Our prayer is that your family will experience the wonder, peace and joy of the Christ child throughout this Christmas season!

Transcription

1 Voice of the Appalachian Conference of the IPHC Vol. 74, No. 4 December 2012 Our prayer is that your family will experience the wonder, peace and joy of the Christ child throughout this Christmas season! Appalachian Conference Ministry Center Office Staff Elaine, Johnny, Alice, Sandy, Rhonda, Ron, Katie, Larry and Preston

2 Bishop s Page Preston Mathena ROANOKE NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES BAPTIZES 82 PEOPLE! New Life Christian Ministries members met at the Roanoke River in downtown Roanoke for the largest water baptism service in our church history. We baptized 82 people in a public display of following the Lord in baptism. In Mark 16:16, Jesus said, He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (KJV). We believe that water baptism is a necessary step of obedience and faith for the new Christian. We have had many people saved at our altars this past spring, and we encouraged them to follow through in water baptism. We met at Wasena Park and had over 500 people come out to witness this awesome service. Channel 7 (WDBJ) news covered the service and picnic. It was an awesome time with such a public display of the Christian faith. Many unchurched onlookers gathered, as well, to watch the baptism and said that they had never seen anything like it! It was a great witness to the life-changing power of Jesus Christ! CELEBRATES 1,000! After a 5-year vision and goal was set in early 2007, we finally reached our 1,000 goal in 2012! Celebrate 1,000 was held at New Life Christian Ministries in Roanoke, Va., Sept. 16. It was a special day set aside to give glory to God for all that has taken place at NLCM. Our challenge was to all those who call NLCM their church home to be present on this special day, and we had 1,100 total at both services, followed by a church-wide picnic. When Sharon and I arrived in Roanoke in late 2006, we had fewer than 100 people in attendance. I felt like the Lord spoke to my heart and said that we would have 1,000 in the next five years. We began to work toward that goal. I remember those early services when there were only a handful of folks at church. I remember telling them that we would be 1,000 by 2012, and I watched their reactions. It was rather funny. But with God, all things are possible! I have always taught that if a church had the four-part equation of the right place, the right pastor, the right people and the right time, then any church can grow! We celebrated this memorable day because: *This is the first time the Roanoke church has reached the 1,000 mark in its 103-year history. *NLCM is the second church to reach the 1,000 mark in the history of our IPHC Appalachian Conference in its 103-year existence. *Our church is one of the fastest growing churches in Roanoke. We are the first Pentecostal, charismatic, full-gospel church that has reached the 1,000 level in Roanoke, Va.! Scoot over, Baptists. The Pentecostals are coming! *Our church is a miracle in that it is made up of people of all ages and denominational backgrounds (think of it we have Pentecostals, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Seventh Day Adventists, Church of God, Assemblies of God, Catholic, and best of all, people with no church background) that attend here. *Best of all the reasons to celebrate, we have had over 800 adult and child conversions in the past five years! This number represents new Christians in the Kingdom of God. These are new people in the Kingdom! I give God all the glory for what he is doing in our church and ministry! Pastor Tony Atkinson Voice of the Appalachian Conference of the IPHC

3 REV. CORNWELL IS HOME WITH THE LORD Rev. Daniel Cornwell, age 69, of North Tazewell, Virginia, went home to be with his Lord on Wednesday, October 31, He became a member of the Appalachian Conference in 1980 and pastored the Boissevain P.H. Church and the Tazewell P.H. Church. His passion was delivering the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carol Brown Cornwell. Funeral services were conducted on November 4, 2012, in Tazewell. MESSENGER (USPS ) Vol. 74 December 2012 No. 4 Executive Editor Preston Mathena STAFF Phone Oak Grove Avenue Dublin, VA EVANGELISM & WORLD MISSIONS ministries Larry Meadors 5847 Oak Grove Avenue Dublin, VA DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES Ron Fredericks 5847 Oak Grove Avenue Dublin, VA January Retired Ministers Birthdays WOMEN S MINISTRIES Kathy Mathena 103 Windsor Circle Bluefield, VA Phone: WIN Donna Hankla 139 Ridgeway Drive Bland, VA Phone: January 3 January 6 January 17 Rev. W. F. Monday rev. Sherwood Spence Rev. William Leggett 155 Woodland Drive, SE 5808 Maywood Ave. 325 Avon Road, Apt. 1 Christiansburg, VA Salem, VA Hagerstown, MD men s ministries Quent Baria 1712 Vineyard Street Bluefield, WV Deadline for all script to reach the office: 1st of each month for the next month s issue to shwood7@yahoo.com. JANUARY DATES TO REMEMBER Day Fast 1 New Year s Day (Office closed) 4 First Friday Fast 9 IPHC Day of Prayer & Fasting 12 Bible Quiz Scrimmage 20 Sanctity of Human Life Sunday MM & RR Summit 31 Accelerant-Gatlinburg CONFERENCE BOARD Superintendent Preston Mathena Assistant Superintendent Mike Dodson Secretary Frank Neff Treasurer Gary Cope Board Member Larry Meadors Board Member Wanda Myers Board Member Steve Willis MESSENGER (USPS ) is published monthly by LifeSprings Resources of The International Pentecostal Holiness Church, 2425 W. Main St., Franklin Springs, GA 30639, for the Appalachian Conference. Subscription price $2.00 per year. Periodicals Postage Paid at Franklin Springs, GA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to MESSENGER, 5847 Oak Grove Avenue, Dublin, VA Website: Credit graphics: Thinkstock.com COVER PICTURE: Main Street Photography, Dublin, VA december 2012

4 World Missions & Evangelism Larry Meadors PREPARING FOR A HARVEST APPALACHIAN CONFERENCE MISSIONS AND EVANGELISM MINISTRIES In a few days this chapter of life called 2012 will come to a close. Seeds that have been planted for the Kingdom of God will continue to grow and produce. The coming season is showing signs of a rich harvest. Move into 2013 believing and preparing for a spiritual return on your hard work in this past season. With that in mind, consider the great opportunities that we can take advantage of. In the USA over 200 million people do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Since only China and India have populations larger than this, the USA is the third largest mission field in the world. (Dynamic Church Planting International) People are: Looking: 88% of Americans agree There is more to life than the physical world and society. (LifeWay Research) Believing: 88% of Americans believe in God or a universal spirit. (Pew research) Waiting: 41% of the formerly churched said they would return to the local church if a friend or acquaintance invited them; 63% of Americans are willing to receive information about a local church from a family member. (LifeWay Research) It is time to devote our lives to live out the missional call of Christ. Practically, this means to get outside to know our neighbors and share the gospel in practical ways. It is also time to join together to plant new churches all across our region is going to be the year of preparation for church planting in the Appalachian Conference. Intercessors are seeking God for the laborers to enter the harvest. Leadership is catching the Dynamic Church Planting International (DCPI) vision. DCPI is a movement to plant 5 million churches. Three DCPI courses will be offered in the conference next year. Church Planting Essentials is the foundational course. It will be taught in English and Spanish. Churches Planting Churches is about healthy churches reproducing. The material in both classes is for all pastors and church leadership. It is beneficial not only concerning planting but for church revitalization. The Conference missions team trip for 2013 will be focused on getting a church plant started among the Shuar Tribe of Ecuador. The project will be to raise funds for a tent and to put it up on the site. Evangelism for both adults and children will be conducted by the team. Applications are now being accepted for this harvest event. Mustard seed faith moves mountains and makes the impossible possible through the power of God. May the year 2013 be a year of faith to receive God s harvest for your life and ministry. WELCOME FREEDOM FAMILY WORSHIP CENTER MARK YOUR 2013 CALENDAR Global Outreach Banquets - March 9-16 District Locations Church Planting Essentials - DCPI Class (Spanish) April 18-20, Berryville, Va. Church Planting Essentials - DCPI Class (English) May 2-4, Dublin, Va. Global Outreach Service - Camp Meeting - June 14 Ecuador Team Missions Trip September 27- October 4 Churches Planting Churches - DCIP Class - October 17-19, Dublin, Va. Congratulations to Pastor Eric Lockett and Freedom Family Worship Center (Kingsport, TN)! They are now a fully organized church in the conference. The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now. Unknown Voice of the Appalachian Conference of the IPHC

5 Discipleship Ministries RON FREDERICKS 2 ND ANNUAL NATIONAL SENIOR ADULT MINISTRIES TRIP On October 22, a group of 19 from the Appalachian Conference boarded a bus and joined with a group from the Cornerstone Conference to head for the 2nd Annual National Senior Adult Ministries Convention in Williamsburg, VA.. Upon arrival we joined groups from all over the IPHC to spend time in laughter, fellowship and seeing the sights and sounds of Historic Williamsburg. The trip included time in Jamestown, Yorktown and a full day strolling the streets and shopping in historic Colonial Williamsburg. Trip highlights this year included: a tour of Oceana Naval Air Station arranged by LCDR Timothy R. Moore, CHC, USN - USCG District Five Chaplain. We were honored and moved by a presentation from Rear Admiral William Dean Lee, Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities and Chaplain (Colonel) Jerry L. Jones, United States Army Retired, Director/Ecclesiastical Endorser for Chaplains Ministries, IPHC. Thursday night left us rejoicing and laughing as we were entertained and ministered to by Angelina McKeithen with her singing, banjo and harmonica playing, followed by the comedy of Tim Lovelace. All in all, we enjoyed great food, great fun, great fellowship and a wonderful time of ministry that we will not soon forget! The Appalachian Conference is planning another trip for next fall, September 9-13, 2013, with a tentative destination of Niagara Falls. We hope to have brochures ready by early January. For more information contact the Appalachian Conference Discipleship Ministries office. Appalachian Conference Royal Ranger WINTER CAMP-OUT Celebrating 20 Years February 15 17, 2013 Pipestem, WV Christmas Greetings May your home be warm, your holidays grand, and may your hearts be held gently in the Lord s hands. Have a blessed Christmas & a peaceful New Year. Stacy, Sunshine, Michael, Joe, Wes and Will Wishing all of you great joy, hope and love that will not only last during this Christmas season, but throughout the new year as well. N. R. and Sarah Taylor MERRY CHRISTMAS! from Jim, Kitten, Aaron and Brandon Tunnell Wishing you and your family the very best that God s goodness brings this Christmas season! Miss Elaine MERRY CHRISTMAS! From Adam, Lacy and Abel Williams For registration information contact Conference Commander Steve Allen at royalrangers1@comcast.net or Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift II Corinthians 9:15 Don and Dale Webb May the joy and light of this season shine upon you and yours, and may the reminder of the birth of our Savior give you renewed hope though the coming year! Ron and Pam december 2012

6 Women s Ministries Kathy mathena Merry Christmas from The Conference Women s Ministries Board Kathy Mathena Sammie Andrews Martha Hall Odessa Shupe Joyce Thomasson 2013 Annual WM Bus Trip April 12-13, 2013 Seats are limited to the first 48 ladies. A deposit of $100 (non-refundable) is due by January 10, 2013, with the full payment due March 7. We will be traveling with Linkous Tours to the Amish Country, including Sight & Sound in Pennsylvania. Single Occupancy: $299 Double: $259 Triple: $239 Four: $229 Prices are per person and include the bus ticket, motel for one night, ticket to Sight & Sound to see Noah, and a dinner buffet at Millers. If you have questions, call Kathy Mathena ( ) or Martha Hall ( ) Mail your registrations to Martha Hall, 1240 Meadowlark Dr., Wytheville, VA GIRLS MINISTRIES RETREAT The Appalachian Conference concluded Girls Ministries week in September with their first annual Girls Ministries Retreat. The dorms were filled with laughter and luggage, as nearly 90 girls and their leaders, from eight churches, moved in for the weekend of ministry, campfire, team building games, go-carts, and the rock climbing wall/zip line. The theme, You are VALUABLE resonated throughout the weekend. Pastor Elaine Wood opened the weekend by sharing with the girls their true value in Christ. Judy Brewster, former GEMS director, led Friday night campfire, sharing with the girls the importance of having the Holy Spirit in their lives and not to settle for less than what God has planned for them. National Girls Ministries director, Irvina Parker, shared the Father s heart through an object lesson using a gift basket and a $50 bill to demonstrate how priceless we are. Psalm 139:16-18 (NIV) Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand when I awake, I am still with you. Pastor Elaine reported that everyone had a wonderful time, and the only complaint was that it was not long enough. Those of us in Girls Ministries are looking forward to what God has in store for Voice of the Appalachian Conference of the IPHC

7 World Intercession Network Donna Hankla HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD BELLS ON HORSES INSCRIBED WITH HOLINESS! There is coming a day when HOLINESS unto the LORD will reign. What a glorious day that will be! The prophet Zechariah tells us about this day. In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, holiness unto the Lord; and the pots in the Lord s house shall be like the bowls before the altar. (Zechariah 14: 20) The people who are left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. (v. 16) But we don t have to wait for this time for HOLINESS to reign! Holiness can begin today, in our hearts. God has planted eternity in men s hearts and minds. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) We can enjoy the benefits of holiness today! PRECIOUS PROMISES OF GOD Holiness allows us to partake of God s precious promises: Protection Provision Pleasure II Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh, and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. PLEASURES AND JOY We live in a society that craves pleasures of the world. Much money is spent to have a good time! But the pleasures of the world are so dim compared to the heavenly pleasures. In God s Presence is fullness of joy. (Psalm 16: 11) And who can come into His presence and taste this joy? He that has clean hands and a pure heart, shall ascend into the hill of the LORD. (Psalm ) This person will receive a blessing from the Lord! LOST HOLINESS! There was a time in King David s life that he literally lost his holiness! Likewise, he lost the joy of his salvation. In Psalm 51 he cries out to God with a repentant prayer. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. (v ) Lust and sexual sin led to this great loss. But when Nathan, the prophet, confronted David about his sins, he quickly repented. He departed from his sin and turned back to God. (II Samuel 11 & 12) WHAT ABOUT YOU? Have you lost the joy of your salvation? Do you have a right spirit within you? Do you have a clean heart? Would you like to hear joy and gladness again? Has sin pulled you away from the presence of the Father? GOOD NEWS! Like King David, you can return to the Lord. Pray Psalm 51 with a repentant heart. This prayer will help you get back on the PATH of HIS PRESENCE. A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. (v. 17). BRIDGING OUR MINISTRIES VII RIDGECREST, NORTH CAROLINA January 25-27, 2013 GUEST SPEAKERS: Rev. Kent Bell, Senior Pastor Bethel Life Worship Center Greg Terry, Worship Leader David Moore, National Commander IPHC Royal Rangers, and Bill Terry, director IPHC Men s Ministries, invite you to attend this conference for training, inspiration, and motivation as we minister to the boys and men of this generation. Together we are making a difference! For more information, go to december 2012

8 MESSENGER (USPS ) 5847 Oak Grove Avenue Dublin, Virginia Periodicals Postage Paid at Franklin Springs, GA Address Service Requested ALLISONIA CELEBRATES 100TH ANNIVERSARY Allisonia P.H. Church turned 100 years old this year. On August 18 we celebrated with a day of food, fellowship, and good times. Our speaker was Rev. Doug Duncan. We enjoyed music by Steve & Joyce Holcomb, Penny & the Holy Rollers and others from the church. God blessed us with such a beautiful day and such wonderful friends. People came from miles around, many who had attended Allisonia as a child. There were a lot of stories told of the church from back in the day. God is blessing the church so very much. We hope to start laying the foundation for our new building soon. Thank you, Lord, for the little country church in Allisonia! I am so very blessed to be the pastor of this congregation. Pastor Mike Hall Pastor Mike and Jennifer Hall Pastor Randall Dority PREMIER CHURCH CONTINUES TO INFLUENCE MCDOWELL COUNTY The Premier Pentecostal Holiness Church continues to enjoy the blessings of the Lord under the leadership of Pastor Randall Dority. Back in July we held our 45th annual Vacation Bible School, and our average attendance was 108. The Premier Church has always had the largest VBS in McDowell County, and we thank God for the opportunity to influence these children. On September 30 we held our annual homecoming, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the church. We had 160 in attendance, and everyone enjoyed the day and were grateful for the lives of those who had paved the way before us, including our mother church, the Roderfield Church. Our Global Outreach offering this year was the largest World Missions offering given by Premier. But in addition to supporting world evangelism, we continue to help those in the community and surrounding areas who are in need. We are thankful that our church is viewed in the county as a loving and caring church. As a church, we have a great desire to make a difference in the lives of others. We love and appreciate our pastor, Randall Dority. On Sunday evening, November 4, we enjoyed a special time of fellowship and food as we expressed our appreciation for him and his ministry. At Premier there continues to be a great outpouring of the power and presence of God in our services, and we thank God for that.