Rev. R. L. Brandt (1917-2007) is remembered

Robert Louis Brandt was born May 29, 1917, at Tower City, North Dakota, the oldest child of Alfred and Etta Brandt. He passed away in Billings, Montana on September 27, 2007 at the age of 90. He served the Assemblies of God Fellowship as pastor, author, Bible school president, executive presbyter, National Home Missions Secretary, and superintendent of two districts.

Raised on a farm near Rock Lake, North Dakota, Brandt accepted Christ at Lake Geneva Bible Camp near Alexandria, Minnesota at age 16 and soon felt a calling to the ministry. After completing high school, he attended North Central Bible Institute (now North Central University) in Minneapolis and went on to pastor churches in Stanley (1939-1945) and Grand Forks, North Dakota (1945-1951). He married Marian Williams in 1940, and they became parents of three children.

Brandt’s ministry expanded when he was elected North Dakota District Superintendent (1951-1958), resigning to become the National Home Missions Secretary for the Assemblies of God (1958-1965). He then became pastor of First Assembly of God in Billings, Montana (1965-1970) and Montana District Superintendent (1970-1983). He served faithfully for 20 years as executive presbyter of the Northwest Region from 1981 to 2001. He also served on many boards and committees, including the board of directors for North Central Bible College, Central Indian Bible College, and Northwest University.

A gifted author, he contributed articles to the Pentecostal Evangel, Pulpit, Enrichment, and wrote several theological texts including Praying With Paul, The Spirit Helps Us Pray, Attitudes of the Beatitudes, The Pentecostal Promise, among others, and a number of Sunday school quarterlies. He also traveled as an evangelist to many countries including Puerto Rico, Thailand, Java, Canada, and South Korea. He is remembered as a leader, board member, teacher, preacher, and author, but most of all, he is remembered as a faithful servant of God.

George O. Wood on enduring core values

Photos: Dr. George O. Wood, speaking at the AGTS chapel, September 14, 2007. Used with permission of AGTS.

The Assemblies of God (USA) elected new leadership at its 52nd General Council in Indianapolis, Indiana in August 2007. What does this mean for our Fellowship?

Dr. George O. Wood, General Superintendent-Elect, gave the following acceptance speech at the commissioning service of the new Executive Leadership Team, which took place Tuesday, September 18, 2007 at the national headquarters in Springfield, Missouri. In his message, Dr. Wood identified five “enduring core values” of the Assemblies of God. These values, he promised, will guide him as he seeks to lead the Assemblies of God to fulfill its three-fold mission to worship, evangelize, and make disciples.

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ENDURING CORE VALUES
by Dr. George O. Wood
September 18, 2007

At this past General Council, you extended to me the grace of responsibility in serving as the next general superintendent. I am humbled by your confidence in me and ask you to pray for me and the other leaders as we begin this journey of serving you.

People have been asking me, “George, what’s your vision for the Assemblies of God? What are you going to focus on