May 10, 1994 is the date Reverend Richard Fairfield, his wife Leslie and daughters Amber and Ashley, moved from Greater Life Apostolic Church, pastored by Reverend Spencer McCool, to become the pastor of Apostolic Temple of Sanford.  The past 13 years has brought many changes and growth to this Mid-Michigan church.  Two floods have given way to a completely remodeled building.  The purchase of 3.5 acres of property next to the church gives vision of more growth and more changes.

Now known as Abundant Life Apostolic Church, we are working hard to "Reach For The Broken" to offer "Help and Healing" through the Spirit and love of Jesus Christ!

Pastor Fairfield is Ordained with the United Pentecostal Church International.  We have been blessed with great and capable ministers, musicians and teachers.

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March 18, 2007

Does the church pray as much as is needed?  Should we pray more now than we prayed, lets say a year ago?  Are we being bombarded more today by the media, music, immorality, by our family and co-workers, and bosses?  I am sure your answer is yes to the fact, we need to pray more now than ever before!

But why?  When God knows the thoughts and intent of our heart. He knows what we need, what we want, before we even ask.  So what is up with all this preaching and talk about prayer?  As busy as we are in todays life-style, you can justify the lack of prayer and say "God Knows My Heart, and He will understand, I am to busy to pray as much as I ought to.

The fact is God does know how busy you are.  He knows the pressure you have at work to put in all that overtime.  The pressure of raising kids today, school activities, sports, etc.  He knows what you have to listen to and put up with at work, the foul language, the dirty jokes.  He knows what we watch and listen to for entertainment.  Come on, can we just be real for a moment?

He Knows... He also knows what prayer does FOR US! The word "PRAY" or "PRAYER" lends to the thought of, "empting out". In 1Peter 5:7, we are told to Cast Our Cares Upon Jesus, For He Cares For Us! Prayer becomes our drain port.  The medical profession uses a device called a catheter.         A catheter is a drain port. A tube for poision to be drainded from the body.

God does not want us to pray, just so He can hear us pray. He knows as we pray, poisions we have picked up along the way of our day, are drained out of our heart.  Those things that stand between you and Him.  Those things that dirty up the place, He calls His home.

What do you say?  Can you find some time to pray?  Just something to think about.

 I am praying for you and your's, Pastor Fairfield

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March 17, 2007

I taught my Sunday School class this morning from an observation I witnessed this week as I was passing by our church.

In our parking lot was a pickup truck and a tandem axled, car hauler trailer. They were both loaded beyond a normal load, with fire wood. I Mean Loaded! So much so that the back two tires of the trailer had blown out. Destroyed! I noticed three men standing there, looking at the trailer like they were trying to figue out what went wrong. I decided real quick to just keep going. Too much brain power already at work, if you know what I mean....

As I went on through the next few days, the Lord kept dealing with me about the overloaded trailer. I don't know if they were trying to save time in carrying all that wood in one load, or were just trying to push the limits. (I guess I should have stopped) Whatever the situation was, I was reminded, this pretty much sums up our lives. Work, work, work, play, play, play. We try to jam 27 hours into a 24 hour day, 7 days a week, and wonder why our marriages are falling apart. Our kids are lawless and undisciplined. Blood pressure and general health is a wreck. We look arround one day like those 3 men looking at the blown tires, wondering what went wrong. Please Listen, You can not operate under all that pressure, all the time, without something breaking down!

Can you feel it? Overloaded and broke!

Yes the Lord talked to me about this observation. Trying to do too much, on little or no prayer, stressed out and ready to BLOW!

I see people at church, short tempered and snippy. I can understand it from the world. I also understand we all have bad days, but, The Joy Of The Lord Is Our Strength! We need to bring Jesus into our day.... Every Day!

Why not take a moment right now and give it to Jesus, whatever it is. Your marriage will be better for it. Your children will be better for it, oh ya, you might even become a soul winner.

Just a thought. Pastor Fairfield