Dear Readers,

     In the ministry of the Goodwins, a powerful anointing was accompanied by integrity, love, and a firm adherence to sound doctrine.  They stood the test of time.

     I was an eye witness to the power of the Holy Spirit that flowed through Mom.  It was astonishing.  And I cannot think of, and do not know of, any minister today that flows in that kind of manifested power and pure anointing on a consistent basis.  Frankly, we are missing it somewhere.

     As I travel and talk with fellow Charismatic ministers, they are consistently expressing to me in private the same message.  Namely, that we are in trouble as a movement.  I've heard:

     ". . . It can't keep going on like this.

       . . . Things have got to change.

       . . . I'm sick of the hype and the hysterical appeals for money.

       . . . Where is the power we remember from years ago? 

       . . . How do we recapture that old-time Holy Ghost power we used to know or have read about?"

     We need to return to our roots.

     It is sobering to realize that many of our forefathers in the faith walked in a power, anointing, and authority that are rarely seen today.  I do not propose that we return to the past, or attempt to copy past moves or ministries of God.  But I do believe we must minister in a contemporary way what the Holy Spirit is saying to our generation, while at the same time we draw from the strengths of those that went before us and learn from their examples.  Additionally, we need to come to a realization of where we have gotten off into extremes, and correct ourselves.

     I know of no other person more qualified to help us take an honest look at some of the areas where we have drifted away from the faith of Wigglesworth, Finney, the Early Church, and the early Pentecostals, than Dr. Charles Goodwin, the son of Mom and Dad Goodwin.

     Charles grew up witnessing the power of the Holy Spirit and knew Brother Hagin and many others.  Yet rather than attempting to ride his parents' name to the forefront of the Charismatic move, he was lead of the Lord to walk away from the invitations and the open doors, and to devote his life and ministry to studying in depth God's written word.

     He is a professor of New Testament Greek.  In him you have a rare combination of being an eye witness to the power of God, but also a bonafide expert on God's written word.  Additionally, he is rightfully proud of his parent's ministry and his spiritual heritage, and has no axe to grind against Charismatics.  I see him as an Elder Brother in "the Faith," a brother that loves us, and a brother who can from both experience and training, speak authoritatively into our lives and hearts.  I believe this is ordained of God for our good.

     Yet, I can see that the matters we discuss will cause me some flack.  Some will be tempted to stone the messengers because the message makes them stop and think.  Others of you will give his comments only a superficial reading, and then just write him and me both off.  I urge you to neither stone us nor ignore us.

     As Brother Hagin used to say:

     "If we have the word without the Spirit--

      we dry up.

     If we have the Spirit without the word--

     we blow up.

     But if we have the word AND the Spirit--

     we grow up."

     My brethren, we have reached the point in Charismatic circles that we simply will not see much more of God's presence and power until we decide to do some growing up.  And I am convinced that the exhortations and corrections Charles will give us, are the very medicines we need at this time.  Please give careful attention to all that Brother Charles Goodwin shares with us.

Kind Regards,

Brother Mel