At Impact of Huntsville we believe everyone is significant, everyone has something to offer and everyone has a place of ministry. To do something great for God we don’t need a few people doing great things. To do something great for God we need everyone doing their part, using their gifts and talents. Whether you want to work in the Helps Ministry or you feel a call to the full time ministry, we will help you.

Our Mission Statement:
We exist to reach the lost the backslidden, the unchurched and the unproductive, make them whole through the love of God, equip and launch them into a productive place of ministry, while fulfilling their dreams.

Most people want to be productive, they want a purpose, they want their life to count! Impact is set up to equip and prepare you to serve. And we make you a promise - We only want you to serve in an area you will enjoy. We will train you. We will never “toss you into a situation” unprepared. We will only ask you to serve as much as fits your schedule. And we will never use fear or guilt to manipulate you.

At Impact of Huntsville over 60% of our people serve in some capacity. We are able to accomplish great things for God because everyone does their part!

Finding Wholeness:
We are created in the likeness and image of God. Therefore, we have the need to be life-givers. When we serve, something wonderful happens in us. We experience a wholeness that can’t be found any other way. Paul said this about sharing our faith, "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. -Philemon 1:6, NIV.

As we minister to others we develop more of an awareness of all the good things we have in Christ. We experience an aspect of wholeness that doesn’t come through prayer, Bible reading or faith. This aspect of wholeness can only be found as we serve others!

Every person needs to live for a cause outside of themselves. As we bring godly purpose to our lives everything changes. When we have purpose we have more energy. We have fulfillment. We have a reason to live.

Become a Ministering Member:
If you consider yourself a member of Impact - you are. No need to fill out any papers or sign agreements. However, because the church is called to develop people we are taking people on a journey from Believers to Disciples to Servant to Leaders.

When you first come here we are seeking to establish you as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ: a person who has received Jesus as Lord and Savior and is fully committed to following Him.

Through our various areas of ministry, we are giving you the truth and the support to become a disciple. A disciple is a person who seeks to build their life on the teachings and principles of the Lord Jesus.

As you grow in God, you move from the place of only being a receiver. The life of God compels you to find ways to serve others. For the person that is ready to make this step, we offer you the opportunity to become a ministering member.

Our Church provides so many wonderful opportunities to serve. Regardless of where you want to serve, there is opportunity. The key is, serve doing what you enjoy. For those more drawn to helps ministry there is yard work, office work, cleaning, driving, working in various areas of the hospitality ministry and dozens of other things.

If you are more inclined to the technical we have an audio-visual team that works with sound, lighting and video. We have a drama and a music team. There are many areas of creative ministry where you can use your talent.

For those who like to work with children we have youth, teens, children and nursery all of which are very essential areas of ministry. Recent studies reveal that the chance of getting saved past the age of 14 is nearly nonexistent. We take children’s ministry very seriously.

If you want to be more involved in ministering to adults we have weekly outreach, evangelism and follow-up. Every week we are doing something in this city to win people to Jesus. We train people to work in a sponsoring program for new converts.

If you want to serve in our Small Group Ministry you can be involved in a Book Club a Fellowship Group or Impact Group ministry, become part of a group. You can host a group, be involved in visiting or follow up; you can become an Assistant and eventually a Group Leader.

There is no end to the opportunities. As long as people have needs, there is opportunity to serve. If there is an area you desire to start something new, we would consider working with you to develop new areas. We want to do all we can to contribute to the quality of people’s lives.

To find a place to serve you can:

• Attend a Ministering Members’ class
  
• Call the office and get information
  
• Talk to the head of any department
  

Servant and Leaders training: Besides the very detailed training you will get when you begin working in a new area we provide monthly training for all our workers and leaders. On the second Sunday night of each month we have Ultimate Leadership Training at 6 pm. This is required for every leader, but is open to anyone who is serving in any area.

Then at 7pm we have our Servant training. This is where every department meets to update training, solve problems and develop the team. Because of the overlap, some departments meet at different times. Contact the team leader or call the office to get the times of the training for every department.

Impact International School of Ministry For those who feel a call to the full-time ministry we have one of the most unique, cutting-edge training programs in the World. We have a three-year accelerated program wherein you can earn a degree in various areas of ministry. IISOM is fully accredited. Low interest student loans are available. For information contact the registrar at 256.536.9876 ext 235

Impact International Fellowship of Ministers
The Bible teaches us to Fellowship with those of like faith. Through the joint effort of those fully committed to reaching the world IIFOM has won millions of people to Jesus and trained leaders all around the world.

If you are active in ministry and desire to:

• Be a part of a growing fellowship of ministers
  
• Have the support of a proven world-wide ministry
  
• Become a part of a world-wide network of ministers
  
• Develop your ministry skills to their greatest level
  
• Be a part of Impact International Fellowship of Ministers

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There are many ways to receive personal ministry at Impact of Huntsville. It is important that you are aware of the channels. We are doing everything we can to meet the needs of our guests and members.

Every Service is designed to give you practical, relevant, applicable teaching that you can turn into tools to help you in every area of life. One of the characteristics of people who attend our church is that many of them find the courage to live their dreams. Most of that happens from applying the principles learned in our Sunday Morning services.

Personal Ministry takes place at the end of every service. Sometimes we call people forward for prayer. We usually allow people to pray standing at their seats. The key thing is to participate in the prayer and invitation at the end of the service. God will work in your heart as you pray or receive prayer.

When you feel the need for Individual Prayer the best place to receive that is in an Impact Group. Every week in our Impact Groups people pray for one another and see miracles from God.

Powerful Personal Growth happens as people participate in the Impact Groups. Each week people share their heart, ask question and take other important steps to implement the Word they have heard on Sunday Morning. In these groups people receive encouragement and fellowship. This is the place where you take your first step to doing something with the truth you hear. It is clear that people who regularly participate in Impact Groups grow at a much faster pace than those who merely attend Sunday Morning services.

Personal Counseling is made available by appointment through the church office. Simply call 536-9402 and listen for the options on the directory and select the appropriate option.

To receive confidential substance abuse counseling or treatment, call 536-9402, our qualified team of trained specialists will help you find the victory and peace you desire.

For more details about Impact Groups, Substance Abuse Treatment, Eating Disorder Programs and other areas of personal ministry look at the Information Center for a brochure about that specific area of ministry.

Impact Books and Health attempts to make good tools available to our members and friends. Many of your questions can answered and situations solved simply by reading the book of someone who has been there and done it. If we don’t have what you want, ask for it.

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The entire Bible is adamant that we should be worshippers of God. Our problem is that we have been so influenced by religious tradition that we don’t really know what the Bible says about how to worship God.

Psalms 150 says, "Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies; Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness; Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings;

Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute; Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin. Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah!" TMB. This doesn’t sound like most churches.

Worship was never dull and boring until the church became the official Government Religion of Rome. Then it was paganized, ritualized and modified to pacify the wealthy aristocrats. Major Biblical doctrines were dropped to make Christianity easily fit into the polytheistic culture. Many of the leaders who established church policy were not even born-again Christians.

The Bible is full of mighty men who were great worshippers. King David was a mighty warrior and King, yet he was an enthusiastic worshipper. "David, … danced before the LORD with all his might." 2 Samuel 6:14. The word dance used in this verse comes from a Hebrew word that means to leap, twirl and stomp about wildly. Worshippers have always used innovative, enthusiastic music to worship God.

There have always been those who did not understand enthusiastic worship like King David’s wife. "Michal,… saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, she despised him in her heart." 2 Samuel 6:16.

The Bible is full of commandments for us to rejoice and dance before the Lord. In order to dance you have to have enthusiastic music. "Let them praise his name in dance; strike up the band and make great music!" Psalm 149:2, TMB.

Let The Whole Earth Be Silent
Religion approaches God in a sorrowful, pious manner as if it was a duty or painful obligation. True worshippers are people who have fallen in love with God and are not afraid to express it. God is looking for worshippers. "That's the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration." John 4:24, TMB.

The idea of standing silently before God came from the misuse of one scripture and a carnal, religious church that was too uptight to enjoy God.

Don’t Be Solemn
We can’t take one scripture about coming before God in a solemn manner and reject every other scripture in the Bible. The children of Israel were only allowed to come before God in a Solemn Assembly two times per year. Every other time was a party, a celebration. "On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn't make him. We're his people, his well-tended sheep. Enter with the password: "Thank you!" Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him." Psalm 100, TMB.

Have a Party with God
The Bible tells us to sing, shout, leap, bow down, clap, kneel, laugh, lift our hands; i.e. express ourselves before God. If you think He’s good, let Him know it. If you’re glad you’re saved, let Him know it. Express your joy and appreciation before God.

Even under the Old Testament, which wasn’t nearly as good of a deal as we have, they had a party before God. When they brought their sacrifices, they would sit down with their families and eat a portion of them. They would sing, dance, pray, praise and rejoice at God’s goodness to them.

What Style of Music is Holy?
There is no such thing as holy or unholy music. There are holy and unholy words. For centuries people have sung hymns that were full of unscriptural words. All the while insisting that their music was more holy than something more contemporary was. Words should be scriptural; music should be enjoyable.

The Psalmist wrote a song, inspired of God and put it to the tune of a popular Philistine song. In the Amplified Bible the introduction to Psalm 84 says, To the Chief Musician, set to a Philistine lute, or a particular Gittite tune, a Psalm of the Sons of Korah. That means they put their words to the music of a popular song of their time.

Habakkuk the prophet set his prayer to music. In Habakkuk 3:1 it says, "A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, set to wild enthusiastic music." AMP. God has never been nervous or insulted by loud, wild, enthusiastic music. We have been led to believe it is wrong to have fun with God. Religion tries to make you afraid of God. Jesus sought to help you fall in love with God.

Music in History
Music has always been a significant part of history. The mood of every generation has been reflected in their music. Every generation has had particular styles of music that it found to be motivating and stimulating. The church has always fought against those trends instead of enjoying them. Of course, there are always exceptions.

In 1524 Martin Luther outraged the religious community by borrowing popular drinking songs and grafting scriptural lyrics into them. Today those songs like, "A Mighty Fortress is our God" and "Away in a Manger," are considered Christian classics. Yet, in their day they were the contemporary tunes the church fought against. It was considered vulgar and blasphemous that "Away in a Manger" was played on a guitar.

The great revival of the Wesley Brothers which brought about the establishment of the Methodist church was pushed forward by the use of music. It was very common for the Wesley’s to take spiritual songs and sing them to the tunes of popular tavern music.

In 1690 a teenage boy complains to his father that the church’s music is out of date and boring. The father insisted that it was good enough for him and his father it should be good enough for the son. The father challenges his son and says if you think you can do better, then why don’t you. The young boy, Isaac Watts, goes into his room and begins a writing career that produces "Behold the Glories of the Lamb," "We’re marching to Zion," "When I survey the Wondrous Cross," and "Joy to the World." In all he wrote 350 contemporary tunes that later generations came to consider classics. Yet, in their day they were as outrageous as electric guitars and drums.

One of the greatest revivals in modern history revolved around hippies and young people turning to the Lord by the hundreds of thousands in the sixties and seventies. One of the greatest factors in this movement was the music. While the church fought to preserve its traditions and criticized their carnality, it missed one of the greatest moves of God in our lifetime. The contemporary worship of the charismatic and word of faith movement was born out of the Jesus People music of the 60’s. The very people that fought against that music in the 60’s consider it the "anointed music" of the 90’s.

Loving God with your Whole Heart
When Jesus was asked to identify the most important commandment, without hesitation he replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength....." Mark 12:30, NIV. The Bible says in Romans 12:1, to present our bodies as a living sacrifice to the Lord.

At Impact of Huntsville, we love God and we want to show Him. We are more interested in giving you the freedom to express yourself in a Biblical way, than preserving dead, religious tradition. We have selected the style of music that is the most popular in the city. We make sure the words are scriptural. We have a party before God.

Learn To Enjoy God
Many people come to Impact, love our services and then feel guilty. They are afraid they should not have so much fun in church. We have been so influenced by religion that we are afraid to live in the freedom Christ purchased for us. Learn to enjoy God. Heaven is going to be the biggest celebration you’ve ever seen and the party has already started. Get involved. We are serving God with joy!

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It is essential that you know who we are and where we are going. The more you know about this church the more comfortable you will feel; the sooner you will find your place of ministry; the more quality ministry you will experience.

Why did we start this Church?
After walking with God in effective ministry for eight years I faced emotional and physical destruction. In 18 months I had seven operations and began what would be a 4-½ year struggle for my life.

After going through a divorce, backsliding and leaving the ministry for a year, I could not escape the call of God on my life. Although I had continued to win people to Jesus, I had considered myself unworthy of fulfilling my call. It seems God had other plans.

I had been successful in ministry, but had grown to hate the politics and religious game playing that went on behind the scenes. I realized that I would only re-enter the ministry if I could build a church free from all of those destructive traps.

In 1982, I opened the doors to Impact Ministries in Huntsville, Alabama. We initially functioned as a ministry that was active in teaching and evangelizing in America and around the world.

In September 1983 we began the first class of Impact International School of Ministry. I saw that seminars were not enough to train leaders and set them free from the religious paradigms that had ruled their life for so long. It would take regular, concentrated, systematic training. Since then we have trained leaders all around the world.

As we won the lost we found that churches in Huntsville were not equipped and in many cases not interested in helping the people we were reaching. After years of prodding by the Holy Spirit and my wife, in November 1984, I finally responded to the call of God to start a church in Huntsville, Alabama that would be a different kind of church.

Impact’s History:
Since that time we have experienced very positive growth and effectiveness. The church initially met in my living room and dining room. Once it reached around 100 people in regular attendance we had to make a move.

Because we were active in missions projects and world evangelism, the people agreed to hold off on building a building. So, we moved into a tent on my front lawn where we stayed for nine months. (Nine very hot summer months and very cold winter months.) Needless to say, we lost those who were not pioneering in nature.

Then for several months we met in various locations throughout the city. In 1988 we built the first phase of our building plan. We have remained in that building until the present time. In 1999 we purchased the adjoining property and began a building project. The new building will house our offices and a new auditorium. The present building will continue as an educational building and be used for special functions.

The plan that God gave me for this ministry was very backwards from the way I would have planned it. When we began He said, "I will establish you around the world, then across the nation, then I will establish you here in Huntsville." That was the plan that we worked.

For years we won hundreds of thousands of people to the Lord all around the world every year. Books and tapes have been distributed to hundreds of thousands of third world leaders. We have trained pastors and leaders all across America.

In 1998 the Lord gave me the release to make the public announcement, "It is time to build the local church." I had spent the previous two years fulfilling my commitments around the world. But the time had come. I had seen God do exactly what He promised. I had spoken to crowds of over 20,000. Our ministry had influenced entire nations. All across America doors were opened, our School of Ministry Graduates were pioneering new churches, but now we were ready to reach Huntsville.

The following will help you know where we are going:

Our Mission Statement:
Impact of Huntsville exists to reach the lost, the backslidden, the unchurched and the unproductive, make them whole through the love of God, to equip and launch them into a place of personal ministry while living their dreams.

Our Philosophy of Ministry:
Sickened by the abuse of twentieth century religious politics, we are committed to building a ministry that exists to build people. We will never use people to build our ministry. We believe that success comes when everyone around us is successful. We do not want you to give up your dreams to fulfill this church’s vision. We want you to live your dreams while serving together with us to fulfill the vision of making people whole through the love of God.

Our Vision Statement:
We believe we are called to build a church of 10,000 active disciples that will be a launching pad into the entire world.

We intend to model to the world that a strong, effective growing church can be built by building people. We want to shatter the religious control that causes people to throw away their dreams to only serve the vision of an egocentric pastor.

Why our services are different:
Everything we do has a purpose. Because the needs and the learning styles of people have changed so much in recent years, we have designed our services to be effective at reaching this generation.

This environment, the type of music, the format of the services everything we do is designed to make us more effective. We refuse to be tied to tradition if that tradition is making us ineffective at reaching our community.

We have an agenda in every service:

• We want every person who attends our services to experience the love of God through the preaching, the worship and every aspect of the service.
  
• We want every service to provide an opportunity for Biblically-based, free expression of Worship and Praise.
  
• We want our people to become true worshippers of God.
  
• We want everyone to have fun in the presence of God.
  
• We want people to experience personal acceptance from our staff and our members.
  
• We want people to hear messages that add value to their daily life.
  
• We want people to see that God and Christianity are very relevant to daily life.
  
• We want people to know that Jesus is the only route to the abundant life.
  
• We want this to be a safe place for our members and guests to bring their family and friends to meet Jesus.

If we’re the kind of church you’ve been looking for, check out the "Why would I want to Join Impact?" page. Get on board. This is a chance to make your life count, grow in God and avoid all the religious games.

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Like so many other issues, the concept of church membership has been misused and misrepresented for many years. Before you can decide if you want to be a member of Impact of Huntsville, it is essential that you have the answers to some really important questions.

Is church membership scriptural?
That question can only be answered by identifying the biblical pattern for relating to a local church. Acts 2:41 says, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls."

New converts did two things immediately after salvation. First, they were baptized in water. Then they joined forces with the local church. The Bible says that souls were added to the church. The soul is the realm of the mind, emotions and will. In other words, people made an intellectual, emotional decision to become a part of the local church.

It is important that becoming a part of this church involves your emotions, i.e., you have an emotional connection to this organization and to the people. That emotional relationship will grow over time but it is essential. Secondly, you want your decision to be intellectual. You want to know what we’re about. You want to know if you want to go where we are going. Last of all, you want your will to be the deciding factor. In other words, it must be your choice not obligation or coercion.

It means nothing for your name to be on a church membership role if you are not a functioning member from your heart. We openly want you to be a member of this local body if your heart is in it.

Am I Receiving Ministry in this Church?
God wants you to be in a place where you receive the help you need. God is never leading you to be in a place that is spiritually and emotionally negative for you. As a matter of fact, the Bible says, "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge." Proverbs 19:27.

We should remove ourselves from any instruction that causes us to err from the truth of God’s love, faith righteousness and the finished work of Jesus. It even goes further to warn of listening to those who would pronounce judgment on us. Isaiah 54:17 promises those who accept the New Covenant that they will not have to live under the threat of God’s judgment. No instrument formed against thee shall prosper and every tongue that riseth against thee in judgment will be refuted. The Emphasized Bible.

If IMPACT is the place where you are encouraged to walk with God; if IMPACT is the place where you are experiencing the love of God; if IMPACT is a place where you are receiving teaching that helps you walk with God, this is the place you should make your church home.

Can I serve God in this church?
We believe everyone is important to God. We believe that an effective, powerful church is the product of every member doing his/her part. We can’t be who we need to be in this community if you do not find your place of service. We give everyone an opportunity to serve. If you can find a place to serve, that is a strong indicator that you are in the right place.

Where does church membership fit into the teaching about the Kingdom of God?
The Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven are synonymous. The Kingdom of God/Heaven is a realm that we can enter into now. "For the kingdom of God is.., a matter of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Romans 4:17. Jesus said in Luke 17:21, "the kingdom of God is within you."

Nearly every parable of the Kingdom was about stewardship. Stewardship is how you manage your life, time and resources for the Kingdom of God. None of us are saved to sit around and wait for heaven. The degree that I become a steward, a person who manages my life, time and resources for the Kingdom of God will greatly affect how I experience righteous, peace and joy.

The local church is the place where we bring our gifts and talents together to accomplish something great for God. This has been God’s pattern all the way through the Old and New Testaments. The idea of being a loner is foreign to everything the Bible teaches about walking with God.

In the Old Testament there was a prophet who fell into error. His name was Balaam. The name Balaam means, "not of the people." By isolating himself from the people of God, Balaam progressed to being against the people of God. Isolation has never been healthy. A Kingdom is a group of people who are citizens together of a nation. We are all part of the church of God in a larger sense, but we find our place and utilize our gifts in a local church.

Will Being a Part of this Church Help Me Personally?
This church is designed to be relevant. Our services are designed to help you develop a Biblically based sense of self-worth. None of our functions are designed to just "keep you active." The main question we ask when we start any new program is this, "Will this contribute to the quality of life for our people?"

Our church mission statement is: "Impact of Huntsville exists to reach the lost, the backslidden, the unchurched and the unproductive, make them whole through the love of God and launch them into productive, personal ministry." We want to equip you to live your dreams while living for God.

What is a Member at Impact?
Becoming a member of Impact says that you identify with our mission to reach the world. You are saying that you want to become a part of this family. You are saying that you believe this is a place where you can serve God together with us. You are saying, "count me in!"

Steps to becoming a Member:

1. Fill out the enclosed form: The first step to church membership is to fill out the enclosed form and drop it in the offering basket, give it to and usher or drop it by the bookstore.

2. Attend church: It is important that you know who we are. Remember, a soul being added to the church is an emotional and intellectual decision. A person should attend church at Impact for at least four weeks before making a decision to become a member.

3. Read "My Church My Family:" Too often people bring their "baggage" from past negative church experiences. It is important that you understand what it means to have a healthy relationship with a church. This book will help you understand our perspective on healthy church relations. I recommend that you purchase this book from the bookstore. If you do not desire to purchase it, a copy can be checked out. If you have problems reading, someone will be more than glad to discuss these principle with you.

4. Attend the Welcome to Impact Fellowship: While this is not absolutely essential it is highly recommended. This is the place where new people can meet the senior pastor and many of the staff members.

5. Attend an Impact Family Meeting: Occasional family meetings are held where you are introduced to the many areas of ministry we offer. This is the place where you can discover where and how you can fit into this local body.

6. Be publicly presented to the church: We want the church family to know who you are. We want to publicly acknowledge you as someone who has chosen to join us in our walk with God.

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Are We involved in Missions?
When Jesus was raised from the dead, He had conquered sin and death. Now, every human being had the right to experience God’s free gift of salvation. Jesus clearly stated that the church should actively, passionately, assertively preach the Gospel to every person in the world. He said, "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." Matthew 28:19, TMB.

Evangelism: The Heart of Missions:
True world evangelism is born out of a heart that is on fire to reach the lost. Impact of Huntsville was established and built on winning the lost. Every year our outreach teams win hundreds of people to Jesus right here in Huntsville. We consider it hypocritical to reach people across the world if you don’t care about the people across the street.

World Outreach:
Before we opened the doors to Impact of Huntsville, this ministry was winning thousands of people to the Lord all around the world through mission trips and missionary efforts. Every year tens of thousands of lives are influenced by the outreach of this local church and its partners.

Through our crusades and various international outreach projects we have often had more than 100,000 new converts per year. We are making every effort to reach the world with the Gospel.

Crusades:
For years we personally conducted three to five crusades per year in some part of the world. We have had as many as five thousand people per day saved through these efforts. In all of our crusades the sick are healed and miracles of every kind happen as these people hear and believe the Gospel.

Presently we provide literature for missionaries who are proclaiming this message of grace and peace to the world. Through training and influencing missionaries we are reaching far more people than when we conducted individual crusades.

Training Leaders:
Training leaders has always been a key part of our strategy. If you reach a leader, he/she will reach thousands of people in their lifetime. In all of our crusades we have leadership meetings to develop the national pastors. We want the ministers to be able to help the people who are won through our crusades. If the leaders are not won, they will drive the people away faster than we can reach them.

Support of National Pastors and Missionaries:
As the Lord leads we often provide financial support for some missionaries and national pastors. A national pastor who has been trained is a great financial investment. You can actually support as many as 20 national pastors for what it would cost one missionary to live in another country.

Through our support of missionaries we have helped establish Bible Schools in Costa Rico, Mexico, Philippines, Hong Kong and Ecuador. We have sponsored crusades all over the world. We have smuggled Bibles into China and other communist controlled countries.

The work of Impact Ministries was so extensive in the Philippines that our senior pastor received and Honorary Doctorate in World Evangelism from March of Faith, Inc.

Sending Materials:
The printed page is the best missionary investment we can make. A book doesn’t need a special diet. It doesn’t get too tired to travel. It never compromises its message through fear and intimidation. A book doesn’t get sick and need medical attention. It doesn’t need travel money to come home for the holidays. Printed literature is the perfect missionary.

Our books have been used to train thousands of leaders across America and around the world. Many missionaries use our books as a regular part of their leadership training. All across Africa, Australia, Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Central America, Canada and numerous other countries, church leaders are discovering the truth about God through our books and tapes.

Gospel Tracts:
Our Gospel tracts have used to win hundreds of thousands of people to Jesus in America and around the world. In one year alone we sent over 100,000 Spanish tracts into Mexico. Churches use our tracts along with the Supernatural Ministry book to train their members in personal evangelism.

One chapter in the Gospel of Peace translated into Chinese was used in tract form to win over 30,000 Chinese to Jesus in a recent mission’s tour.

Impact International School of Ministry:
Our school of ministry is the best investment we can make in missions. After spending two years in intense ministry training, our graduates are able to reach the world in an incredibly effective manner. We have a very high percentage of our graduates who leave here and become an active part in ministry. Some go to the mission field; others pastor churches or work in various areas of the helps ministry.

Web Page:
The web is the place to get in touch with the world. Our web page is a link that keeps us in touch with the entire world. More lost people are in touch with the church through the World Wide Web than any other current means. Consistent with our ability to stay on the cutting-edge of the Gospel, we are weekly developing and advancing the effectiveness of our web page. There are articles, free tape downloads, questions and answers and very soon there will be weekly church services made available. Hundreds of people download our free messages every week.

If you Have a Burden:
All of these areas of outreach provide great opportunities for those who desire to touch the world. The need in the world is so great that we all must do something. If you have a passion for a particular area, a certain country, a particular missionary or one of our many projects, I would encourage you to give a special one-time gift or make a monthly mission’s pledge to that area of ministry.

Additionally, there are several areas where you could volunteer your time. We are changing the way the world sees God. For us to make a difference no one has to make a spectacular sacrifice. To make a difference we must simply all do our part.

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At Impact of Huntsville we have seen some incredible healings in what seemed to be impossible family situations. Although we don’t talk about "family" a lot, we do teach and equip people to have effective relationships. After all, that is what makes families work…loving relationships.

Telling two hurting people what they "should" do to have a happy marriage doesn’t work. People who are angry, fearful or hurting inwardly are incapable of making the people around them feel loved. As a matter of fact, studies indicate that the attempt to make hurting people "do the right thing" may actually make the relationship worse.

Studies conducted by Barna Research, a Christian based research organization, shows that the divorce rate among Christians is slightly higher than divorce rates among atheists and non-believers. It indicates that churches that tend to have a strong, stereotypical concept of family may have an even higher divorce rate.

We believe that "religious people"1 have created a stereotype for relationships that is not really based on scriptural teaching. Rather than building relationships around love, communication and individual development, "religious people" try to force marriages to work through fear, guilt and obligation. Additionally, there is a strong pressure to force husbands and wives into a predetermined role, therefore, leaving no room for individual growth and expression. Forcing these false roles and demands on people creates an impossible situation. Rather than strengthening relationships it adds unacceptable pressures. False religious stereotypes actually prohibit the growth of loving relationships.

The number one testimony that we receive from people who are influenced by the ministry is "I have fallen in love with God and I have fallen in love with the people in my life." The following are some of the reasons we build strong families.

If you don’t feel loved, you won’t give love.
The Bible says, everyone that loves is born of God and is experiencing God.2 We tend to give what we experience. Because we establish people in the love of God they not only grow spiritually, they grow relationally. In other words, they express to others what they are feeling inside.

We build a strong, Bible-based sense of self-worth.
God desires for man to live in a sense of dignity and worth.3 People who have self-worth that comes from knowing the value that God has for them tend to have a higher value for others. If you don’t have dignity, you can’t give dignity.

Our entire church focuses on making people whole through the love of God. Many people who have been hurt are still carrying the "baggage" from the past. As we help people get whole through the love of God, they find healing from the pain of the past. Jesus was so committed to this that it was recorded in scripture. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted." Luke 4:18. We will only have a new future when we are no longer controlled by the pain of the past.

We believe that true spirituality is measured by the quality of our loving relationships. We reflect the fact that we know and are experiencing God based on our ability to walk in love and build meaningful relationships. "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." 1 John 4:7-8, NIV. We tend to find what we look for. When meaningful relationships become a major goal in our walk with God, we tend to find them.

We only have one service per week so that you can have time for a family life. Church should not replace real life; it should support it. We keep the number of meetings to a minimum so that you can spend quality time with your family.

We have specialized programs for teens and children. Besides having wonderfully effective children’s and teen’s ministry, we are trained and equipped to deal with substance abuse, sexual abuse and other problems that face families. We have an outpatient treatment center and personal counseling. We periodically run a nine-week program for youth and teens that are at high risk for substance abuse.

We have specialized programs for adults. Our treatment center takes parents from a place of substance abuse to a place of freedom through a Christ-centered, drug free program.

1. The term "religious" is used to describe a person who follows a religious tradition rather than the Word of God.
2. In 1 John 4:7-8 the English phrase "knoweth God" comes from a Greek word which means to be experiencing God.
3. Hebrews 2:7 says God crowned man with glory and honor i.e., dignity and worth.

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Serious believers all over the world are asking legitimate questions about tithes and offerings These questions must be answered in order for a person to give up their hard-earned money in faith.

1. Is tithing New Testament?
The apostle Paul said that he worshipped God according to his fathers and believed all the things that were in the law. (Acts 24:14) Jesus said, "Not one jot or tittle of the law will pass away." (Matthew 5:18.)
All of the truth of the Old Testament is true. It is not however, our source of righteousness. It does not make God love us more. Doing the things in the law can never give us what Jesus died to give us.

2. Am I robbing God when I do not tithe?
Yes, but He still loves you.

3. Will I go to hell for not tithing?
No you won’t, but someone will. It takes money to get the gospel to the world.

4. Will God curse me if I do not tithe?
Galatians 3:13 says that Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law. Our failure to tithe or do anything else will not put us back under the curse. God, who sent His own Son to redeem us from the curse, will certainly not violate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus because we fail to obey some part of the Word.

5. Why is 10% so important?
God did not just randomly pull a figure out of the air. It takes about 10% of the income of a group of people to provide adequate ministry to the families involved.

6. What should the tithe be used for?
First and foremost the tithe is used to provide for those involved in the work of the ministry. (Malachia 3:10) It is impossible for those who minister to do so if their needs are not met.

Next, the tithe is used to bring meaningful ministry to the local church body. It costs money to bring worthwhile ministry to children and teens. The church has to compete with MTV, video games and all sorts of multimedia.
Statistics show that children who do not become disciples by the age of 14 will probably never walk with God. A great portion of finances is required to provide staff and programs to which children of this generation will respond.
The Bible pattern was that finances for outreach and buildings should come from special offerings. Those who minister the word should not be robbed to meet these needs.

7. Is the tithe 10% before or after taxes?
That is a matter to settle in your own heart. Whatever you decide do it faithfully with joy and thanksgiving. Don’t do it begrudgingly.

8. What’s the point in tithing?
Tithing is an expression of our love and trust for God. He gave all He had for us. He sent His Son, Jesus, to become our sin, take the curse of the law, conquer sin and obtain righteousness. Giving is one of the ways we have of expressing our love for God.

Tithes and offerings are also an expression of trust. We all want God involved in our finances, but we don’t want to trust Him. Through our giving our heart is expanded in our ability to trust Him in this area. Refusal to give is a clear expression that we do not trust God’s word in the area of finances and provision.

Failure to tithe and give would be tantamount to praying, "Father I do not trust you and I do not want you involved in my finances. I prefer to live by the sweat of my brow, rather than to be empowered by your grace, Amen!"
Tithes and offerings are also one of the places that we express our concern for the world. God’s Word says that He gives us the power to get wealth so His covenant can be established in the earth. (Deuteronomy 8:18) God wants us to be channels through which He can pour His love out on the world.

9. What benefits do I get from tithing?
The benefits of tithes and offerings are many when they are done in faith and love. God works from the heart. His capacity and power for wealth can only flow through a generous heart. The word grace means, power, ability or capacity that works through the heart. God wants us to have His capacity for wealth and success.

We can only get the grace to receive what we get the grace to give. As we develop a generous heart, we are simultaneously developing a heart that has the capacity to receive. Giving, in love and faith develops a heart of generosity in us.

Many people seek God’s ability to prosper, but never experience it. The secret to real, abiding prosperity is found in generosity. The generous or "liberal heart" as the Bible calls it has the ability to see how to prosper in every situation.
Proverbs 11:23-26 describes how one person withholds what he should give and never has enough and another person gives more than required, yet they have abundance. The key is a generous, liberal heart.

The person who has their heart established in the area of grace of giving and receiving faces difficult times with confidence in God’s provision. He/she stands sure in the promises of God.

10. What if I am in debt? Should I pay my bills or tithe?
I have had people ask, "Should I rob my creditors or should I rob God? I don’t have enough to pay both." It is unlikely that we have observed the principles of God and found ourselves in debt. So, should we cause the Kingdom of God to suffer because we have been poor stewards? The truly generous person with a prosperous heart will not steal from either; he/she will find a way to be responsible in both areas.

11. What did Jesus ever say about money?
Jesus taught more about stewardship than heaven, hell, faith or eternal life. Nearly every parable was about stewardship. Stewardship is the way we manage our life, time and resources for the Kingdom of God. If we are disciples of Jesus we manage our life, time and resources around His priorities.
Jesus’ taught that the way we viewed money would affect the way we view everything in life. It would cause us to be divided in our loyalties. Matthew 6:21-24. In truth we will never become true disciples of Jesus until we settle the money issue.
The proper handling of money is to not something you do when you reach a high level of faith and spirituality. It is the starting place of God granting His trust to us. It is the place that, until we get past it, we will never be entrusted with the true riches of God. Luke 16:9-13.
Many people deceive themselves into thinking they will become generous when they have more money. Paul taught people to be faithful with what they had, not what they did not have. 2 Corinthians 8:12.
In other words, if you are not generous with what you do have, you will not be generous when you have more. Studies show that as the income levels rise, people tend to justify giving smaller and smaller percentages.

12. How and where should I give?
In the Old Testament offerings were brought to the priest who served you. In other words you should give to the place where:
a. You are receiving personal ministry
b. Your family is receiving ministry
c. You believe in what they are doing

Always make giving an act of love, worship and faith. Get your heart involved. Remind yourself of why you are giving to the ministry you are giving to.

Do you want your church to be effective?
Do you want quality programs for you and your family members?
Do want to bring stability to your community?
Do want to have God involved in your finances?

Enlarge your heart through faithful, generous, loving giving!

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