachers will all continue on Hour of Power a televised church service that has and will continue to bring the positive truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a hurting world.

If you have loved and been helped through Hour of Power previously you will again. Hour of Power will continue to bring you HOPE through encouraging persons everywhere to find a loving relationship with Jesus.

As all this remains the same, so must the support to keep Hour of Power on air. Hour of Power has always been possible because of the prayers and financial support given by caring, generous ministry friends who join us in reaching out to the broken hearts of hurting individuals with the healing love of Jesus, offering hope for the hopeless and help for the helpless. This is our never changing mission and you make it possible, thank you.

God loves you and so do we

John Townend (Director of Int. Ministries for Hour of Power)