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The History of Spirit Life Ministries International

- WHO WE ARE -

History

God began opening doors of ministry in Eastern Europe to Dr. Dean and Wanda Hackett in the late 1980’s. The ministry took a new turn in the spring of 1992 when they were asked to conduct a leadership seminar for pastors serving in the former Yugoslavia. The caller stated, “Medical supplies are desperately needed in Croatia. The nation is under siege and surgeries are being performed without gloves, sutures or anesthesia. Can you help?” God opened a door through Northwest Medical Teams to provide all the needed medical supplies. Another miracle was granted when a church on the east coast of the United States covered the shipping costs and a shipping magnate in New York City shipped the containers into the Adriatic Sea at no cost. The supplies were smuggled into the country through private boats and docks. The leadership seminar was conducted in the coastal city Portorož, Slovenia and some of the medical supplies were hidden in private autos. Another dramatic turn came in 2001 as God opened doors to conduct leadership training and ministry partnership in Zagreb, Croatia. Spirit Life Ministries International was founded in the fall of that year and Spirit Life Institute, was established to assist in fulfilling the vision and mission.

Vision

Raise a Foundation for Many Generations!

Mission

Serve as a Catalyst for Spiritual Awakening in This Generation

Objectives

Spirit Life Ministries International has been established to:

  • Be a catalyst of spiritual renewal in local churches and to help bring spiritual awakening in communities.
  • Provide leadership coaching and mentoring for pastors and churches that are stalemated or in decline.
  • Raise up a new generation of pastors and church planters through leadership training, coaching, and mentorship.
  • Assist in planting “growing” and “life-giving” churches in the population centers of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • Develop training courses for a new generation of leadership in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • Translate and publish quality training and leadership materials that are currently available.
  • Write and publish training and leadership materials for a new generation of leaders.
  • Developing online classes and training materials.

What do we believe?

We believe in,

1) In the plenary verbal inspiration of the Holy Bible and that it is the infallible, inerrant, unchanging, unalterable Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21);

2) In one God eternally existing in three persons; the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:16-17, Matthew 28:19).

3) That Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of the Father, conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary; that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and arose from the dead on the third day; that He ascended to the Heaven and is today at the right of the Father as our intercessor; that Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh; and in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Mark 16:19-20, Luke 1:34-35, John 1:14, John 3:16, John 19:19-30, Acts 7:54-56, 1 Corinthians 15:11-22, Colossians 2:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 4:14, Hebrews 4:15-16, Hebrews 7:25, 1 John 2:1-2);

4) That all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that repentance is command of God for all and necessary for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19, Acts 17:30, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23);

5) That justification, regeneration, and new birth are experienced by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Romans 15:16, Romans 6:1-11 Titus 3:5);

6) Sanctification through faith in the blood of Jesus Christ, through the Word of God and by the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:16, Ephesians 5:26, 1 Corinthians 1:30, 1 Timothy 4:5, 1 Peter 1:2);

7) Holiness to be God's standard of living for His people (Luke 1:75, 1Thessalonians 4:7, Hebrews 12:14);

8) In water baptism by immersion and all who repent should be baptized in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19, Mark 1:10, Acts 2:38, Acts 8:35-38);

9) In the baptism of the Holy Spirit following new birth (Acts 2:37-39, Acts 8:14-17);

10) In speaking with other tongues as the Holy Spirit gives utterance, and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:4, Acts 10:44-48, Acts 19:1-7);

11) In the fruit of the Spirit as recorded in Galatians 5:22-23;

12) In the ministry gifts as recorded in Romans 12:6-8;

13) In the gifts of the Holy Spirit as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:1-11;

14) In the fivefold leadership gifts given by Jesus Christ at His ascension--apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher (Ephesians 4:7-12, 1 Corinthians 12:1-6);

15) In divine healing is provided for all in the atonement (Isaiah 53:4-5, 1 Peter 2:24);

16) In the Lord's Supper and in the washing of the saints feet (John 13:1-17, 1 Corinthians 11:23-30)

17) In the pre millennial second coming of Jesus Christ; to resurrect the righteous dead and to catch away the living saints to Him in the air; to bodily reign on earth for one thousand years (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, Revelation 19:11-21, Revelation 20:1-15;

18) In the bodily resurrection; eternal life for the righteous and eternal punishment for the wicked, with no annihilation (John 5:29, John 11:22-26, 1 Corinthians 15:35-58, Revelation 20:11-15).

Divorce and Remarriage

Spirit Life Ministries International fully accepts and teaches Matthew 19:6, "What therefore, God hath joined together let not man put asunder," and Malachi 2:16, "For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce." In view of the escalating rate of divorce in our society; the increasing number of believers that have been saved following divorce; and the number of believers experiencing separation or divorce following their conversion, we state the following: 1) The believer that has been divorced previous to conversion is no longer under condemnation (Romans 8:1); but "old things are passed away and behold all things are become new and all things are of God. . ." (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) Their past sins and iniquities God remembers no more (Hebrews 10:17). The Church, therefore, cannot hold against them their former life of sin lest they condemn and place a heavier burden upon them than God. They are, therefore, eligible for membership; for ministry in the Lord's Church; and they may remarry, but their remarriage should be to a committed growing disciple of Jesus Christ. 2) The believer whose unbelieving mate departs is not under bondage in such cases and is eligible for membership, for ministry in the Lord's Church; and may remarry when reconciliation is no longer possible, because the unbelieving mate has remarried or some other extreme circumstances dictate reconciliation (according to biblical standards) is not possible. However, their remarriage should be to a committed growing disciple of Jesus Christ (Deuteronomy 24:1-4, 1 Corinthians 7:12-15). 3) The believer is not to divorce their mate. If they do divorce a believing mate, they are to remain unmarried or be reconciled to their mate, if their mate has not remarried. If their former mate does remarry, they are to remain single the rest of their life (Deuteronomy 24:1-4, 1 Corinthians 7:10-11). They are eligible for membership but may not be credentialed for ministry. If they hold credentials with Spirit Life Ministries International, they must be reconciled to their marriage partner or the credentials will be revoked.

Divorce and Remarriage

Life is sacred in the eyes of God and He has said, "Thou shalt not kill." Therefore, Spirit Life Ministries International stands against the giving or the receiving of an abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, or doctor-assisted suicide; for any reason or under any circumstances. Life begins at the time of conception and does not end until the Lord takes the spirit from the individual. Therefore, abortion, euthanasia, infanticide, and doctor-assisted suicide are wrong, according to Holy Scripture.

Homosexuality, Lesbianism and Same Sex Marriages

The scripture teaches: So God created man in His own image; in the image of God. He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them... (Genesis 1:27-28). There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel (Deuteronomy 23:17). Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting (Romans 1:25-28). Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10). Therefore, Spirit Life Ministries International believes and teaches homosexuality, lesbianism and same sex marriages are a violation of God's moral laws and should not be practiced or encouraged, regardless of the political correctness or acceptance of such "alternate lifestyles" within our society and culture. We believe they are to be lovingly taught the truth of God's Word and encouraged to repent of their sin and lifestyle, for God can and will deliver them.