Who We Are?
The SALVATION EMPOWERMENT SANCTUARY is a HEALING and DELIVERANCE Ministry.
” If your Christianity is about material you can get from God then, you are in danger of becoming a lost soul. Eternity through salvation is more than the world’s material wealth put together.” Apostle Dr. Bens
ABOUT US
The SALVATION EMPOWERMENT SANCTUARY (House of Testimony) is a very dedicated Church in Grand Forks ND which preaches the gospel of Jesus from an uncommon revelation the devil does not want you to have. To us, the true House of the Lord belongs to all for whom He died. We are a family. A Church of brothers and sisters – for the Bible says, “He who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, my sister, my mother” (Matt. 12:50; 7:21). We hinge on the dictum: Salvation, Faith, Prayer, and Power. We teach our brethren the word of God including how to pray (prayers of supplication, protection, warfare, deliverance, etc…). We also train our congregants in strong faith, miracle working faith (Heb. 11:1; Matt.21:22; Mk. 11:22-24; Matt.17:20). Such faith implies believing God’s promises of food, for example, as if one were about to eat it! Such a mindset results in activating the power of the Holy Spirit for healing, deliverance, revelation, and other personal needs. The House of Testimony is a family of believers walking the narrow road to Jesus (Matt. 7:13-14).Salvation Empowerment Sanctuary is our Church, it is your Church, it is the Church of Christ. it is the Church for everyone! The Salvation Empowerment Sanctuary, (House of Testimony) also known as the SALSA Church, is a stress free, depression free love-for-all community. You need to experience this phenomenon in person!
OUR BELIEFS
The Salvation Empowerment Sanctuary, as an apostolic/Pentecostal church, holds the following beliefs:
We believe in the Trinity – God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
2. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.
3. Baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues.
4. Gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as healing, deliverance, working of miracles, and prophecy.
5. Emphasis on personal holiness and sanctification.
6. Importance of evangelism and missionary work.
7. Belief in the supernatural and miraculous.
8. Emphasis on community and fellowship within the church.
9. The Bible is the infallible word of God.
10. Jesus is returning soon, emphasizing evangelism and living a prepared life.
11. God is holy, and Christians ought to be holy as well.
12. The symbolic eating of the body of Christ, and drinking of His blood Matt. 26:26-27
DEFINING TONGUE SPEAKING AND PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST.
(Dr. Bens)
The first church was established in the Holy Ghost(Luke 24:49). It is recorded to have started in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4). On that day gifts of the Spirit were manifested and thereafter more gifts like healing, deliverance, miracles and prophecies emerged in the church like in Corinth, Thessalonica Philippi and the rest.
After the assassination of the apostles, the gifts disappeared. Where did these gifts go to? How did they disappear? That is why some people doubt healing, Miracles, Deliverance Prophecy! Something happened along the way as Christianity developed especially with the intrusion if the Roman Empire. Details with time!
What is tongue speaking? Is it not speaking in human languages? Outrageous things have been said and are still being said about tongue speaking. Some say tongues are nonsense incantations made when a preacher forgets his lines and wants time to recall. Some think it is pure prattle and yet others think tongue speaking is simply demonic. What do you think? Two of the most violently contested principles in the Christian Bible all over the world are tongue speaking and tithing. Are these concepts heretic or outdated? Were they abolished somewhere in the scriptures? I am not going to employ my academic competence to answer these questions but I will use scriptures verse by verse to examine the validity of various opinions on this matter. I will start with tongue speaking in this essay. Tithing will come in the second essay.
In a nutshell, speaking in tongues is more than what people think. In Mk.16:17 Jesus said, “These signs shall follow those who believe; they shall speak in new tongues…” By new tongues, Jesus was talking about speaking in the spirit. Speaking in the spirit is when the spirit speaks for or through a speaker. When this happens, the mode of expression is tongues. This gift is acquired through prayers and the laying of hands. Acts 19:6 “And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.” Also, in Acts 11:15 Peter said, “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at the beginning.” The beginning is the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:4.
Let’s start from the start. The first-time tongues were spoken in the Bible was in Acts 2:4. In as much as the word tongues also mean human languages, the tongues mention in Acts 2 and throughout the Bible were more than just human languages. Join me to discover what the whole Bible says about tongue speaking. Acts 10:46 states that “For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God.” They were not just heard speaking but in tongues. How many times do you hear a report not about someone speaking in languages? If tongues here stand for languages, why the emphasis? Is there another way of speaking?
The tongues spoken in Acts 2:4-12 were not human languages as the Bible will prove in the following lines. Since it was the first-time tongues were used as a tool of evangelism, note the word evangelism, the Holy Spirit gave the apostles utterance to speak in tongues called tongues as a sign to unbelievers. The word unbeliever aligns with the word evangelism. Those who were listening to the apostles were not believers and God introduced the sign card to let them know there is a supernatural being who is capable of the unthinkable.
The confusion arises when the Bible says people heard the apostles speaking their own native languages. This has derailed many denominations to think and believe that tongues spoken on the day of Pentecost were human languages. The trick is that some denominations were created by people who weren’t led by the Holy Spirit to have a full grasp of the notion of tongue speaking. Spiritual things should be spiritually discerned otherwise our intellects would jettison us. In Acts 2:4 in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost, the speakers spoke in tongues but the listeners heard them in their native human languages. In my definitions of the various types of tongues, I will begin with tongues as a sign to unbelievers so this concept is crystal clear.
Do you wonder why some of the spectators commented that the speakers were all drunk? It is because they were not speaking normal coherent languages. This called for Peter’s intervention in Acts 2:15 Where he said “For these are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day”. No sane person would judge anyone as drunk basing on the evidence that they correctly spoke different human languages to the understanding of the listeners. This establishes the fact that the languages the apostles spoke on the day of Pentecost were not human languages. Having established this fact, I will like us to learn and understand that there are several different types of tongues used for different purposes.
Those who misunderstood tongues lean on the premise that tongue speaking must be accompanied by interpretation. This is false! The Bible will explain everything to us right now. It is not for nothing that Paul, the apostle said “I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you.” (1 Corinth 14:18).
Types of Tongues in the Bible:
1.Tongues as a sign to unbelievers (Acts 2:4-12): As introduced earlier, this type of tongues is a supernatural sign from God. How it works is that a speaker delivers a message in spiritual tongues, but the listener hears the message in their own native human language like Japanese. It is meant to convict the listener of the existence of the supernatural power of God. It is different from tongues of men which is mainly human languages. In verse 12 the people were horrified and wondered aloud. This triggered faith in God hence over three thousand unbelievers surrendered to Jesus. All this because of the sign that came through the tongues!
2. Prophetic tongues: There are prophetic tongues with which God could use to speak to a member of a congregation or the whole congregation. In the church of Corinth where the congregants were very rich in spiritual gifts, God spoke through almost every congregant. (That is why Paul had to step in to set order on how to prophesy, or speak in tongues 1 Corinth. 14:5-6. Note that praying or worshiping in tongues and speaking in tongues are two difference practices). For example, if there is sin, division or heresy in a church, God can speak against that vice through a member or the shepherd. That shepherd or someone else in that congregation is expected to interpret what God said or someone else with the gift of interpretation of tongues has to do it for the body to understand without which the message will never be heard and the caution never taken. Hence 1 Corinthians 14:13 “For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say.” 1 Corinth.14: 27 states “If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret.” These are messages destined for the congregation or someone in the church and require interpretation.
3. Tongues of prayer: In addition to the fact not all tongues need to be interpreted is 1 Corinth. 14:2 which says “For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.” These tongues are used in the place of prayer where the Holy Spirit takes over the intercessor and begins to pray in their stead. Would you really want my prayers interpreted for you?
4. Tongues of angels: The Bible informs us that there are tongues of men like I said earlier, and tongues of angels. Tongues of angels are mysterious tongues that are spoken and understood by angels. They are heavenly languages believed to be a language spoken in heaven or by heavenly beings. “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). Would anyone still think these too are only human languages?
5. Tongues of men: As for tongues of men, this refers to situations in which a man can abruptly and fluently speak in a human language that is not theirs, and which they have never learnt. Paul, the apostle in 1 Corinth. 14:19 says “yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue.” What does this tell you? He is saying that in church he prefers to speak in human tongues/languages than speak in tongues of the spirit. Is this not the strongest evidence that tongues are not only tongues of human languages? Those who misunderstood this concept have no excuse than to mislead the body of Christ.
6. Tongues for personal edification
There are tongues which serve the purpose of self-edification and cleansing. (1 Corinthians 14:2-4 “For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.” Jude 1:20 “But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit…” To edify means to build up and for a believer, building up one’s faith is a must for without faith, no one can see God!
This is a conversation between a believer and God, and no one else can understand what s/he is saying. Such tongues also come in when one is making sensitive confessions to God in the midst of the congregation for confession is not supposed to be heard by a man but God alone who has the power to forgive sins.
7. Tongues of warfare/intercession/worship: This is a spiritual language that transcends human understanding, often used for spiritual warfare, intercession, or worship. 1 Corinth 14:14-15
This is experienced when the Spirit intercedes for God’s people through wordless groans. This is a pure example of tongues that can never be interpreted (Romans 8:26-27). Pastor John Anosike’s 45 minutes tongues of fire is a typical example.
8. Unknown Tongue: A language that is not understood by the speaker or others, often considered a mystical or spiritual language. In Christian theology, the interpretation of tongues is one of the spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinth. 12. But in the case of unknown tongues, there is no interpretation for it is not only God is supposed to understand them. No doubt even the speaker does not understand nor anyone else. Another drop of God’s mysterious being.
Conclusion: Some theologians think and teach that even when worship is done in tongues, the song should be interpreted. This is ridiculous if we consider the fact that there are some tongues even the speaker does not understand. Tongues of intercession, worship and warfare are directed to God alone. From the above definition of the various types and purposes of tongues, it is clear that tongues are an indispensable necessity to the Christian faith. Tongues are necessary in every era so long as the Holy Spirit is still in control of our affairs. No where in the Bible were tongues abolished. They are only hated by the devil because of their potency.
1 Corinth. 13:8 states that tongues will cease has hurt the understanding of this deep spiritual phenomenon. Some people think the statement meant that tongues will end after the completion of the New Testament. Another snare of the devil. Holy scriptures say tongues will cease when the perfect comes. This points to the time when we must have been made perfect by the groom of the church after his final return and judgement. At that time, we shall all speak one language. The language of love which never ceases. Our lives will not be the same like now so our needs will be different. For instance, there will not be any need for warfare, intercession, or unbelievers who would need the sign of tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:39 is the final nail on these confusing teachings for it says “So, my brothers, …do not forbid speaking in tongues.” Two things spring up from here. The first is that if tongues were only human languages, there would be no need for anyone to want to stop people from speaking human languages. The second point is that tongues have never been abolished and we are warned not to prevent believers from expressing themselves in tongues. Just apply wisdom and not speak in tongues when first time visitors without understanding are in your midst else, they would think you are crazy (1 Corinthians 14:23). This again ties with Acts 2:13 in which the apostles were thought to be drunk for speaking in tongues. It also strongly affirms that tongues were different from human languages or why would people think you are crazy for speaking your native language?
If you have any questions on tongue speaking, do well to email me via salsachurch@gmail.com
Dr. Bens.
REFUGEE RELIEF
The Salvation Empowerment Sanctuary (House of Testimony) has a refugee relief scheme that plans to make life easy for new Americans who enter the country as refugees. Refugees are people who have been forced to flee from their native countries by war, violence or persecution based on religious, racial, cultural or gender basis. Most of them leave the countries without money or belongings because they mostly leave without preplans to. It is common to see a fragmented family that might never come together again as a unit any longer nor ever meet again! In an attempted to be safe, the members escape to different directions and that could be all about that family. Sometimes, people under persecution sense danger and escape without baggage so they are not arrested and tortured or killed. Refugees always look for the most humanitarian and most safe countries in the world. The greatest of them is the USA!
Since these people are displaced by circumstances they could not control, the Church attempts to meet up with their basic needs with which to settle down, feel comfortable and restart life afresh even though it is difficult to ever realize their future dreams in such conditions. They need both material, psychological and spiritual support, so we find apartments for them. Medical and educational needs are among the most important and yet difficult for refugees to attain. We equip these apartments with necessary items to get them going. Things like pots, plates, dishes, cutlery, soap, food, beds, mattresses, dresses for all ages, new born supplies, school supplies for kids, vacuum cleaners and cooking oil are among the primary needs of new arrivals without money. The last hidden item which is unparalleled in importance is transportation. We offer transportation from their arrival at the airport of bust stop to the apartments. They are also chauffeured to their different appointment be they hospital, administrative or interview appointments. This continues until they have their own means of transportation.
WIDOWS AND ORPHANS
James 1:27 states that what God, our Father, recognizes as pure and faultless love, is to look after orphans and widows in their distress”.
It is our desire in The House of Testimony, to do what is God’s desire, which constitutes looking after this class of destitutes. We are focusing on women who lost their husbands through accidents, war or any other natural calamity. This goes same with children who have lost at least a parent or both. In addition, it has been discovered that some children are orphans not because they lost a parent but because such parents cannot take care of them. The most important reason given for such cases is poverty. In Africa, India and most of the developing world, economic hardship has forced parents to take such decisions as keeping their own kids in orphanages. Without this, the children become street children and public nuisance.
The Salvation Empowerment Sanctuary (House of Testimony) seeks to help alleviate the lifestyle of such children. This goes same to abandoned women whose husbands died or are too old and have become a source of hardship to their wives.
To all privileged people who are living in affluence, we want to call you to think of these abandoned children and women. They are not different from us. We also would have been in their shoes were it not of God’s mercies.
+1 701 885 1267
Thank you.
SCHEDULE:
We meet thrice every week to praise, worship, and pray to our God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exod. 3:6). This concords with the recommendations of Prov. 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron” because Jesus knew that occasionally, iron would need overhauling. In that case, it is iron sharpening iron not wood sharpening iron and otherwise. It is an error for anyone to be in a place where wood is struggling to sharpen iron or iron sharpening wood. In such a one-sided relation, iron would never get help since it is the only iron around. We cherish meeting regularly to spiritually sharpen each other.
- Sunday: Fellowship Services start at 10 am.
- Tuesday: Bible Classes hold at 5pm.
- Saturday: Intercessory prayer sessions also begin at 5pm.
- Mondays-Fridays: Lunch with Jesus 12:00-1:00 pm (An hour time in Church with the pastor to pray for protection, pray away difficult situations, and challenges)
Free marital and spiritual counseling on Wednesdays by appointment via phone calls, Facebook, or email.
The House of Testimony, it should be noted, is not just another Church in town. Such thoughts would be too misleading. Noah’s clarion call to the world to build the Ark against the flood was never taken seriously because the people considered him as just another old man. Jesus was born in the manger because the manager of the Inn saw Mary as just another pregnant woman. The flood taught us that Noah was not just another old man in the same way as the works of Christ made us to know, Mary was not just another pregnant woman in town. Wisdom is when we can make out the difference between people and things. This Church is founded after the order of the Apostles of the lamb with vision to make a difference in individuals, families, as well as the community. In effect, the Salvation Empowerment Sanctuary seeks to bring the biblical experience of Jesus who loves, provides, protects, delivers, appeases our souls, and demonstrates power. In brief, we have been called to make Jesus real! To achieve this, our foundation is built on four pillars: Salvation, Faith, Prayer, and Power.
We strongly believe that in life, the beginning is important but what matters is the end. Thus, it is not how you start or when you finish but how you finish that is impactful. We know that anyone can be successful so long as they believe and pray.
When you pray, something happens, but when you pray with prayerful brethren, miracles happen! A miracle is not a new abstraction. We were created perfect with abundance of every good thing until Satan appeared and stole everything. A miracle thus, is simply bringing us back to where we were in Eden before the satanic distraction. Restoring our health, sanctity, provision, destinies, or other to what it was in the Garden of Eden with the power of the Holy Spirit is what we call miracle. With the understanding that “nothing goes for nothing”, we ask, seek, and knock to get results for the word says men ought always to pray (Luke 18:1).
We persistently endeavor to shine the light of the truth, so the devil (master of darkness) would not continue to deceive the people. Without the light, we are fooled to invest more time, money and energy in our perishable flesh while disregarding the nonperishable soul. The love of God wants our souls so desperately that He sent His unique son, Jesus to sacrifice His life for us (Jn.3:16).
We believe God’s Kingdom and righteousness contains everything which He gives to whoever seeks it above all things (Matt.6:33).
EVANGELISM AND DISCIPLESHIP
We seek to win souls for Jesus anywhere anytime! This is a very difficult task which only Jesus can help us succeed in. We understand that this daunting task of evangelism and discipleship cannot be handled by one person or ministry alone. For that reason, we have as additional vision to financially aid other Church planters and Evangelists home and abroad. This will be determined by how much our finances allow. We intend to make yearly grants available for any willing ministers to apply. The more donations we receive, the more ministries we can help. This is crucial to the us because our main goal is SALVATION for souls wherever they may be (not necessarily in the Salvation Empowerment Sanctuary).
