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God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

I do verily believe that when God shall accomplish [unity], it will be the effect of love, and not the cause of love. It will proceed from love, before it brings forth love.
John Owen

Legalism itself comes in two forms. On the one hand are those legalists who insist on obedience to the law, especially their law, as a condition for acceptance with God. To be saved one must submit to rules and regulations, sometimes biblical ones, sometimes not. But at the heart of this variety of legalism is the idea that works are a condition for justification… The other kind of legalist may well affirm salvation by grace through faith, but demands that others submit to his image of what constitutes true spirituality. Invariably he or she sets extra-biblical guidelines, identifies morally proscribed activities, and then severely judges those who fail to measure up.
Sam Storms

    • TESTIMONY OF AVERIE ALVERSON

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    TESTIMONY OF AVERIE ALVERSON

      “From Mourning to Dancing”

      Averie Alverson

      I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan where my family attended a mainline denominational church every Sunday during the school year. I sang in the choir, attended youth group, and prayed to my Heavenly Father every night in my room before going to sleep. I considered myself to be a Christian, but I really did not understand who Jesus was.

      I remember sitting in Church many times looking at the huge beautiful mural on the wall behind the alter which pictured Jesus and the apostles. Iíd look at Jesus and think, “Jesus, I donít understand who you really are or why you died on the cross.” It just did not make much sense to me. So, when I left home for college in 1967, I decided not to attend church since I found it boring and irrelevant to my life. I did continue praying to my Heavenly Father, though, and I think He was my closest confidant. I would talk to Him about everything.

      In December of 1969, I discovered that I was pregnant. Since my brother, my parents, my roommate, and the father of the baby all thought abortion was a good idea, that is what I decided to do. Even my church gave us information on how to obtain a legal abortion. In January of 1970, I had the procedure done at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

      Later that year, I met my husband, Larry Alverson, and we were married in August of 1971. His brother had recently been “saved” and he told us that if we werenít saved, weíd go to hell. I really didnít understand what in the world he was talking about. After graduating that December, I took a job at the university bookstore while Larry completed his final year of school. At this time, my interest in who Jesus was resurfaced and I felt that I just had to understand who He was. I talked to people and watched movies about Him, but nothing seemed to be clear to me.

      The Lord had a plan, however! The cashier next to me was a beautiful girl named Jeannie. She had two little boys, was separated from her husband, and was very bitter and angry. She had gotten married at the age of 17 because of pregnancy, and had not been able to attend college as she had planned. About a month after I started working there, she changed completely. She had a beautiful smile and a radiant face. She was so pleasant to all the students and her husband would come and take her to lunchóthey seemed so happy and loving when all I had seen before was hate and bitterness. I asked her what had caused the change and she said that she had become a Christian. I thought to myself, “Become a Christian?! What in the world would that have to do with it? Iím a Christian and it sure wouldnít make any difference to me!”

      I watched her over the next several months. She read her Bible every day and she never went back to her old ways. My interest peaked when she began using the phrase “born again” which I had never heard before. Then, on June 21, 1972, all of the cashiers got together one evening for some socializing. Near the end of the evening, I began asking Jeannie what “born again” meant and many other related questions. I donít remember everything she said, but I do remember her telling me how Jesus had died on the cross and took the punishment for (paid the price for) my sins so that I wouldnít have to. She said that Jesus loved me just the way I was, and that He didnít want me to wait and try to make myself good enough to come to Him. My spirit was not alive and couldnít communicate with God like He wanted me to. I had already been born physically, but now needed to be born spiritually. She said that Jesus was sitting on the edge of His seat, just waiting to come into my heart and life, and then He could help me be what He created me to be. But He couldnít come in until I asked Him to!!

      Well, I finally understood, and I could hardly wait to get in my car and go home so that I could pray and asked Jesus into my life. I woke up in the morning feeling like a weight (which I was not even aware I was carrying) had been lifted from my shoulders. I found an old Bible that I had and began reading it. To my surprise, I understood it for the first time in my life. I began attending a Bible study at a house called the Mustard Seed. The teacher was a “born again” Jew who knew Hebrew and I began to learn and grow as he taught us about God. My husband was saved two months after I was, and the Bible study grew from five people to about 80 people by the time Larry graduated in December. In April of 1991, our family traveled back to Kansas to visit friends. We took one day to go back to KU. We noticed a church there called the Mustard Seed, so we went in to see if it had anything to do with the Bible study. To our delight, the Bible study that began in the spring of 1972 was now a thriving church of 700. How exciting it was to see what the Lord had done!

      Since our salvation, my husband Larry and I have moved to six different states and have been involved in churches as Sunday School teachers, Bible study teachers, elders, seminar speakers, and in 1984, Larry went into the ministry full time. Serving the Lord with all that we have and all that we are is our greatest joy! He is so wonderful, how could we do any less?!

      There is one last thing that you should know. After my salvation in 1972, I learned that my abortion had made me sterile. Following three major surgeries, and almost the loss of my life due to an ectopic pregnancy, Larry and I adopted two beautiful children, Bill and Betsy. I also learned that the baby that I had aborted at 10 weeks was already completely formed with fingernails and toenails, and all it had to do was grow. That was the first time I realized what I had done and I had to go to the Lord with it over a period of time to receive forgiveness and healing.

      Because of all that God has done for me, I co-founded Mourning Joy Ministries (MJM) based on Jeremiah 31:13b, “For I will turn their mourning into joy, and I will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.” NASV. MJM offers support groups for men and women hurting from abortion in their past. I thank the Lord for the endless, unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness that He extends to all who will receive it! As the words of my favorite Hymn, It Is Well With My Soul, say in verse three:

      “My sin,

      Oh the bliss of this glorious thought,

      My sin,

      Not in part, but the whole,

      is nailed to the cross

      and I bear it no more!

      Praise the Lord!

      Praise the Lord!

      Oh my soul!”

      Editor: Averie continues to support all hurt by abortion or who need help or assistance in this area. If you have had an abortion or been affected by abortion in some way, call Averie anytime at (616)534-6263. She cares about you and will help you find peace from the pain.

      I would add, if you are pregnant and donít know what to do, call Averie. You and your baby are loved, let us help you through these times.

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