Reflecting back to my first contact with Second 8th Week Ministries

Second 8th Week Ministries has always been online and global since I first came into contact with Apostle Eric Vonanderseck and Teacher Maria VonAnderseck back in February of 2002 when I reached out with a fair bit of apprehension as you can see from the email I set to them back then:

My name is John Welty.

I'm here by invitation. I've been to the website and looked it over very briefly. I've read Eric's testimony and the introduction as well as the posts in this group up until this point.

 I don't know who invited me to this group, but I would like to begin by asking why I was invited to this group. I do not ask this to say that I don't believe I've belong in this group, but only to say that I would like to know the motivation.

 I look forward to reading more of the website and getting to know each of you better as the time remaining allows.

It was on the 28th of February that I stopped my apprehension and embraced instruction in the doctrine of Christ:

Eric,

Today is the day.

God has led me along and each time He teaches me something that requires me to dump man's doctrine I get to a point where I'm asked, "Do you believe I've taught you this?" When He asks me this, I've known that there will be a cost to obeying Him (those I love and those that love me may be convicted by the Holy Spirit when I obey what they are not obeying). When He asks me this, I've known that I have the choice to continue on with Him or walk away, but I cannot stay where He's got me. When He's asked me this, He's always had others come to me for instruction on the very thing He's teaching me. I've therefore been required to not only answer, "yes, I believe", but also to demonstrate and proclaim that which He's taught me by instructing another. 

Today is the day. God has asked me today if I believe that He is teaching me what He has taught you. He's asking me if I will receive you as an apostle. He's asked me if I will receive this doctrine in whole.  He's made it clear to me that I cannot accept this doctrine in part. He's led four believers to me today who need and want the foundation of truth you are laying in my heart taught to them. He's made it clear to me that I will be asked to proclaim and demonstrate this doctrine to the elders and pastor of the physical church of which I'm a member. He's prepared them to receive me with respect as I've been raised up in their midst. 

Those that He's leading to me today are ready to receive this foundation of truth and be cleansed.

I cannot teach what I do not believe and have not received from God. God is commanding me to either walk away from this doctrine in whole or receive it in whole. He's asked me to do this today. (Yesterday as of 8 minutes ago.) 

The post I posted earlier was my proclaiming that I receive you as an apostle and this doctrine as being of God. 

I'm writing this to you now so that you may know where I'm at and what I'm in need of. 

I need to be cleansed from all doctrine of man. I need to have this foundation of truth laid in my heart. I need to continue in learning of and using the tools of the new covenant as I continue in faith growing as the measure of grace is being increased. I need to be cleansed that I may operate in the office of His calling. 

God has given me much time to devote to praying in the Spirit and receiving this doctrine. God has given me the boldness to set my face against my own understanding and I've taken all of my own wisdom, learning and understanding captive to the obedience of Christ. 

I believe God is establishing a foundation of truth whereby the church will be without excuse. This foundation of truth is first in the government of the apostles. I believe that this doctrine is the apostles' doctrine and has been given to you by God for the preparation of the body of Christ in these last days. 

I receive this doctrine as answered prayer.
 God has made it clear that I can no longer operate in the Spirit while remaining in the doctrine of man. I was trying to do both. 

Today I was asked to choose and I have chosen. 

I believe. 

God has opened my heart, mind and soul to be regenerated, renewed and saved. 

Prepared by Christ to receive in whole, 

--John

I've been growing daily in the faith ever since that day on which I made the best choice in my life and continue building on that decision along with my amazing wife, Teacher Melissa Welty