Previous Meetings, Pictures, and Audio

FGBMFI Providence Luncheon Chapter
Providence, Rhode Island 

Our speaker on July 9, 2008 was Kevin Dodge. While he was in prison for twenty five years the Holy Spirit revealed Jesus to him. He asked the Lord Jesus to forgive him of his sins and he repented for all the things he had done wrong. His life began to change as he prayed and started reading the Bible. God began to show him who Jesus was, not only as Savior, but also his Lordship and as friend. Kevin began to share his experience with others as time passed. He is out of prison now and is in the ministry and is an excellent speaker.

To listen to a recording of Jayson's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/kevin_dodge _2008-07-08.dvf

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

Jayson Lavers shared his story with us on June 11, 2008

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To listen to a recording of Jayson's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/jayson_lavers_2008_06_11.dvf

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

 John P. Mentus shared his story with us on May 14, 2008

Big John is the president of R.I. Men of Hope, a prayer group of men who work with churches and mens' groups that have a desire to be men that walk in the gifting and calling of God that is pleasing to the Lord Jesus. John shared how he and other men and their pastors went to a Promise Keepers conference and how God got a hold of him and his life has not been the same.

To listen to a recording of John's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/John Mentus-May 2008.dvf

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

Gary DeGraide shared with us on April 9, 2008

Many of you will remember Gary DeGraide on the radio, Lite 105. He has been a part of our fellowship and sharing his testimony in the past. He retired from Lite 105 and is now involved in ministry helping people get victory in their lives by the power of the Holy Spirit.

He shared his testimony of how the love of God brought about a change in his life through Jesus Christ and how the Lord is very real to him everyday.

To listen to a recording of Gary 's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/Gary DeGraide-April 2008.dvf

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

Roland Boucher shared with us on December 12, 2007

Roland is a CPA at Cardi Construction Corporation. He takes people on mission trips to the Baltic States several times a year. They share the Good News of Jesus Christ as the one who forgives our sins, gives us life and health. They see the Power of the Holy Spirit working in peoples lives to transform them and heal them.

To listen to a recording of Roland 's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/roland_boucher_2007_12_12.dvf

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

Frank Bressett and Roland Boucher

Ray Tierney shared with us on November 14, 2007

Ray is retired as a Postmaster from U S Postal Service. He and his wife have three children, the youngest is a senior in high school.

He surrendered his life to Jesus at a Full Gospel Banquet at Valley Steak House in the Spring of 1973. His heart's desire is spending time in the presence of the Lord, experiencing the reality of the Kingdom of God. He is gifted in music, leading people in worshipping the Lord. He will share with us his testimony of the Holy Spirit leading him and giving direction to his life.

Jeff Kleinman shared with us on October 10, 2007.

Jeff Kleinman was raised in a Jewish family. He and his wife Nancy (also Jewish) raised two beautiful children, Jason and Julie. Jeff graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Business and Marketing. He worked with his Father in the family business until his Father retired. He continued in the business in Providence and later expanded the business in Cranston. He shares with how the Holy Spirit began to bring alive some of the Old Testament Scriptures (the Torah) about the Messiah. He made a commitment to Jesus as his Lord. He sold his business a little later and became an evangelist in this country and India and to Israel. He has returned to the business world. He owns his own business in Florida. He is truly in love with Jesus.

Our speaker Wednesday, September 12, 2007 was Richard Roderick. He is retired from the City of Providence Water Department. His wife is a teacher. He invited Jesus to come into his heart and change his life over ten years ago. He was baptized in water two weeks later and has been baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. He is involved with Pastor Femi in the ministry at church. Richard loves Jesus; he loves to talk about what Jesus has done in his life.

Ed Lambright shared with us on July 11, 2007. A brief autobiography and pictures from the meeting follow below:

I was introduced to my father and stepmother on a southern Ohio farm at age six, having lived with my Grandmother prior to that time. I was introduced to Christianity at around age ten. I was kidnapped by my own mother and step-grandfather about this time and began to develop some strong rules about trust. I guess I never really trusted anyone after that and thus when I was first saved in a Nazarene church in the hills of Southern Ohio , I guess I didn’t really trust the call that, was placed upon my life at that time at age twelve. I’m not blaming this on anyone but myself, for I had dreams of wealth and prosperity that being a minister of the Gospel, in my mind, could not fulfill. I became a dreamer, a loner, and man of fantasy and fiction. Even my relationship with God was a delusion. God became my sugar daddy for needs, and seldom did I give Him the honor and respect that He deserved. I became such a dreamer that I could lie to the Pastor and his daughter in such a believable way as to eventually cause hurt. I left home at age fifteen, after an argument with my father. I broke his heart and caused him to give up on his life of farming and move north to the city. I eventually located my real mother and lived with her long enough to see why Dad had allowed the divorce between them. On Father’s Day in 1960, I returned home to Cortland , Ohio , to finish my High School education. It was at this school I met the girl of my dreams who became my wife.

In 1961, still not totally yielded to Christ, I graduated high school and attended Eastern Nazarene College . I attempted to find God on my terms by singing in a quartet for the College, the “Redemptionares,” I believe. I only attended for a year and a half and joined the Navy, mainly to avoid being drafted into the Army. I served in the US Naval Submarine service for ten years. I went from enlisted to the officer ranks after completing a BS degree at Miami University of Ohio in mathematics and systems analysis. I left the service in 1971 as Weapons Officer with a rank of Lieutenant Commander. During my ten years in the service, I continued to seek God on my terms, in the Blue Jackets Choir, attending Chapel services at will, but through it all God continued to give me every chance to repent and to serve Him. In 1964, I married my wife, and while in the service we had two beautiful children, our son, Jim, and our daughter, Janet. After getting out of the service, I first worked as a Refueling Officer at Electric Boat in Groton , CT. In 1972, I went into photography full time, a business I had been working with since 1968 while at college. My wife and I both worked in the business for nearly 25 years. We were successful and liked our business, but we could not find happiness in anything we had done. I worked hard and was even installed into the International Professional Photographers Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City . In video, I won a bronze Tele award in 1993 for best director of a low budget film, “Time for a Change,” a prison training film.

Still no happiness could be found. Jim Pothier, then president of FGBMFI, kept asking me to attend one of their dinner meetings, rubber chicken and the works. Finally I accepted for no matter where I would go to photograph anything, Jim or his buddies would be there to spread the Good News. They were happy. I was not. They weren’t perfect, and I knew I wasn’t either, though Satan tried to use that to separate us. Jim has gone to be with Jesus now, but one thing I am happy for is that he never gave up on me. I certainly was worth giving up. I was everything a Christian shouldn’t be, and most of all, I was a hypocrite. I went to church, sang in the choir, sang specials, and palled around with the minister, but I wouldn’t have known Jesus if I’d met him face to face. Everyone in the community thought I was a good man. The First Selectman, the Lion’s Club President, the Senator, and the Congressman all thought I was okay. I had been president of service clubs and chairman of town festivals, but inside I was the unhappiest man around town. In the presence of others, I appeared to be happy. After a series of hard events in my life, I began to realize that I wasn’t as durable as I thought I was. I had money, I had success, but I hurt so deeply I couldn’t find a cure. Finally I went to the rubber chicken dinner of the FGBMFI and listened to other men who used to hurt and now had found peace, glorious peace. They had fallen farther than I had, but I had fallen far enough. I didn’t want to lose everything to drugs or alcohol. I didn’t want to lose my family to lust and depravity. I wanted what they had now, and I didn’t want to reach a lower state to get there. I wanted it at any cost. Any cost? Yes, at any cost. And it came so swiftly, so wonderfully, so joyously. Any cost was the answer, willingness to pay the price that could not be paid. The gift was free but the price was submission, obedience, a turning around. The call had not been lifted, and I was willing to give it all away just to trust and obey. I gave up my business, my lifestyle, and it was worth it all. There was joy, there were rivers of happiness flowing from deep within that could not be controlled. I traded myself for His Spirit. I became a new creation in Him who made all things. He could have done it without me, but He chooses to do it to whosoever will submit on his own.

I became clay in the potter’s hands. I became broken so He could renew me. I am yielded to the Maker’s hands. His will is my will, and I chose to serve Him. My friends have asked me why I serve a God who demands me to give up all that I have given, and I explain that I am not forced to do anything, but because of my love for Him, I cannot do enough for Him. My studio, which once profited from the flesh, became a studio for Christ and an instrument for His glory. I still can’t get enough of His Word. It was in 1993, almost 40 years since I first met Jesus, that I really knew Him as my Savior. Since then I have attended Bible College , taught in Bible College , and helped in every way I can to build His Kingdom. I no longer have a studio; I’ve given it away. I no longer cherish the things of this world, for I have left them behind me in a dimly lit memory. Old things have pasted away and all things are becoming new. I am no longer without joy. I no longer fear death. I am at peace doing whatever it is that God opens His doors for me to do. I have much growing to do, but I am friends with the best Teacher of them all.

On June 5, 2005 , I put the finishing touches on an urban ministry center for Reverend Richard Sfameni, Victory Assembly of God, Providence , RI . It was a project of faith and a lesson in trust. God has had a plan through it all, and only the future will reveal the totality of that plan. I look eagerly forward to the next project that He has to assign for me.

Since that time I finished my MA in Urban Ministry and I am presently working on my Doctorate of Ministry and Gordon-Conwell. I am the Senior Adult Minister at SAAG and have just completed the credentialing process for the Assembly of God. I stand ready to answer my Savior’s call where ever He should lead me.

The speaker for May 2007 was Doug Beimler, who is SVP of Sales with a global talent management firm, Lee Hecht Harrison. He is an active lay leader at the Church of Emanuel in Foxborough. His advanced education includes a Master of Religion - Leadership & Business Ethics as a student at Gordon Cornwell Theological Seminary. Doug will share his personal testimony of how, four years ago, he gave his heart to Christ and the Lord guided this prodigal son home. He has experienced the remarkable difference of having a personal relationship with Christ has made in him and his family. He and Melyssa, his wife of 21 years, have two children, Max and Lauren.

The speaker for March 2007 was  Ray Farnum. He  worked at Electric Boat as a quality Control Analyst for over twenty years. His wife is a teacher. He will share how he has come to love Jesus and serve Him as his personal Lord and Savior. God changed his life near his 50th birthday. Ray was not looking God, but He called him at 3:00 a.m. while he was reading Psalms 66. "Come, all you who fear God, and let me tell you what he has done for me" . Read Ps 66:16 He is now in full time ministry and serves as the Lord leads.

To listen to a recording of Addison 's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/ray_farnum_2007_3_14.dvf

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

Other pictures from the March meeting (click for a larger view):

Our speaker for February 2007 was Addison Brown. He was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, later his family moved to South Attleboro, Massachusetts. His mother was a praying woman who showed the love Jesus in their home. Addison got involved in the things of the world and suffered through many years of alcoholism. By the grace of God, he surrendered his life to Jesus at a local church on Easter Sunday in 1977. Thank God for His love and grace; he was delivered from alcohol and smoking and was set free. He was baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit at a Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship meeting in 1985. He served as the president of the Woonsocket chapter for one year. He loves to share about the love, mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Additional pictures from the February meeting (click for a larger view):

To listen to a recording of Addison 's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/Addison_Brown_Feb_2007.dvf

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

The following photo from the January 10, 2007 FGBMFI luncheon. Jim and Tony are praying with the speaker, Roger Ringuette. Roger is the Managing Director of a Providence area consulting firm, NAVIGO Consulting LLC. He has an awesome testimony. He spoke about going to the Providence Civic Center in 1971 to hear Kathryn Kuhlman. The center was so full he and thousands of others had to wait outside. At the time he was age 21 and was told to climb the wall and tell the people waiting they would receive the same as the people inside. Roger's talk WAS AWESOME! We were all blessed--click the link and listen to it now...

To listen to a recording of Roger's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/Roger_Ringuette_2007_01_10.dvf

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL

Our speaker fro December was Dr. Thomas Mancini, a doctor of Podiatry with offices in East Greenwich and North Providence. He graduated from Temple College of Podiatry. He and his wife Diane have three children. Tom surrendered his life to Jesus Christ at a Billy Graham Crusade in Philadelphia in 1988. His life has been directed by the Holy Spirit, and he has grown in his love of Christ daily. The Lord has guided him to take mission trips to Togo, West Africa. They take medical supplies and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the people. He shared with us what Jesus is doing in his life today.

The following picture was taken of Tom after his talk at the December 2006 meeting. To listen to a recording of Tom's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/Tom_2006_12_13.dvf

Click to view a number of other pictures taken at this meeting

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

Each month we are blessed to have people sharing with us their personal testimony of coming to know JESUS CHRIST as their Lord and Savoir; and how they were baptized with the power of the Holy Spirit. This month John Robinson, Frank Bressette, and Dick Evans shared with us how they walk with Jesus, talking with him about every part of their life; walking with him in thanksgiving and experiencing him answering every prayer, sometimes instantly or sometimes waiting for him, to see the answer unfold over a period of time.

The following picture was taken of John after his talk at the August 2006 meeting. To listen to a recording of John and Frank's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/John_Frank_2006_08_09.dvf

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

At our July 2006 meeting, Mike Okae from Togo shared his story. He trained as a Pastor in Nigeria. (We have heard Dr Thomas Mancini share with us about his mission trips to Togo and the work they do there.) Pastor Mike Okae is married with three children. Their names are Faith, Hope and Love. They built their first church with sticks, branches and trees and later added a tin roof. We are looking forward to Pastor Mike shared his testimony of the wonderful love of God for his people and how JESUS CHRIST became real to him in love and power.

Mike Dube was a State Trooper in Connecticut for two years also a school teacher for 5 years. Presently he is the Principal at Masters Regional Academy in Smithfield, RI (New Life Worship Center.) He is married and has two sons and one daughter on the way. He shared what a blessing it is to be a follower of Jesus Christ and being baptized in the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a good thing to talk about heaven, a Holy God, about truth (Jesus Christ) setting us free; but it is much better to talk about the "experience", the reality of a transformed life.

The following picture was taken after his talk at the June 2006 meeting. To listen to a recording of Bernard's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/Mike_Dube_2006_06_14.dvf 

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

Bernard Miranda is a building contractor in Somerset, Massachusetts. Also, he is a singer with the Galileans, a singing group that sings in concert and churches. He is looking forward to sharing his faith, and about how he came to know the Lord as his personal savior and Lord of his life. As a boy, he had a problem with stuttering and God miraculously healed him.

The following picture was taken after his talk at the May 2006 meeting. To listen to a recording of Bernard's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI/Bernard Miranda_2006_05_10.dvf 

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

Our speaker for April 2006 was Joe Soares. He surrendered his life to Lord 27 years ago at a Full Gospel Business Men's Meeting and is baptized in the Holy Spirit. He is a member of Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship. Joe owns his own plumbing business and actively shares his faith in Jesus in Dunkin' Donuts, on his job as a plumber, where every God gives him the opportunity. God has done some marvelous things in his life, and a miraculous healing which he shared with us.

The picture below shows Joe at the April meeting. To listen to a recording of Joe's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI Prov Luncheon Chapter_2006_04_12

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

Our speaker for March 2006 was David Ciolfi. He will shared his testimony of his decision to follow Jesus. He is the entrepreneur of "IHI STUDIO & DESIGN" (photographer etc.). He also does volunteer work for the "Good News", the Christian Newspaper Eric Messier brings to our meetings. The Lord has brought David through trials and testings, which have have caused him to be drawn closer to Jesus. He has continued to fellowship with other believers in a Bible Study over the past ten years.

The picture below shows David Ciolfi and Jim Buford at the March meeting. To listen to a recording of David's testimony click the following link: FGBMFI Prov Luncheon Chapter_2006_03_08

Note: This recording was made using a proprietary format from Sony. If you do have the plug-in for Windows Media player for this format, click below to download and install it.

DVF Plugin for Windows Media Player

Lake Morey 2006 -- Carlin Nash, Orville Swindoll, and Frank Bressette

Al Rivera, speaker at the January 2006 meeting

 Tom Geer, a business systems analyst employed with Blue Cross for 30 years. Tom is married and has a son.

  Intent on what Tom was saying...

 Listening to Tom tell his story...

 Jim and Roger listening to Tom

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