My Prejudices and Beliefs

About me and my beliefs

My name is Roger Pawsey and I am the minister of a Pentecostal church, having been in full-time ministry since 1989. I became a full status minister in the Assemblies of God in 1996. I became a Christian at the age of 34 in 1983, we initially attended a Brethren Chapel but after a short time joined a Pentecostal church.
I am happily married to Tina and we have 3 children, Joanne, Natasha and Colin. We were married in 1969 and spent some time in Australia before settling in Norfolk. I also work with Watton on the Web to promote the Christian gospel and bring encouragement to the saints of God across the world.

Tina and I become interested in the whole area of abuse after attending a seminar by the PCCA called "Thinking the Unthinkable". We had our eyes opened. Tina is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and is working through the healing process. She is also training as a counsellor with particular expertise in working with survivors of childhood sexual abuse. I recognised how vunerable the church community is in this area. We have assembled a child protection policy for churches. I am also discovering the role the spouse of a survivor should play. We believe that abuse in the UK is far more prevalant than presently recognised, as comparisons with figures from the USA would indicate* (see below).
We have been dismayed, even frustrated, by the contradictory views and guidelines put forward by mental health academics and by the lack of understanding and sensitivity in many churches.

Our response was to produce SURVIVING TOGETHER, with the aim of helping the Christian church community to face, and assess the issue of sexual abuse, and respond thoughtfully, spiritually and intelligently.

I believe the following statement by the Assemblies of God to be fundamentally true:

1. We believe that the Bible (e.g. the Old and New Testaments excluding the Apocrypha), is the inspired word of God, the infallible, all sufficient rule for faith and practice. 2 Tim.3:15-16, 2 Pet.1:21.
2. We believe in the unity of the one true and living God who is the eternal, self-existent "I AM", who has also revealed himself as one being in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Deut.6:4, Mark 12:29, Matt.28:19.
3. We believe in the virgin birth, sinless life, miraculous ministry, substitutionary atoning death, bodily resurrection, triumphant ascension and abiding intercession of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his premillennial second advent as the blessed hope set before all believers. Isa.7:14, Matt.1:23, Heb.7:26, 1 Pet.2:22, Acts 2:22, 10:38, 2 Cor.5:21, Heb.9:12, Luke 24:39, 1 Cor.15:4, Acts 1:9, Eph.4:8-10, Rom.8:34, Heb.7:25, 1 Cor.15:22-24, 51-57, 1 Thess.4:13-18, Rev.20:1-6.
4. We believe in the fall of man, who was created pure and upright, but fell by voluntary transgression. Gen.1:26-31, 3:1-7, Rom.5:12-21.
5. We believe in salvation through faith in Christ, who died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried and was raised from among the dead on the third day according to the scriptures, and through his blood we have redemption. Titus 2:11, 3:5-7, Rom.10:8-15, 1Cor.15:3-4. This experience is also known as the new birth, and is an instantaneous and complete operation of the Holy Spirit upon initial faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. John 3:5-6, James 1:18, 1 Pet.1:23, 1 John 5:1.
6. We believe that baptism by immersion in water is enjoined upon all who have really repented and have truly believed with all their hearts in Christ as Saviour and Lord. Matt.28:19, Acts 10:47-48, Acts 2:38-39.
7. We believe in the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the initial evidence of which is the speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. Acts 2:4, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 19:6, Isa.8:18.
8. We believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the offices have been set by God in the church, as recorded in the New Testament. 1 Cor.12:4-11, 28, Eph.4:7-16.
9. We believe in holiness of life and conduct in obedience to the command of God, "Be holy because I am holy." 1 Pet.1:14-16, Heb.12:14, 1 Thess.5:23, 1 John 2:6, 1 Cor.13.
10. We believe that deliverance from sickness, by divine healing, is provided for in the atonement. Isa.53:4-5, Matt.8:16-17, James 5:13-16.
11. We believe that breaking of bread is enjoined upon all believers until the Lord comes. Luke 22:14-20, 1 Cor.11:20-34.
12. We believe in the bodily resurrection of all men, the everlasting conscious bliss of all who truly believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and that everlasting conscious punishment is the portion of all whose names are not written in the Book of Life. John 5:28-29, 1 Cor.15:22-24, Dan.12:2-3, Matt.25:46, 2 Thess.1:9, Rev.20:10-15.

*Child Abuse: Statistics, Research, and Resources by Jim Hopper

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