What a glorious time the ladies enjoyed at the annual Ladies Day. I enjoyed helping kitchen head cook Pastor Luther Massengale and the kitchen staff. There was no slack in our menu as we had bar-b-cue (cooked overnight outside over hickory coals by Pastor Massengale) cole slaw, potato salad, texas toast or cornbread, baked beans, tea, cola or coffee and peach or cherry cobbler the first evening. Then the breakfast the next morning was bacon or sausage, eggs, gravy, french toast sticks, biscuits, orange juce or coffee. We had a blast working together, talking together, listening to gospel music as it blased above the noisy kitchen work.
The five ladies who attended from Huntingdon also told of great times (you can read more about this on the blog for the COGOP in TN - Dr. McKinley) in the services, joy groups and devotional times.
Thank God for women who love the Lord Jesus and work tirelessly for the Him.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
FAMILY & FRIENDS FELLOWSHIP
Tonight at 7 pm is the monthly Family and Friends Fellowship. Come, bring your food and enjoy the fellowship of family and friends in the Fellowship Hall (basement) of the church.
AZUSA STREET - DAY TWO
From State Overseer E. C. McKinley of the Churches of God of Prophecy in Tennessee.
I had an early start to the day to take in the activities of the Azusa Street meeting. Upon arrival at the convention center, I noticed the atmosphere charged with the energy of thousands of believers gathering to remember the great revival that happened here one hundred years ago. I have no idea how large the crowd was, other than to say that there were over 22,000 registered.
After looking around in the convention center for a while I started to the front of the facility. I heard a familiar sound….one that I have known since I was a small child. It was the Bahama Brass Band playing at the front of the convention center. One of our own Tennessee ministers, a member at the Chickamauga Loop Church, Dr. Joseph Hall was playing in the drum section. The crowd was going wild over them! People danced, clapped and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the music.
While there, I saw our General Overseer, Bishop Fred S. Fisher, Sr., as well as, Randy and Bess Howard, Cathy Payne and one of our local pastoral teams Zach and Beverly Brooks. There were several other ministers and members from different parts of the world there as well.
There were several seminars and clinics during the afternoon, but in the evening service the events were in other locations. Among the speakers were Benny Hinn, Dr. Kenneth Copeland, Paula White and Bishop T.D. Jakes. Getting a seat was difficult, but well worth the trip.
My prayer for you today is the Lord’s richest blessings!
I had an early start to the day to take in the activities of the Azusa Street meeting. Upon arrival at the convention center, I noticed the atmosphere charged with the energy of thousands of believers gathering to remember the great revival that happened here one hundred years ago. I have no idea how large the crowd was, other than to say that there were over 22,000 registered.
After looking around in the convention center for a while I started to the front of the facility. I heard a familiar sound….one that I have known since I was a small child. It was the Bahama Brass Band playing at the front of the convention center. One of our own Tennessee ministers, a member at the Chickamauga Loop Church, Dr. Joseph Hall was playing in the drum section. The crowd was going wild over them! People danced, clapped and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the music.
While there, I saw our General Overseer, Bishop Fred S. Fisher, Sr., as well as, Randy and Bess Howard, Cathy Payne and one of our local pastoral teams Zach and Beverly Brooks. There were several other ministers and members from different parts of the world there as well.
There were several seminars and clinics during the afternoon, but in the evening service the events were in other locations. Among the speakers were Benny Hinn, Dr. Kenneth Copeland, Paula White and Bishop T.D. Jakes. Getting a seat was difficult, but well worth the trip.
My prayer for you today is the Lord’s richest blessings!
AZUSA STREET CENTENNIEL
For the next few days, I will be copying and posting our State Overseer's notes from the Azuza Street Centenniel in Los Angeles. This is a great time of meeting for Pentecostal Holiness groups as well as Evangelicals, Charismatics and others. You can go to the BLOG here Voice of Hope
Yesterday was certainly a long day. I flew out of Nashville in the late evening (so I could get some work done before leaving town) and had a layover in Minneapolis. When we lived in Montana, we used Northwest Airlines to go just about everywhere outside of that region, so I have been in that airport many times, and knew my way around it pretty well. I arrived in Los Angeles at 1:00 a.m. and then had to wait about an hour and fifteen minutes for my luggage to arrive at the baggage claim. Finally, the drive to the hotel was about another 30 minutes…who would have believed how heavy traffic is at that time of the night? Nashville traffic doesn’t seem so bad now. At any rate, I arrived at the hotel at almost 3:00 a.m.
I have a full day scheduled, had to get up and get going early to register for the Azusa Street meetings, and, oh yes, the traffic is still heavy.
I wish that all of you could be here to experience the 100th anniversary celebration of the great Azusa Street revival. If you remember your history, the Church of God was mostly a “holiness” movement until G.B. Cashwell came to preach at the Cleveland church and A.J. Tomlinson was baptized in the Holy Ghost. Although we had experienced a movement of the Holy Ghost at the Shearer Schoolhouse in North Carolina in 1886, the momentum of what has made us a holiness/pentecostal church started right here in this city.
As I looked around last night, I could see people of seeemingly every tribe, nation and tongue all around me. I pray that another Pentecost can break forth and help us to finish the work…remember Acts 1:8, “ye shall receive power….to be witnesses…” That promise/obligation is still in effect.
Please pray that I have a safe and healthy meeting here and that God will grant traveling mercies as I return later this week. May God bless and keep each of you
Yesterday was certainly a long day. I flew out of Nashville in the late evening (so I could get some work done before leaving town) and had a layover in Minneapolis. When we lived in Montana, we used Northwest Airlines to go just about everywhere outside of that region, so I have been in that airport many times, and knew my way around it pretty well. I arrived in Los Angeles at 1:00 a.m. and then had to wait about an hour and fifteen minutes for my luggage to arrive at the baggage claim. Finally, the drive to the hotel was about another 30 minutes…who would have believed how heavy traffic is at that time of the night? Nashville traffic doesn’t seem so bad now. At any rate, I arrived at the hotel at almost 3:00 a.m.
I have a full day scheduled, had to get up and get going early to register for the Azusa Street meetings, and, oh yes, the traffic is still heavy.
I wish that all of you could be here to experience the 100th anniversary celebration of the great Azusa Street revival. If you remember your history, the Church of God was mostly a “holiness” movement until G.B. Cashwell came to preach at the Cleveland church and A.J. Tomlinson was baptized in the Holy Ghost. Although we had experienced a movement of the Holy Ghost at the Shearer Schoolhouse in North Carolina in 1886, the momentum of what has made us a holiness/pentecostal church started right here in this city.
As I looked around last night, I could see people of seeemingly every tribe, nation and tongue all around me. I pray that another Pentecost can break forth and help us to finish the work…remember Acts 1:8, “ye shall receive power….to be witnesses…” That promise/obligation is still in effect.
Please pray that I have a safe and healthy meeting here and that God will grant traveling mercies as I return later this week. May God bless and keep each of you
Monday, April 24, 2006
LADIES DAY AT CAMP HICKORY HILLS
Sister Karen will be headed for Ladies Day this coming Friday with five of the ladies from the church. Karen will be a cabin host and I have helped her get some things together for her time of devotion. I believe God is going to meet with these ladies and do some great things among them. They are excited about getting there and getting involved in the fellowship and enjoying the food but most of all to worship and be enriched by the presence of the Lord. The men came back from Men's day and have "boosted and talked up" the Men's day so much that the ladies are "chomping at the bits" to get there.
Brother Paul Rivera, Sister Lori Rivera, Brother Jimmy Davis and myself are going to help feed this "crew" of women. Brother Davis is taking his mobile trailer for he, Brother Paul and myself. I say glory to God for these ladies and for how they rally to the work of the kingdom and the church. May God bless them is my prayer. . . .
I understand there may be as many as 500 in attendance and motel rooms are having to be rented for some of the attendees. Okay men, lets have "hats off" to the Sisters. . . .
Brother Paul Rivera, Sister Lori Rivera, Brother Jimmy Davis and myself are going to help feed this "crew" of women. Brother Davis is taking his mobile trailer for he, Brother Paul and myself. I say glory to God for these ladies and for how they rally to the work of the kingdom and the church. May God bless them is my prayer. . . .
I understand there may be as many as 500 in attendance and motel rooms are having to be rented for some of the attendees. Okay men, lets have "hats off" to the Sisters. . . .
REVOLUTIONARY
From THE HARVEST NEWS by Pastor Don Brock
American Christians are dropping out of churches at an alarming rate. Many just don’t have time in their hectic schedules for a Sunday service when the laundry is piled high and the e-mail inbox is full. Others have been wounded or ripped off by church leaders who imposed their personal agendas on entire congregations. Still others just got bored with fluffy sermons or the seemingly endless cycle of fruitless religious activity.
It is called religious burnout. And there is no question that it has become a widespread plague in our post-modern society.
In the midst of this epidemic, a growing group of Christian trend-watchers have decided that the dropout crisis is actually a move of God. They claim that the Holy Spirit is reordering the church and bringing us back to more of a New Testament model, recalling a simpler era when Christians met “house to house” (see Acts 2:46) and did not waste time or money on religious buildings or nonessential church programs.
So now we have a touchy debate brewing. The proponents of house churches have positioned themselves against the “traditionalists,” a category that includes pastors of megachurches, leaders of media ministries, anyone who is a member of a denomination and anyone who attends a congregation that is too big to fit into a coffee shop or a living room.
How far will the revolution go?
Of course Christians do not have to meet in religious buildings on Sunday mornings to “have church.” Of course most ministry should happen outside the church walls. I’ve been saying that for years.
I am 100 percent in favor of innovation, and I believe we must constantly employ creative strategies to reach our generation for Christ. But I do not agree that innovation requires us to discard the need for godly, New Testament authority.
Many of the people who want to see traditional churches closed down and padlocked are the ones who tend to hop from one church to another, sowing discord and speaking against appointed servant-leaders. When these mavericks’ pride or false doctrines are challenged, they move to another church. Are these the kind of people we want to lead a new grassroots movement?
No thanks. Regardless of where my church meets, I intend to hold on to the New Testament principles of healthy, accountable leadership.
Why not have house churches and ministry in the community, functioning under the accountability of the "church," while coming together to celebrate together on Sunday morning?
American Christians are dropping out of churches at an alarming rate. Many just don’t have time in their hectic schedules for a Sunday service when the laundry is piled high and the e-mail inbox is full. Others have been wounded or ripped off by church leaders who imposed their personal agendas on entire congregations. Still others just got bored with fluffy sermons or the seemingly endless cycle of fruitless religious activity.
It is called religious burnout. And there is no question that it has become a widespread plague in our post-modern society.
In the midst of this epidemic, a growing group of Christian trend-watchers have decided that the dropout crisis is actually a move of God. They claim that the Holy Spirit is reordering the church and bringing us back to more of a New Testament model, recalling a simpler era when Christians met “house to house” (see Acts 2:46) and did not waste time or money on religious buildings or nonessential church programs.
So now we have a touchy debate brewing. The proponents of house churches have positioned themselves against the “traditionalists,” a category that includes pastors of megachurches, leaders of media ministries, anyone who is a member of a denomination and anyone who attends a congregation that is too big to fit into a coffee shop or a living room.
How far will the revolution go?
Of course Christians do not have to meet in religious buildings on Sunday mornings to “have church.” Of course most ministry should happen outside the church walls. I’ve been saying that for years.
I am 100 percent in favor of innovation, and I believe we must constantly employ creative strategies to reach our generation for Christ. But I do not agree that innovation requires us to discard the need for godly, New Testament authority.
Many of the people who want to see traditional churches closed down and padlocked are the ones who tend to hop from one church to another, sowing discord and speaking against appointed servant-leaders. When these mavericks’ pride or false doctrines are challenged, they move to another church. Are these the kind of people we want to lead a new grassroots movement?
No thanks. Regardless of where my church meets, I intend to hold on to the New Testament principles of healthy, accountable leadership.
Why not have house churches and ministry in the community, functioning under the accountability of the "church," while coming together to celebrate together on Sunday morning?
GREAT SUNDAY SERVICES
God met with us in a great way on Sunday morning and evening. The worship and praises just kept going up and up and up and God's power kept flowing down, down, down and around. The morning message "Death To Sin" from Romans 6, challenged us to "reckon (be sure) of Christ's work in us and through us and to declare that He is victorious over sin and we His children are victorious through Him."
Sunday evening the power of the Holy Spirit moved as we continued to worship and praise the Lord. The Holy Ghost spoke and said, "you are my children, I am moving as the wind moves, I will bless you as you seek Me." Thank God for people who come to worship the King of Kings. People were weeping, rejoicing, dancing giving God praise and worship. Prayers went up for lost and discouraged children and families. ALL PRAISE TO THE LAMP THAT WAS SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD!
The Business Session went well as we adopted a plan to get electricity to the new property and to begin on the new pavillion. We are planning to have this completed for the May 29th Labor Day Youth Blast. . . .Thank God for those who are giving and working. Someone gave a thousand dollars just a week or so ago. Our property is now paid down to less than 10 thousand as we move forward. . . .The property is worth well over 60,000.00 and is 7.6 acres just 1/4th mile off the by-pass and 1/4th mile from Veterans Park on Northwood. We anticipate the day when we have a groundbreaking for a new church building.
Sunday evening the power of the Holy Spirit moved as we continued to worship and praise the Lord. The Holy Ghost spoke and said, "you are my children, I am moving as the wind moves, I will bless you as you seek Me." Thank God for people who come to worship the King of Kings. People were weeping, rejoicing, dancing giving God praise and worship. Prayers went up for lost and discouraged children and families. ALL PRAISE TO THE LAMP THAT WAS SLAIN FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD!
The Business Session went well as we adopted a plan to get electricity to the new property and to begin on the new pavillion. We are planning to have this completed for the May 29th Labor Day Youth Blast. . . .Thank God for those who are giving and working. Someone gave a thousand dollars just a week or so ago. Our property is now paid down to less than 10 thousand as we move forward. . . .The property is worth well over 60,000.00 and is 7.6 acres just 1/4th mile off the by-pass and 1/4th mile from Veterans Park on Northwood. We anticipate the day when we have a groundbreaking for a new church building.
Friday, April 21, 2006
UPDATE ON SURGERIES
Lois Thomas came through her surgery fine and should be back at home by now.
Alton Crossno's hip replacement went well and he has already arrived back home in Huntingdon. He and Donna left for home before noon today.
Thank God for being with these during their surgeries. We continue to pray for their complete recovery.
Alton Crossno's hip replacement went well and he has already arrived back home in Huntingdon. He and Donna left for home before noon today.
Thank God for being with these during their surgeries. We continue to pray for their complete recovery.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
QUOTES FROM THE SERVING LEADER
Quotes from The Serving Leader by Ken Jennings and John Stal-Wert
"You qualify to be first by putting other people first."
"You're in charge principally to charge up others."
"To serve the many you must serve the few."
"The best reach-down is a challenging reach-up."
"To protect your value you must give it all away."
"To address your weaknesses focus on your strengths."
"Your biggest obstacle is the one that hinders someone else."
"Run to great purpose."
"You can't become the best unless others do, too."
"You qualify to be first by putting other people first."
"You're in charge principally to charge up others."
"To serve the many you must serve the few."
"The best reach-down is a challenging reach-up."
"To protect your value you must give it all away."
"To address your weaknesses focus on your strengths."
"Your biggest obstacle is the one that hinders someone else."
"Run to great purpose."
"You can't become the best unless others do, too."
INTERESTING SITES FOR LEADERSHIP
Mentor Link (Dr. Stacy T. Rhinehart) http://mentorlink.gospelcom.net/
Venture Works http://www.ventureworks.com/
Center For Faith Walk Leadership Faith Walk Leadership
HalfTime www.halftime.org
The Giftedness Center http://www.thegiftednesscenter.com/
Greenleaf Center For Servant Leadership www.greenleaf.org
Christian Community Development and Service www.ccda.org
Leadership Network www.leadnet.org
The Serving Leader www.theservingleader.com
Venture Works http://www.ventureworks.com/
Center For Faith Walk Leadership Faith Walk Leadership
HalfTime www.halftime.org
The Giftedness Center http://www.thegiftednesscenter.com/
Greenleaf Center For Servant Leadership www.greenleaf.org
Christian Community Development and Service www.ccda.org
Leadership Network www.leadnet.org
The Serving Leader www.theservingleader.com
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
QUARTERLY BUSINESS CONFERENCE
There will be a Quarterly Business Conference this coming Sunday at 5 pm. The clerk and treasurer is to have reports ready and all leaders. Thank You. Pastor
WATER BAPTISM SERVICE SCHEDULED
To any and all who desire to be baptized, a Baptismal Service is scheduled for the last Sunday in April near the end of the worship service. Please see the Pastor if you have been saved and have not been baptized in water. We want to present the opportunity for any and all to come into the water to show publicly that any who know Christ Jesus as Savior will be baptized.
WEDNESDAY EVENING
This week the study on Marriage will continue as prepared by the Bible Doctrine and Polity Committee. This document is scheduled to be presented in August of this year at the General Assembly in Nashville .
PRAYER REQUESTS
Sister Karen visited with the home bound widows this past Friday. Continue to remember these in prayer. . .Sister Jennie Sanders, Sister Lillie Grooms, Sister Lennie May Crossno and Sister Bonnie (Crossno) Curtis. Also remember Sister Mildred Stacy. She has not felt well for the past 6 months or more.
UPDATE ALTON CROSSNO
Alton Crossno's surgery went well. The doctor stated that the hip was worse than he expected but that the replacement should work well after several months physical rehabilitation. The family requests your continued prayers.
Monday, April 17, 2006
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for my mother and her family. Her brother Lowell passed on this past Friday. He is mom's third sibling to leave this earth since April 30th of last year. Now there are four left out of the eleven. Charles the oldest still lives and is 87. Mom is next at 76. Delano is next at 69 and Denver is the youngest at 67. Charles and Denver were born on the same day - 2o years apart. Mom is the only daughter left out of the living children.
Alton Crossno is scheduled for hip replacement in Nashville, TN tomorrow.
Lois Thomas is scheduled for surgery in Jackson, TN this Wednesday.
Alton Crossno is scheduled for hip replacement in Nashville, TN tomorrow.
Lois Thomas is scheduled for surgery in Jackson, TN this Wednesday.
Glorious Easter Sunday
We are thanking and praising God for a great time in our Easter Service. It was good to see some who have not been to church in some time as well as the regulars. The presence of the Lord was very evident. God blessed greatly as we praised the creator and lifted the name of our Savior. The message, Jesus Christ, Ever-Living, Ever-Doing, Ever-Sufficient challenged each one to place complete trust in the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last.
The children enjoyed an egg hunt after the service. There were over 60 present and about 15 children present.
Thank God for a glorious day with the Lord! Pictures, hopefully, will be posted later.
The children enjoyed an egg hunt after the service. There were over 60 present and about 15 children present.
Thank God for a glorious day with the Lord! Pictures, hopefully, will be posted later.
Friday, April 14, 2006
EASTER SUNDAY
We anticipate a great time this Sunday. We are expecting several visitors and friends to be with us at the Easter Service tomorrow. We are praying for a fresh anointing and a special time of worship to our Savior and Master - Jesus Christ. We pray that He will be glorified and that we will see those who do not know Him to come into a personal relationship with Him and for those who do know Him to find a closer relationship with Him. To HIM be all Glory, Honor and Praise.
NOTE: There will be an Easter egg hunt for the children immediately after the morning worship service on the grounds of the current property. There will be no service on Easter Sunday night. Take time to be with your family and do something special with them - being with them is special.
NOTE: There will be an Easter egg hunt for the children immediately after the morning worship service on the grounds of the current property. There will be no service on Easter Sunday night. Take time to be with your family and do something special with them - being with them is special.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Alton Crossno is scheduled to enter Baptist Hospital in Nashville, TN on Tuesday, April 18 for hip replacement surgery. Please be in prayer for this request and for the family. I have scheduled to be there with the family.
Lois Thomas (Berry) is scheduled for surgery at the Regional Hospital in Jackson, TN on Wednesday, April 19. Please be in prayer for this request and for the family. I have scheduled to be there with the family.
Lois Thomas (Berry) is scheduled for surgery at the Regional Hospital in Jackson, TN on Wednesday, April 19. Please be in prayer for this request and for the family. I have scheduled to be there with the family.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
ANOTHER GLORIOUS SUNDAY
God blessed greatly as we sang, gave, and glorified the Lord. The message by Dr. Chuck Burks was timely - "Get In the Boat - Go To the Other Side," dealing with church growth. We thank God for Jonah Davis being baptized with the Holy Ghost. To God Be The Glory!
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