A Very Sad Phone Call for My Friend Sylvia

By Pamela Rae Schufert presenting investigative journalism from a Biblical Christian perspective-

www.AmericanHolocaustComing.blogspot.com

Yesterday, Sylvia received a very sad phone call from Charis Bible College with Andrew Wommack Ministries in Woodland Park, Colorado.

Although initially being accepted as a student to begin their winter semester on December 1, 2014, the Dean of Women Students called to inform Sylvia that due to reviewing her health conditions, they would be unable to accept her as a student. She would not be among the people accepted as students for this year after all.

"We are neither a church nor a hospital, and we cannot help you," Beth Landt, Dean of Women students, declared to Sylvia several times over the phone. 

Sylvia was, of course, devastated by this news. She was so excited that she would soon begin her classes in a few weeks, and everything had been purchased for her to attend. 

We were just preparing in fact for the thousand mile journey even as Sylvia received this phone call. Both Sylvia and I believed in the promises of God, and that great things would happen in her life as soon as we arrived there at this ministry.

The above words of Landt came as a shock to Sylvia, because their Charis Christian Bible college is considered "a church" wherein she would be studying the word of God daily, with many classes meeting in their church called THE SANCTUARY on campus, in fact. 

How could their Bible College be separated therefore from being also a church wherein the Word of God is being taught daily? This statement simply made no sense.

Another reason why Sylvia did not feel her health issues would be an issue, is because their website and ministry constantly proclaims that they "believe in healing and miracles for the sick" and they also hold healing classes for the sick there to find miracles of deliverance and healing each week. 

"They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover.."

But how can "the sick" receive healing from their ministry and teaching from the word of God, if they are barred from attending the Bible College because they are ill??? Where is the faith of the Bible College and ministry for the sick to be healed and receive their miracle, if they will not even allow people with medical issues to attend an important faith-growing function like their Bible College? 

I guess Sylvia had more faith to believe God for her miracle of total healing from cancer once she attended classes there, than the entire ministry there did. 

Sylvia was so excited to be accepted as a student, and constantly declared to me that "...I just know I will be healed when I attend classes on the word of God, and the students and faculty lay hands on me and pray for my healing!" 

This is one of the major aspects that this particular ministry declares to believe in, that healing miracles are for everyone. For "everyone" except Sylvia, I guess, judging from their negative response to her attending their Bible College yesterday. 

Stating that they were initially mislead by Sylvia's application not mentioning her health issues, the fact was that the only question asked on her application regarding her health was, is she under a doctor's care. The answer is NO.

Sylvia has bravely chosen to forego doctors, chemotherapy and hospitals, and instead has decided to stand on the WORD OF FAITH for her miracle of healing instead. She has also chosen to travel the path of sensible organic/non-GMO foods and health food supplements designed to safely combat cancer and enable her body to heal as God intended from the beginning. This is truly commendable on Sylvia's part.

Having repeatedly read on their website that ANDREW WOMMACK MINISTRIES totally believes that HEALING IS FOR EVERYONE and that MIRACLES HAPPEN CONTINUALLY there through their teaching on this subject, Sylvia and I were both saddened and deeply disillusioned when this was the response of the ministry and the school to her health challenges.

I guess it is one thing to declare that "God's healing is for everyone" and "we believe in miracles," but another thing to then put those words into ACTION in real people's  lives and circumstances. 

Unfortunately, their actions speak much louder than their words as to how much they believe in miracles, when it comes to how they have just handled Sylvia's situation. 

What other honest conclusion can we come to...?

************************************************

God's eternal promises cannot fail!

However, we know as Christians there will be disappointments in life. We live in an imperfect world wherein people can fail us, and they do quite frequently. Failure can occur even among Christians professing to believe in God's Word. This is why we are instructed by God's Word to never put our trust in mere human flesh, but rather to put our complete confidence in God, His unfailing Son Jesus Christ, and His eternal promises.

Thankfully, there is ONE Who cannot fail His people, and that is ALMIGHTY GOD." "Failure" is never a part of Heaven's vocabulary! GOD IS OMNIPOTENT! Furthermore, Jesus promises His disciples that "I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you..I Am with you ALWAYS..."

And whenever God allows ONE door to be closed to us, He is fully capable of opening ANOTHER door, even more glorious than the last, to fulfill His will for His precious children.

I spent much time with Sylvia, consoling her over this latest disappointment in her life. She was reassured from the Word of God that His will for her life, to study and grow in the word of God and be surrounded with Christian fellowship, would someday be fulfilled through some other channel that God would soon reveal to us. 

And that our mature Christian response would have to be one of praising God in all things, trusting in His sovereign will, and moving to the next phase that God has for her life to be blessed and ministered to.

And so today, this new day of hope, we are praising God in all things, and seeking Him for His new revelation for Sylvia's life. 

I trust God that His ways, though often hidden from our understanding, our higher than ours and that His will is perfect for the lives of His children. Out of the ashes of  Sylvia's heartache and disappointment over this latest turn of events, God is going to bring forth something new and exciting for her life and calling.

Sylvia admitted to me after the phone call from Charis Bible College, that she felt like she was still wandering in the wilderness, wondering what God really did have in store for her life and fulfillment of her destiny. I shared with her the following verses from the Word of God to encourage her.

"Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. For I shall do a new thing, and even now it shall spring forth. Shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My Chosen..." From Isaiah 43:20

Thankfully, Sylvia IS God's chosen in Christ Jesus, and He is indeed capable of doing a NEW thing in her life. We are therefore commanded by His word to never remember the disappointments of yesterday, but rather press on by faith into the NEW thing that God is able to perform in each one of our lives.

We must choose to focus on the good and the wonderful new things God is doing through His Son Jesus Christ, every single day of our lives. Yesterday is forever finished. To dwell in the misery of past failures and disappointments is to spell SELF DEFEAT for our lives. I refuse to do this, and I will not allow Sylvia to do this either.

Faith always looks forward to the wonderful and exciting NEW things God is preparing for His people. As the timeless expression states, "Your future is as bright as THE PROMISES OF GOD."

And always remember, those Bible promises are eternal and unfailing. Though they may not be fulfilled as quickly as our impatient flesh wishes them to be, we must nevertheless continue to wait on God. God's Word promises us that His promises, manifested in our lives, will take place in their appointed time, all for His glory.

"Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus...." Revelation 14:12

Therefore, please pray with us that our merciful God will open exciting and fulfilling new doors for Sylvia to study the Word of God and to be surrounded with people of Christian love and faith to believe God with her for her healing of cancer to be manifested fully. 

While trusting fully in God's plans, Sylvia is nevertheless saddened by this unexpected change of events. 

Pray for the Comforter, the divine Holy Spirit, to minister consolation and peace and joy to her at this time. Pray also for other new and exciting doors to be opened for her.

Thank you and God bless you all.

Pamela Rae and Sylvia, 

standing on the unfailing promises of God