My Favorite Church Service With the Pearls
Years ago, right after Debi Pearl’s book Created to Be His Help Meet was published in 2004, we went to a week-long retreat of theirs where Michael was going to preach to us the meat of the Word – the book of Hebrews. I asked if Ken would go with me the first night and he did because he liked what Debi’s book was doing for our marriage and for me. When we got there, we saw Mike right away and went up and greeted him. He’s a big, kind of gruff guy but man, can he preach the Word of God. Ken liked his preaching so much that he went with me the entire week!
Every session, Debi would sit in the front row and smile and nod her head towards Mike. You could see her love towards him and his love towards her the entire week. One day Debi had a class for just women and mostly answered questions about her book. She was soft and gentle and it was fun listening to her. I went up and talked to her for a bit and she was warm and friendly towards everyone. She gave another class on health but I couldn’t make it. I was still recovering from my first brain surgery so it was a miracle I was even able to attend.
I have heard Debi criticized for not teaching the Word in her book but she leaves this up to Mike. In my book, I had Ken share the parts that were teaching the Word since I have become convicted that yes, God gave men the responsibility of doing this and it is a heavy responsibility.
I loved listening to Mike teach about the Lord, how we’re freed from the Law and sin, and how grace now pours down upon us. There were so many things he taught us during that week thirteen years ago that I still remember clearly to this day. No other minister of the Word has had such a great impact upon our lives. He’s a GREAT story teller and he gave an example of God’s grace upon us. He mentioned the old-time cable cars in San Francisco and how they are connected to wires overhead all throughout the city. Where ever you walk, you’re likely to be near or under the cables that bring electricity to these cable cars. God’s grace is like this. It just is pouring down upon us all the day long covering up our sins done in ignorance and blessing us with God’s peace.
On Sunday, they had a church service so all of our children came with us. They were all teenagers by this time and they loved it! The Pearls take the Bible seriously and women were not allowed to speak during the service. Yes, we sang songs praising the Lord. At one point, Michael asked for testimonies of any who came to know the Lord that week. He said if a wife came to know the Lord that the husband stand up and share for her. He then spoke a powerful sermon and prayed over all of us.
And you know what, I wasn’t offended in the least that not one woman spoke during this church service. It didn’t demean women at all, as many want us to believe. It’s God’s created perfect order for us and it was beautiful. The women were dressed modestly and acted modestly. The women learned from Debi Pearl, the older woman, the ways of godly womanhood and all of us learned the meat of the Word from Michael. Just the way God has ordained it to be.
We sang some great old-time hymns and Michael would have a hand raised to the Lord with tears streaming down his face. During his sermons, sometimes he would get so choked up speaking about the His glorious Savior that he would have to stop for a few moments. This big, old gruff guy was moved greatly by the Lord and His love for him. One time Debi was late to one of the sessions so she walked gracefully and cutely up the aisle to the front and he said, “That woman still turns me on!” We all broke out in laughter. So yes, Christians can have a lot of fun and why not; the JOY of the LORD is our strength!
After this week, I bought all of his CDs and wrote all over my Bible learning from this great man of faith. It has been life transforming for Ken and me. Debi helped change our marriage and Mike changed how we see the Lord and who we are in Him. God is using them in powerful ways because they are willing vessels for him. The conference was free because Michael doesn’t want to be beholden to anyone, just as the Apostle Paul was a tentmaker so he wouldn’t be beholden to anyone. They preach the Gospel clearly and with authority and this is why this was my favorite church service ever!
On the last day as we were leaving, Ken found that black Bible in the picture. Everyone had left so they told us to keep it. It’s the Bible I used when listening to all of Mike’s Bible teachings so it’s beat up, marked up, and old. It was old when I got it but I treasure this Bible with God’s Words of wisdom and Michael’s preaching notes in it.
The Apostle Paul’s instructions to Timothy, a young male pastor:
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season;
reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:2
23 thoughts on “My Favorite Church Service With the Pearls”
I love the Pearls! It was Debi’s book that opened my eyes to my God-given role as a wife. Love their teachings and how they never water down the word of God. It’s funny, this morning when I was walking the dog, I asked God to help me. You see, I want to study the Bible more and just don’t know where to start. Maybe I will go over to their site and see what sermons I can listen to.
I love them too, HH, and I’m not afraid to say it even though they are so terribly maligned. Many are afraid to speak their names because of the evil that others speak about them but the fruit of their ministry is good and in line with what the Scriptures teach. This is the only evidence that matters in the end.
I love them too. Although, I will admit that the first started reading CTBHH, it made me mad. But, as I kept reading, it started convicting my heart. It really changed me (I was raised with five brothers, no sisters and thought I could do anything they could and no man was going to tell me what to do.) I think I have read through it at least five times now. It probably wouldn’t hurt me to re-read it again now 🙂
Any suggestions on some of the sermons? I am thinking I may try to listen to them as I clean, because it seems I am super busy here lately.
Hebrews and Romans are the meat of the Gospel and these are my favorite books by far for learning who we are in Christ and all of the wonderful promises the Lord has given to all who call upon His name! You can watch him at “The Door” on Facebook and he has illustrations to go along with his teachings that are great.
I love the Pearl’s teachings and books too. I am a Mennonite, and since a young teenager have been searching for freedom from the bondage of what many Mennonites knowingly or unknowingly burden people with in order to be saved. God has been faithfully leading me, and this past December I discovered their mp3s, and I download them and listen to them as I can while making supper. The message Am I Saved? made such a tremendous impact on my life. And chains of guilt are gone, and yes I am still classed as a Mennonite , but my heart is sooo free, so free in Christ. Blessings to you, and your willingness to teach younger ladies. I am not ashamed to say I am a Christian, and I read No Greater Joy stuff , and your blog. I have learned so much, and am in my 30’s and I have biblical answers to give younger ladies who see how happy my marriage has become over the years, and want the secrets 😉 it has been 7 yrs since I first read CTBHHM. And have been married for over 10 years to an almost 100% Command Man who used to drive me crazy until reading that book!
Praise the Lord, Dorcas! Yes, He came to set the captives FREE – us! After listening to every single one of Michael’s Bible teachings, I know the Word and love it so much more. You are blessed along with your family!
LOVE THE PEARLS!! I would love to meet them someday!
I think what I love most about the Pearls, is the commonsense approach they take to everything. Their books To Train up a Child gave me precious times with my children. Her book Created has given me so much joy in our marriage. I know of many people, even christians, that do not like them but all you have to do is look at their lives/fruit to see they are the kind of Christian I want to be. So thankful for them.
That sounds awesome. Would love for him to come out to australia to preach, but im pretty sure he would struggle to get into the country because there is a preconcieved belief that he tells people to abuse their children. Which couldnt be further from the truth! I had a government worker try and tell me last week that it was illegal to smack your children here in Australia. Poor girl, she didnt know I had done my research and shot her down like a ton of bricks. She then said well, smacking doesnt work anyway. Ha! I quickly corrected her on that too. So glad that people like the Pearls are willing to stand up for the truth.
They have retreats once in a while, Cori. Check their site!
I am too, Shelley! They have blessed our lives in so many ways.
Some countries are making it illegal to spank a child now. A few parents abuse their children and then the government blames it on spanking which couldn’t be farther from the truth. Evil parents abuse their children. Godly, loving parents spank on their children’s bottom, not out of anger but in love, to help train them in the ways of goodness. The Pearls are very clear about this in their book.
I have a question about women speaking in church. If a woman is convicted about not speaking in church, even though the church allows it, is it then a sin for her to speak? Our family goes to a fairly conservative church. During a typical service women are free to speak up and share prayer requests, scripture for the encouragement and exhortation of the body, announcements with the church body, and also pray out loud during corporate prayer – all done from where they’re sitting, not from the pulpit. Our church service sometimes consists of gathering around tables that we sit at, discussing points from the message. I feel comfortable speaking then, since I’m only talking to the few people at my table. I do try to be mindful of not talking too much or trying to lead the discussion, since it’s usually a mixed group. If church leadership isn’t opposed to women speaking in church, is it up to each individual woman to be silent if convicted? I’d appreciate your thoughts on this, Lori!
I would be quiet, Emily, as the Word says regardless of what the leaders say is okay. Feminists have infiltrated the Church so heavily that we need to get back to the Word, believe it and obey it. If you aren’t speaking out, praying, etc. you are leaving room for men to do it instead, hopefully. This may be an example to those around you of the respect for not only God’s Holy Word but for the men in authority and leadership positions.
I have never heard of them before. I need to seek them out and see what I am missing!!
I understand women not being senior pastors or elders. I am the wife of Baptist pastor. Our church would never have women as pastor, elder, deacon etc, but women are allowed to speak when the floor is open for prayer requests, testimonies, announcements. None of those things is usurping authority or teaching men. Jesus never once told a woman to be completely silent. Jesus first revealed his identity as The Messiah to the woman at the well in John 4. She went back home proclaiming the Good News and many people believed. It was also women who first proclaimed His resurrection.
You have found the “simplicity that is Jesus Christ.” I never doubted it from the first time I read your blog. You are a bold witness, Lori, to the power of faith in the Word …the very being of Jesus, the Christ. Continued blessing in your life as you hold fast to Him.
Their website is nogreaterjoy.org. You will be happy you did, Melinda!
Yes, Michelle, but these women were not in a church service when they did this. I have heard this reason for why women should be able to preach. Excitedly going to the Disciples and telling them the Good News of Christ’s resurrection isn’t the same thing as standing in front of the church service and speaking.
Most churches are like yours. Women want a voice in the church and wouldn’t be content being silent like they were in the Pearl’s church service. This is why I loved theirs the most!
“Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law.”
Thank you, Dave. No words that I could ever say or teach could be as powerful as the “simplicity that is Jesus Christ.”
Do the women sing before the service starts and when a song is requested?
My church lets women give prayer request and testify. I have felt that it was wrong when I read the scripture but that is the norm for our church. My husband thinks it is ok. I feel differently.
I love this article. It’s hard to find any website that says any good things about the Pearls. My husband and I have been absolutely thrilled listening to almost every sermon on their website. I have read Created To Be His Help meet and loved it. I actually think I’ll read again since reading this article.
I have one question though, do you know why Michael Pearl isn’t the pastor at the Church at Cane Creek anymore? We wanted to come up there and visit them some Sunday but found out he wasn’t pastoring a church anymore?
Thank you,
Kelle
No, I didn’t know that but he is making excellent preaching videos at The Door on Facebook, Kelle.