Founding Pastor, Bob Miller

Pastor Bob Miller

1946-2006

Pastor Bob and his wife, Pastor Jeanne, were the co-founders of Montgomery Faith Fellowship in 1985. Over the years Pastor Bob’s teaching gift and his leadership skills blessed the congregation. Most importantly however was his flow with the Holy Spirit in prophecy, word of wisdom and word of knowledge which helped guide many who received these spiritual gifts.

Pastor Bob was a graduate of Rhema Bible Training Center in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, in 1983 as well as having three earned degrees from Towson State University in Maryland. In the 1990’s he served as a District Director for Rhema Ministerial Association International and eventually became a Regional Director for that organization. He held this position until his homegoing in May of 2006.

While the congregation of Montgomery Faith Fellowship misses him, the foundation he built for us is a solid one and we have continued on the same path that he started us on those many years ago. We will always remember him with love and appreciation for all that he brought to us and we will see him again in the not too distant future.

Spring, The Time of New Beginnings

by Pastor Jeanne Miller

Spring is a beautiful time of the year. I think of cherry blossoms, daffodils, tulips, and leaves on trees. A couple of weeks ago I was outside our home with Jonathan, my grandson, and we were having a very deep discussion concerning the seasons of the year. He wanted to know when the leaves would be coming back to the trees and I was trying to explain that in Spring the new vegetation comes. In Summer, school is out and everything is in bloom. Then in Autumn those leaves that came in Spring fall off of the trees and in Winter everything looks dead but it really isn’t because then Spring comes and it starts all over again. Jonathan was having a little trouble looking at the trees in their “dead” state and understanding that shortly from those oh-so-bare limbs would come forth the green leaves that make the trees so beautiful (and that provide him shade while playing outside).

Our conversation started me thinking. While some people look at January as the start of a new year, I would rather look at Spring as the beginning of a new year. Everything in nature that looked so dead comes back to life. Even in the deadness of Winter, there always remains life within the vegetation. We can’t see it but by faith we believe it’s there and that we will see this life appear once again as the seasons change.

I think it is very appropriate that Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension occurred during the Spring. This is what brought to us a new beginning, a new birth, life out of deadness and light out of darkness. Just as Spring brings beauty to nature just as God made it to do, our new spiritual birth brought a beauty to each of us that we could never have attained by ourselves or from any other avenue save the Lamb of God. Jesus said in John 10:10-11 “. . .I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance—to the full, till it overflows. I am the Good Shepherd. The good Shepherd risks and lays down his own life for the sheep.” I try to remember to thank God for His plan of salvation every single day and I thank Jesus that He was willing to lay down His life for me. I don’t ever want to take what Jesus did for granted because He truly gave me “beauty for ashes”.

In Hebrews 2:1-3 the Amplified Bible says, “Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away. For if the message given through angels [that is, the Law spoken by them to Moses] was authentic and proved sure, and every violation and disobedience received an appropriate (just and adequate) penalty, how shall we escape [appropriate retribution] if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation [as is now offered to us, letting it drift past us forever]? For it was declared at first by the Lord [Himself], and it was confirmed to us and proved to be real and genuine by those who personally heard [Him speak].” I love the phrase “such a great salvation”. It truly is so great that it is hard for us to comprehend and live out all that our salvation encompasses.

During the Summer of our lives we should be applying ourselves to learning what this salvation is all about to its deepest meanings and then obeying and doing what we have learned as James writes in 1:22, “But—obey the message; be doers of the Word, and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].” Studying the Bible should be a part of our daily routine. We should be able to say with the Psalmist, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.” and “The entrance and unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding—discernment and comprehension—to the simple.” We should enjoy
fellowship with the Father and with one another and allow it to change and sharpen us.

Autumn in our spiritual life is when we have reached some level of maturity and the world can see what God has done in us, just as the leaves display such beauty in that season and catch our attention. Natural age shouldn’t have much to do with this phase of our spiritual life. Children who have been raised by parents who take God seriously are many times more mature than adults who have played around with being a Christian for years. It depends on the knowledge of the Word and the degree that a person yields to walking in that knowledge. It depends on the passion that we have for the things of God. Paul told Timothy in his youth “Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold of the eternal life to which you were summoned, and confessed the good confession [of faith] before many witnesses.” It is a fight to stay untainted by the world and to keep our passion for the Lord.

Winter in my mind is when we make the transition from earth to heaven—whenever and however that my come. Though our earthly bodies may look dead and useless, that inner life which has sustained us during our life here (the spirit man) moves on to something far better. In fact Paul says far, far better. Philippians 1:21-23 “For me, to live is Christ—His life in me; and to die is gain—[the gain of the glory of eternity]. If, however, it is to be life in the flesh and I am to live on here, that means fruitful service for me; so I can say nothing as to my personal preference—I cannot choose, but I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart—to be free of this world, to set forth—and be with Christ, for that is far, far better”.

At this point in our lives if we have truly followed the Lord, there will be someone left behind who starts the cycle again of the new birth, or Spring, because of our lives lived on this earth. This is the greatest tribute we can give to God—that someone came to accept Jesus and walk in that great salvation because of the life we lived before them. I truly love Spring!

Blessings In The New Year

Pastor Jeanne Miller

It’s time for New Year’s resolutions to be touted on the talk shows and in the media. I don’t know about you but they don’t do much for me. Not that we shouldn’t look over the old year and see where we might do better this year. It’s just that most of the resolutions that you hear about are all worldly and that’s not where it’s at for me. I’ve found over the years that if I keep my spiritual life in order the rest will follow. So at this time of the year I stop and sit with the Lord to find out what needs to be done in the New Year. You notice I didn’t say where I failed in the past year, but instead where I need to stretch and go further this year. The Lord doesn’t spend a lot of time on telling you where you failed. Instead He tells you what will help you in the future. Everyone needs to continue growing spiritually all the time.

I can give you some concrete examples from years past. When I knew I needed to lose weight, I went to the Lord and He told me to spend more time with Him. When I went to Him about walking in love, He told me to spend more time with Him. When I went to Him about ministry needs, He told me to spend more time with Him. When I went to Him about health issues, He told me to spend more time with Him. Are you seeing a pattern developing or is it just me? I finally got the point that no matter what the need may be, (family issues, marriage issues, anger issues, oppression issues, financial issues, etc.) the answer will always be the same: spend more time with Him.

Now that seems to be too easy! Especially when you know how you’ve struggled in the past with these issues. I can remember when I was trying to lose that weight that just kind of crept up on me. I thought, how is spending time with the Lord going to help me say no to that candy or those chips? Yet that is exactly what the enemy would have you think so you’ll pass it off as nonsense. How many times have we heard from the Lord and said, because of our own reasoning, that can’t be God? Yet what I found was the only way I could withstand those temptations was by being stronger in the spirit! God knows what’s best for us. During that time He took me to scriptures that I still remember. Here are two. Proverbs 23:2, “And put a knife to your throat if you are a man given to appetite.” Proverbs 23:21, “For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.” Spend some time meditating on those two scriptures and see what happens!

In II Peter 1:3 the scripture says, “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” Now I believe that all things that pertain to life and godliness pretty much covers it all! However, if you were to stop right there and not finish the verse you could stand on this part of the verse all day for many years and not obtain all things that pertain to life and godliness. The “all things” are obtained only one way—through the knowledge of Jesus. And the knowledge of Jesus only comes one way. That is by spending time with Him. That is the only way you get to know Him.

Now we get to the only way to success for a Christian which we hear about all the time. We need to spend time in the Word and in prayer, or as it says in Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth!” When you get your answers by being still before the Lord and you walk them out with success, then God is exalted among the nations and in the earth! And this strategy works! I have found it works better than the ways of the world or than me doing things in my own strength—which never works.

How come more Christians don’t have success in this area? Mainly because the enemy will use everything in his bag of tricks to stop you from spending time with the Lord and he’s usually successful to one degree or another. He is a liar and a deceiver and he will try to convince you through your reasoning that this is just too easy and therefore could not possibly work. However those who have success in their walk with the Lord know that it really is just that simple if you will buckle down and do it.

In 2008 let’s determine in our heart to do only one thing but do it well. Spend time in the presence of the Lord through prayer, praise, the Word and just being still. I believe it will bring more blessings to our lives then anything we could think up on our own. Be blessed in 2008!

Increasing Our Capacity to Receive

Pastor Jeanne Miller

We hear from almost every ministry that this is the year for more, the year of coming into a fullness that we haven’t seen before. However, in order to walk in the fullness and to see more we are going to have to increase our capacity to receive this fullness. What do I mean by “increasing our capacity to receive”? I’m going to use two areas of receiving as examples: healing and prosperity.

How many people have hands laid on them on Sunday and by Monday all the symptoms are back and they’ve “lost their healing”? There’s a reason why this happens. Their capacity to receive from the Lord is not what it needs to be. As Brother Kenneth Copeland said recently, healing always comes when hands are laid on people because the anointing goes into them; it is not always received. Mark 16:18, “. . . they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover.” Why then does it seem that some do not receive healing? In verse 15 of chapter 16, Jesus said to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Then we must believe the gospel, verse 17. Knowing the gospel and believing the gospel put us in a position to receive and when two people hook up and believe (one laying on hands and the other needing healing), healing will always come.

Receiving takes knowing God and what is His will for His children, knowing what Jesus went to the cross to secure for us and knowing who we are as a Christian. We need to know our position in Christ today. In Ephesians 2:6 the bible says, “and raised us up together and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. What does this mean? First of all, only royalty can sit in the presence of other royalty. Do you see yourself as a king and a priest reigning with Jesus (Revelation 1:6 and 5:10) or someone who has got to convince God that you’re good enough to get the blessings? Secondly, when we know who we are in Christ then we know what we have in Christ: healing, prosperity, peace, love, etc. When we really know our position and what we have in Christ we begin to have the faith necessary to receive.

The bible says study to show yourself approved. We must take this seriously if we want to walk in all the fullness of what God has planned for us. When we are baby Christians we receive many things from God just because He is full of grace and mercy. But there comes a time when He expects us to grow up and at that point, we must know how to receive. It takes an intimate knowledge of God to have faith to receive from Him. It takes study and meditation of the word on a daily basis, being in His presence and praying His will rather than our will. All of this means that you’re maturing in the Lord. Maturity means we are walking in love (John 15:12) and being thankful (Hebrews 13:15) to the best of our knowledge. All of this increases our ability to receive from our Father, not only for healing but in every arena of our lives.

For those that are believing for financial breakthroughs it means knowing God’s heart on finances. We hear a lot these days about prosperity and God does want His children to prosper, but He wants us to prosper in all areas, not just financially. III John 2, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” Those that push financial prosperity over prospering in every area run the risk of causing Christians to fall into the trap that I Timothy 6:10 speaks of: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” The best way I know to prosper is to be a giver--not just a tither, but a giver. When you learn to give over and above your tithe as God speaks to you, you are increasing your capacity to receive. God rushes to honor His children when He knows they will not be covetous or greedy but will give generously and hilariously, as the Amplified Bible says in II Corinthians 9:7, “Let each one [give] as he has made up his own mind and purposed in his heart, not reluctantly or sorrowfully or under compulsion, for God loves (He takes pleasure in, prizes above other things, and is unwilling to abandon or to do without) a cheerful (joyous, “prompt to do it”) giver [whose heart is in his giving].” Hallelujah!

I truly believe this is the year for more—in every area. We will see more people healed, more people born again, more people spirit filled, more of everything. But I know that it will take people drawing closer to the Lord in every way. For those that do draw closer, the rewards will be great. And why does God want to see our capacity to receive increase? Increasing our capacity to receive means increasing our capacity to give, and that is what God is all about.

Copyright © 2002 - 2004 Montgomery Faith Fellowship. All Rights Reserved

Characteristics of a Godly Father

Pastor Robert Miller

As I reflect over my life and its peculiarities, I have come to regret that I never had a father to influence my life. His absence created some issues for me as I attempted to be a husband and a father in my own family. I really missed my father’s presence but I did not realize that fact until I came to know my heavenly Father. My heavenly Father’s presence filled a void that I did not realize I had. His presence has made me a better companion for my wife and a more compassionate father for my children. His continued presence changes my outlook on life and provides me with a great foundation for security. Because He loves me, I know that I can win in the arena of life.

Likewise, natural fathers can have the same effect upon our lives. I am not suggesting that our natural fathers can take the place of our heavenly Father. I am saying that godly fathers contribute the essentials for meaningful relationships that will benefit his family and equip them for victorious living. A father’s role is so important to his family’s future. When a vital relationship with the Lord is factored into the equation, a father can literally shape the future of his family and provide the ingredients that are the basis for success. The Bible gives us timeless principles that describe the characteristics of a godly father. I would like to outline just a few in the hopes that at Montgomery Faith Fellowship we will rise to the challenge of godly fathering.

The first characteristic of a godly father is that he establishes a vital relationship with the Lord. In other words, he demonstrates his spirituality to his family. He initiates participation in spiritual activities such as family prayer or devotions. He sees to it that his family goes to church and that they display a reverential respect for the Lord. A godly father would demonstrate his love for the Lord through service. His spiritual life reflects the importance of his relationship to the Lord and sets into motion the priorities that govern his family. This takes commitment on the part of the father, but that is exactly what our heavenly Father demonstrates to us: His commitment that is motivated by His love for us.

The second characteristic of a godly father is that he teaches his children to respond to God in their lives. A father will teach and train his children by his words and his example. The model he provides will become the basis for his children’s own behavior. How his children respond to God will reflect how they were trained. Eli, the priest, was charged with failing to restrain his own children and to train them properly. 1 Samuel 3:13 says, “For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.” God actually said Eli honored his sons more than God. (1 Samuel 2)
Eli’s failure to teach and train his sons allowed an opportunity for destruction to come into his family. By contrast, God praised Abraham for commanding his children well so that God could bring to them His promises. Gen 18:19 says, “For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him." Did you perceive the tremendous effect of a father’s instruction upon the ability of his children to receive God’s blessings? A godly father will teach his children how to respond to God in their lives.

The third characteristic of a godly father is that he demonstrates a stable character. As a father walks with the Lord, his character will reflect the Lord and fruit will grow that is experienced by those in his family. 1 Peter 3:7-9 tells us, “Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.” Living these principles in life bring blessing, answered prayer and stability. A godly father implements behavior patterns that demonstrate stability. He is consistent, regular and predictable. He has worked to overcome mood swings. He keeps his word and his promises. He is present in the family and keeps a regular daily schedule. He heeds the warning of scripture and doesn’t provoke his children, and he brings them up in the nuture and admonition of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4)

These are just a few of the characteristics of a godly father. I believe that you can readily see how fathers can affect their families for good or for evil. Fathers, the future is literally in your hands. I believe God is calling us to rise to the challenge of our identity in Jesus. For those who do not have fathers present in the home, take heart for what my Heavenly Father did for me He will do for you. He will step in and reveal Himself to you. This is not His first choice but it is one that works. He will be a Father to you and to all who call upon Him. God bless.

Happy Mother's Day!

Pastor Jeanne Miller

One of the greatest joys of my life is having been a mother. I know I didn’t do everything right, but I also know I tried my best at all times. I just loved (and still do) being with my children and watching them grow. It was so exciting to watch their personalities develop and help them become who God wanted them to be. It wasn’t an easy task as any mother will tell you, but it was rewarding. There were sorrows and there were joys but, in the end, it is worth every minute spent working with your children. It’s worth being diligent with discipline and constant with rules and behavior, even when you think you cannot discipline them one more time!

The job of raising children normally falls to the mother and I believe God has equipped her for it. Women tend to be more nurturing than men and more relational. I believe that when God took Eve out of Adam these personality traits were given to her. Remember that Adam was made in God’s image and was complete, like God, before Eve was taken from him. (Gen. 5:1-2) It falls to the father to be the main provider for the family and the head of the family in making final decisions, after listening to input from his helpmate. I think we have all seen what can happen when roles get reversed for any reason—it makes it hard on the whole family.

A family without a mother is a poor reflection of what God intended. Children grow and develop best when in a nurturing, supportive atmosphere. In many ways a mother sets the tone for family life which is why it is so important for her to have a spiritual life with God along with her daily responsibilities. How many of us have had a mother who prayed for us daily and we lived better lives for it? A mother needs to know what God’s plan for her family is and the way He wants to bring it about. God’s plans are always the best and bring the best results so being aware of them is vital.

A mother’s words will be remembered for a lifetime—for good and for evil. To speak encouraging, faith-filled words over our children is so important, even when we may not be seeing the result of those words as yet. That’s what faith is all about. When we speak words that pull down and tear apart, we are imparting a force into our children’s lives that will do just that—pull them down and tear them apart. If we tell a child they are stupid or slow, they grow up with that belief and some never overcome those words—even if it is not true. How much better it is for them to hear that they have the mind of Christ. They believe what they hear and so become what they believe. What would you have your children believe about themselves?

Words spoken in the morning will be with you all day long. What is the last thing you say to your children as they leave the house? I tried never to let my children go from the house with strife sown in them for the day through my words. I also made a point to try and be there when they came home to sit and talk with them about their day. It builds for a close relationship where they are free to express their feelings and needs openly. I believe that a son treated in this manner will have a better chance at expressing himself later on in marriage. This is a complaint of so many women where their husbands are concerned—they don’t and can’t communicate. Well the answer starts long before they are ever old enough to get married—it begins with being drawn into conversations as children by their mothers who encourage them to communicate. The importance of words cannot be underestimated! Proverbs 25:11 says, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver”. What a beautiful, poetic way to express the need to watch our words.

We give our children a picture of God by who we are and how we act. They will grow up and be like their parents. What an awesome responsibility! How hard it can be to look at your children and see your own shortcomings. Better to work at being who you need to be so they can become who they should be. I used to fall back on the scripture that says “With God all things are possible”. That gave me peace of mind! There were times when I felt it would have to be all God if they were to turn out right, but He always came through.

The greatest compliment a mother can have, I believe, is when as in Proverbs 31:28, “Her children rise up and call her blessed”. It’s wonderful to see the end result of your years of hard work as your children become parents themselves and endeavor to put into their children what was put into them. It truly is a blessing and one to work towards diligently when you feel you cannot do one more chore at the end of the day or speak one more word of encouragement because you really don’t feel like it! Children are truly a blessing from the Lord, but more than that they are a sacred trust given to a mother from the Lord. He gives them to us to mold and to build into a great woman or man of God. That is the greatest compliment of all—that our Heavenly Father trusts us to do the job! Happy Mother’s Day to all our moms!

Memorial service information

A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 2, at 7:00 pm at:

Montgomery Faith Fellowship
356 Christopher Avenue, in Gaithersburg, MD.

Directions

From Route 270, Take Exit 11 (Montgomery Village Avenue).
Turn left on Frederick Ave. (Rt 355).
At 2nd traffic light, turn right onto Christopher Ave.
Proceed through traffic light at Russell Ave.
Church is in 1st office park on right.
Parking is available in the front or rear of the building with entrances in both locations

For more directions from other locations go to MAPQUEST.COM

In Memoriam: Our Pastor Bob

Pastor Bob Miller
1946-2006

Pastor Bob Miller was born Robert Franklin Miller on November 1, 1946 in Baltimore, MD. He is the son of Carl Miller and Doris Moffit, and brother of Raymond Miller, all deceased. He met his wife of 39 years, Jeanne Lynn Miller in 1964 and married her on June 16, 1967. Shortly after that, he served his country in the Vietnam war, earning many honors, including a bronze star. He is a graduate of Towson State University, with a bachelor’s degree and two masters degrees in education. He was a Howard County school teacher until 1980, when he left that profession to train for ministry at Rhema Bible Training Center. After graduating from Rhema in 1983, he began to pastor, and he founded his church, Montgomery Faith Fellowship, in March of 1985. His life of faith and gift for teaching have touched the lives of many people around the world. He is a member of Rhema Ministerial Association International, and served as the Mid-Atlantic Region’s director for many years.

After fighting for a year, his body succumbed to cancer, and he died in his home on May 16, 2006. He is survived by his wife, Pastor Jeanne Miller, children-- Kristin & John Wenck, Jr., and Justin & Angelique Miller, and grandchildren—Hannah Sue Miller, Jonathan Wenck, and Kaitlyn Wenck.