Mr. McGarvey grew up in Altoona, Pennsylvania in the home of godly parents who instilled in Joel and his siblings the importance of serving the Lord. It was during these years that he sat under the ministry and teachings of Pastor Henry Kulp. Joel is a graduate of Grace Bible College. For over twenty years Joel ministered in 3 churches in Michigan and 2 in Pennsylvania. He and his wife Susan have four children. Their two daughters (Rebecca and Jennifer) live in Wisconsin where their husbands pastor churches. They also have two sons, Paul (in the Army) and Joel Jr (at home). Joel has been involved in radio and television ministries as well as traveling with his brother Tim in a singling ministry. He also serves on the Board of Things To Come Mission, currently serving as its President. Joel joined the Board of BDTLB in March of 2004 and became the Associate Director in January of 2005. Since that time he and his wife have traveled extensively sharing the saving Gospel of the Grace of God around the country in one of their Faith and Fire Crusades. In January of 2008 Joel assumed the position of Executive Director. The McGarveys look forward to ministering in your church.
Ministry Update - July
Dear Faithful Partners,
We send you greetings in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior
Jesus
Christ.
This will be a quick update as our time online is limited.
We send you greetings in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior
Jesus
Christ.
We have just finished our 5th VBS of the summer and what a week it
was.
We're here in Ridgeley, WV with Pastor Brent and Saundra Biller and the
folks of
Grace Bible Fellowship. Our attendence was done from previous years but
the
blessing were just as great. Greatest among them were the 12 kids who
accepted
Christ as Savior. We have truly been blessed of the Lord this summer to
see His
saving hand at work.
Well it's been a while since I last communicated with you. Things
have been
going great and we are praising the Lord for His goodness each day.
Let me begin with an update on my health. As most of you are aware I
fell
off of a ladder (6') two weeks ago this past Saturday shortly after
arriving in
Duncansville, PA. to Begin a week of VBS (#2). I spent Saturday evening (and
early Sunday morning) in the ER. I had a concussion, required 7 stitches
in my
head, bruised my ribs and kidney area and had numerous cuts and bruises.
I had a
serious scrape on my lower calf that cased me quite a bit of pain when
walking.
Greetings from sunny Pennsylvania. We arrived here about 9:00pm Saturday
after leaving Missouri and the Cowboy Family Bible Camp.
What a week we had there. Just over 165 people attended the camp, and
although we had a good deal of rain (and mud) the large tents and gravel on the
ground kept us dry. Les Feldick was very enjoyable and we deeply appreciated our
time spent with him. I had seen him on the TV and head about him from many
people on our travels but I had never met him. We enjoyed great
fellowship and I
found him to be a very knowledgeable and humble man. He spoke three
times each
day with three of those a Q&A time that he allowed me to share with
him. I'm
sure Lee will have a post on the conference soon but from my perspective
it was
extremely beneficial spiritually and the fellowship was great.
Things are very busy here in the office as we make final
preparations for our itinerants ministries this summer. Both the McGarveys and
the Homokis will have busy schedules. The Homokis will be involved in the four
kids Cowboy Camps, as well as the family Bible Conference/Cowboy Camp in June. A
lot of time and preparation has gone into the camps, especially the family camp
and we are seeking the Lord’s hand of blessing upon them.
Greetings in the wonderful name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6:12)
In the face of increasing opposition, Jude urges his readers to
stand true to the body of truth they had previously received.
Apparently, some were departing from the faith and beginning to teach
contrary to correct doctrine. Jude warned them, in the following
verses, of the consequences of their action.
Beloved, when
I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was
needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should
earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the
saints (Jude 1:3).
The Apostle Paul, in a vision, saw a man of Macedonia calling for help.
Without hesitation he responded, assembled his team and set sail.
Twenty-five years ago, another “call” was heard; in faithfulness a team
was assembled and a ship called Bible Doctrines to Live By, Inc., was
launched. No, there wasn’t a vision as such, but the call was no less
real. At first the team consisted of a man and his family, along with a
few who agreed to pray. Over the years that team has increased; some
joined the team and others departed, but the purpose and message has
remained virtually unchanged. Paul’s missionary journeys took him
across many lands, countries and waters.
Admittedly this article will be different than most published in the pages of Truth Aflame.
Its subject matter is not evangelistic, nor is it expounding some deep
theological truths. But it is my prayer that it will find fertile
ground in the hearts and minds of married couples. Prayerfully read the
following article and weigh its words against your own personal marital
relationship. Today, perhaps as never before, we must work to
strengthen the home. In ever-increasing numbers, marriages are broken,
homes are being destroyed. Lives are being torn apart and wasted -
often ending up in total discouragement - and, therefore, are limited
in their ability to fully serve the Lord.
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13) (Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)
(Read by Max McLean. Provided by The Listener's Audio Bible.)
