Guardian Ministries  

David L. Antion, Ph. D. 
      President
P.O. Box 50734,    Pasadena, CA. 91115
 

Purpose Statement for Guardian Ministries

Authority For Our Purpose:

Scriptural authority behind the purpose statement for Guardian Ministries is to be found in two different quotes:

1) Jesus’ quote from the Old Testament Torah, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” and “‘...You shall love your neighbor as yourself’...on these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”  (Matthew 22:37-40 NASB)

2) Jesus’ own command: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age.”  (Matthew 28:19-20 New American Standard Bible)

These two passages may be said to summarize everything to be done by Guardian Ministries leading to five specific purposes.

The Five Purposes

Purpose # 1: Love God with all your heart

The word that describes this purpose is worship. How do we love God with all our heart? By worshiping Him and obeying Him. We must worship Him in spirit and with truth (John 4) which is right doctrine (Mark 7:7). Beautiful music and praising words sung in honor of the Almighty God are a core element in worship. Thus, Guardian Ministries will conduct worship services whether with a small group or with large groups of people. GM will also search diligently to make sure that it is conducting worship services in accordance with the truth of the Bible. This purpose fulfills the Church’s main purpose which is to worship God. “O magnify the Lord within me and let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:3 NASB).

Purpose # 2: Love your neighbor as yourself

The word used to describe this purpose is ministry which is service. To this end Guardian Ministries exists to minister to (serve) people. This ministry demonstrates God’s love to others by meeting their needs and healing their hurts. Guardian Ministries exists to minister to different needs of people: spiritual, emotional, relational and physical. This ministry exists for the “equipping of the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12 NASB). Guardian Ministries is a ministry of reconciliation -- to proclaim that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. Each of us should be reconciled to God through Christ. Thus, being reconciled to God, we can be reconciled to each other through God's love and forgiveness.

To this end Guardian Ministries will conduct educational outreach through classes, lectures, publishing of literature, teaching forums on radio and/or television or other electronic media. All this to educate, instruct, encourage, inspire and edify those added to the Church. (Note: "Church" here refers to the great Body of Christ which encompasses all who are true Christians.)

To further its ministry of reconciliation, Guardian Ministries may also establish and maintain as deemed required and expedient an institute for the enrichment of marriage and the family.

Purpose # 3: Go and make disciples

The word for this purpose is evangelism. Guardian Ministries exists to communicate God’s Word. We are ambassadors for Christ and our commission is to evangelize the world. The word “go” in the Greek text is a present participle and should read, “as you are going.” It is every Christian’s responsibility to share the Good News (Gospel) with people. This is personal evangelism.

Guardian Ministries, therefore, will evangelize through all means at its disposal -- preaching, public campaigns, television, radio, video tapes, audio tapes, publishing literature, books, advertising in major wide circulation publications as resources permit.

Members of the local churches evangelize on a personal basis in their own community by their own examples, words, and by inviting others to services, campaigns, teaching forums, giving or loaning literature, sermon tapes or educational materials to others, etc.

Purpose # 4: Baptizing them

Baptism is important because as Christians we are called to belong not just to believe. This purpose is summed up in the word fellowship. This is identification with the Body of Christ -- the Church. Christians belong to the God’s family as brothers and sisters. “You are members of God’s very own family...and you belong to God’s household with every other Christian” (Ephesians 2:19 The Living Bible). Baptism is not only a symbol of salvation, it is also a symbol of fellowship.

Guardian Ministries will therefore provide, as it can and resources permit, a place for fellowship and for baptism. This, as is possible through finances, may include the renting or purchase of facilities for conducting worship services and fellowship.

Purpose # 5: Teaching them

The word for this purpose is discipleship.  Guardian ministries exists to edify and educate Christians. Discipleship is the process of helping people become more like Christ in thoughts, feelings and actions. “We proclaim Him (Christ), admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ” (Colossians 1:28 NASB).

Guardian Ministries may establish, as is expedient and financially possible, educational institutions of learning at all levels from pre-school through higher education, for the purpose of educating and training members in discipleship.

Guardian Ministries will ordain and issue appropriate ministerial credentials to those fully qualified as disciples, dedicated and consecrated persons who meet the Scriptural qualifications for the ministry as elders, teachers, deacons or deaconesses.

Guardian Ministries will help establish local congregations in various parts of the world composed of baptized members whom God adds to the Great Body of Christ (the Church) as is required by the growth of this ministry.

 

Guardian Ministries is a nonprofit, tax-exempt religious organization that is financially independent from any single church organization or congregation.

WHAT OUR NAME MEANS

The name "guardian" is taken from the passage in 2 Timothy 1:13-14. In verse 14 Paul tells Timothy, "Guard, through the Holy Spirit who (that) dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to [you]." (NAS) The NIV has this: "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you." We find from the rest of the book that the "good deposit" or "treasure" is the "word of truth", it is the "word", the "holy writings", in other words the Bible with its message of the Good News! Paul also exhorts Timothy to "hold to the pattern of sound (healthy, wholesome, nutritious) words which you heard from me in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus (v. 13). GM is a work of service and faith.

The word "ministry" means service. We hope to be of service to God's people wherever they are. Because we have chosen the word "ministries". which is plural, we will have more than one type of service. We hope to serve in teaching, evangelizing, exhorting, correcting, encouraging, fellowshipping, converting, baptizing, etc. Our aim and goal is to promote strong teachings of God's Word. And since God's Word uses so many family words such as "the Father", "the Son", "brothers", "sisters", "the mother of us all", GM will also teach the principles of reconciliation which will strengthen family ties. We believe that whatever strengthens family ties will also strengthen ties between the Brethren in the church, whom we regard as being the spiritual body of converted believers.

At present, GM has no employees and is not financially supported by any congregation or corporate church organization. Only contributions from individuals,   freely given, sustain our ability to serve God's people.

WHAT WE OFFER

Guardian Ministries has done 13 half-hour television programs made in studio.  The program, called "YOUR FUTURE TODAY,"   explains how people are suffering because of the things they do that violate God's laws and godly wisdom.  It teaches them how they may come to God and change their lives (repent).  

Guardian Ministries offers sermon tapes for individuals and for groups.  Just write us to have your name placed on the mailing list to receive these offers free of charge.

Guardian Ministries offers a weekly TeleSermon by which those who call in may hear most often a live sermon by David L. Antion.  Check the main menu on this web page and click the TeleSermon hyperlink for the number and details.  People are calling in from around the country and overseas as well.

Guardian Ministries sponsors personal appearances with Dr. David Antion visiting various fellowship groups and congregations around the world.  

Guardian Ministries does NOT draw artificial lines around individuals or groups.  We are here to serve regardless of others' affiliations.  

GM GUIDELINES

We will endeavor to follow Biblical guidelines as closely as possible. Therefore, GM will not engage in useless speculations because of Paul's admonition, "But keep away from those godless, empty discussions, for they lead people further into godlessness (2 Tim. 2:16 Modern Language Bible). And "Decline those foolish, stupid speculations, as you know they breed quarrels" (2: 23). GM will not use personal attacks and will not deal in gossip or innuendo against any individual. We will, however, present a strong position for Bible truth and wholesome (healthy) words and ideas.

GM will not be a respecter of persons. Paul states that he was not awed by the titles of men, not even of Peter and John. "whatever they amounted to makes no difference to me; God does not respect any man's persona" (Gal. 2:6). In other words, just because a well- known person says something does not mean we will automatically accept it. It must also be the truth. Truth, as evidenced by Scripture, is our ultimate authority.