Starkville District welcomes Zac Cox

Transcription

1 7 Jesus replied, It isn t for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 Rather, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:7-8 It is a Glory Sighting to announce that 64.0 percent of the 103 churches of the Starkville District are on target of paying at least 66.6 percent of the District Mission shares through August 21, And, if that was not enough encouragement, I can share that 60.2 percent of the churches have paid 100 percent of the District Mission shares through the same day! Thank you for faithful work and ministry that allows us to continue to bear witness throughout the District, Mississippi, to our neighbors both near and around the world of the POWER of We! Dr. Embra Jackson Starkville District Superintendent CONFERENCE MISSION SHARES We are so excited to announce that the following churches have made significant contributions to the work of the Mississippi Conference and the United Methodist Church around the world through their Mission Fair Shares offerings through August 31, % PAID Sturgis St. Peter Macedonia Longview Military Bethel South Union Pleasant Hill (Louisville) Cooksville McAdams Tabernacle Ethel Rocky Hill Weir Bellefontaine Mt. Lebanon Bevil Hill Macon: St. Paul ON TARGET 66.6%+ Mt. Hermon Drake Hill Crawford Flint Hill Siloam Columbus: Shaeffers Chapel Columbus: St. James Your Connection to the Starkville District of the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church THE STARKVILLE DISTRICT NEWSLETTER Starkville District welcomes Zac Cox Columbus: St. Stephen Piney Grove Eupora: First Eupora: Liberty Marvin Chapel Pierce Chapel Kosciusko: First Louisville: Hopewell Salem Middleton Vernon Noxapater Mt. Pisgah New Hope (Macon) Jones Chapel Plair Palestine Starkville: Aldersgate New Zion Big Creek Dumas Chapel Mathiston LaGrange Mt. Salem (Weir Circuit) Salem (Weir-Salem) West Point: Christ West Point: First Flower Ridge By Gwen Sisson Zac Cox, the new minister at Big Creek and Sturgis United Methodist Churches says he feels his ministry is driven by a love for brothers and sisters in Christ. I am doing this because I love everyone so much I want to help them live a life for Christ, Cox said I find it a great success to help people along their spiritual journey. I feel it's our job to nurture youth and young adults to help equip them for the future. I preach and teach what God has me say or do. I believe it's a Kosciusko First United Methodist Church in Attala County has been a very active and prosperous church in this location since They have had many Friday I September 23, 2016 Zac Cox and Melyndie McCreary Christian s job to help minister to the saved and lost. We are all here to help each other along. faithful and loving pastors over the years and are currently under the leadership of Dr. D. Scott Wright. The church facilities are large and they demand support though COX Continued on page 5... Dr. Scott Wright of Kosciusko First UMC showing the Mission Share Mountain. (Photo submitted) #Glorysighting at Kosciusko First UMC attendance and giving, even though both have been wavering. The church has faced the same problems as many sister KOSCIUSKO Continued on page 3...

2 CHURCH OF THE WEEK 2 Starkville First UMC ABOUT THE PASTOR NAME: Giles Lindley CHURCH: Starkville FUMC CHURCH ADDRESS/TOWN: 200 W Lampkin St, Starkville MS PASTOR'S BIRTHDAY: 06/17/1957 PASTOR'S HOMETOWN: Jackson, MS FAMILY NAMES & CHILDREN'S AGES: Spouse: Lisa, Children: Charla Lindley Howard (30), Dr. Chelsea Lindley Ragland (28) Rev. Giles Lindley WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE CHURCH YOUR ARE SERVING? Starkville FUMC is in a college town with all the resources of a college community. Any instrument we need for our music ministry, any skill we need for a mission team, any language we need translated, we can find someone who can help us. ABOUT THE CHURCH: NAME OF THE CHURCH: Starkville FUMC ADDRESS/TOWN OF THE CHURCH: 200 W Lampkin St, Starkville HOW MANY YEARS HAS THIS CHURCH BEEN WORSHIPING GOD TOGETHER IN THIS LOCATION? 181 years HOW MANY IN REGULAR ATTEN- DANCE? 700 WHAT MINISTRIES IS THIS CHURCH KNOWN FOR? Music and missions. A volunteer at a recent Stop Hunger Now event at Starkville FUMC. (Photo Submitted) CALENDAR SEPTEMBER 24 Women s Conference set for 10 a.m. Sept. 24 at NewBellZion Outreach Center on Hwy. 12 in Starkvlle. The theme is Holding On To Hope and the scripture will be taken from Hebrews 10:23, Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. For more information, contact Charity Lawrence or Darlene Hinton at (662) or (662) SEPTEMBER Children s Spiritual Life Retreat for grades 3-6 at Camp Lake Stephens. Cost is $80. For more information or to register for the retreat, contact Chap Fenwick at chap@camplakestephens.com. Registration deadline is Sept. 19. SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 1 The Student Ministry Initiative (SMI) movement was developed to equip children, youth and family ministries to embrace a long-standing impactful plan for ministry in their local church. The Mississippi Conference welcomes Mark Devries, founder and president of Ministry Architects, along with the rest of his ministry team to the 2016 SMI Conference at Galloway Memorial UMC in Jackson. OCTOBER 2 Crawford UMC will host their 37th Annual Homecoming Celebration at 11 a.m. Oct. 2. Rev. Prentiss Bud Gordon Jr., will be the guest speaker. After services, there will be dinner on the ground, so bring your favorite dish acome join the fun! OCTOBER 2-3 St. Paul United Methodist Church of West Point will have a Two Night Revival, October 2-3. Rev. Gary Hampton, pastor of Spruell Chapel UMC in Smithville will be our evangelist. Sunday evening worship will begin at 6 p.m. and on Monday night, worship will begin at 7 p.m. OCTOBER 7-8 Conference Annual UMW Meeting at Anderson UMC in Jackson OCT. 8 NOV. 12 DEC. 3 The financial leadership training provides counsel and guidance to strengthen the administrative and financial abilities of the local church treasurer, financial secretary, finance committee members and church business administrators. Successful completion of the training session and assignments will result in a Mississippi Conference recognized church "administer." OCTOBER 22 Starkville District Annual UMW Meeting will be held at Columbus First UMC at 9 a.m. NOVEMBER 5 Starkville District UMW Officers Training/Update TBA NOVEMBER The annual Youth Spiritual Life Retreat is set for Nov at Camp Lake Stephens. It is a chance for youth in grades 7-12 to come and encounter God in a beautiful camp setting. While in the midst of God's creation, youth will have the opportunity to attend worship sessions led by gifted speakers and musicians, participate in small groups, and play and fellowship with one another. Leading worship sessions for the weekend will be Trey Skaggs, along with Eddie Willis and the Narrow Path Band. For more information, contact Chap Fenwick at chap@camplakestephens.com.

3 3 INAUGURAL SERVICE Weir UMC Day Out... Mississippi District 35 Rep. Joey Hood served as the guest speaker at the most recent Day Out event at Weir UMC. (Photo submitted) KOSCIUSKO Continued from page 1... churches in the Conference, with maintenance costs skyrocketing and other physical plant issues, so they have been forced to let their Mission Share Giving falter. In fact, it has been quite a few years since Kosciusko First UMC has paid 100 percent. However, God is not through with this church yet! As of September 2016, due to the persistence, excitement and hard work of many members, the church is proud to share that they have paid a tremendous amount of thir Mission Shares. This is simply God working in and through the church. Kosciusko First UMC acknowledges it as a blessing and wanted to share this good news! With hard work and dedication, we can move mountains! Quoting from a recent article about Glory Sightings, written by Peggy Keady, the good news to date is that Kosciusko First United Methodist Church has reached 80 percent in its Mission Share Giving. That my friends is a Glory Sighting! The Starkville District goal for the Africa University endowment is to raise $130,000 over a three-year period. We have received pledges of $36,820, with $25, collected to date. Pledges from the Starkville District will go to create a scholarship in honor of Rev. Byrd and Sarah Hillman. Churches are encouraged to pledge a minimum of $1,200. Make your pledge TODAY! Contact the District Office for more information at (662) Rev. Paul Luckett s first service at St. James UMC in Columbus. (Photos submitted) CONNECTIONS RESIDENT BISHOP: Dr. James E. Swanson, Sr. bishop@mississippi-umc.org DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT: Rev. Embra Jackson ejackson@mississippi-umc.org ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT: Tammy Carroll Starkville@mississippi-umc.org COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT: Gwen Sisson gwenwoodssisson@yahoo.com DISTRICT HEALTH COORDINATOR: Carolyn Jackson andrewandcarolyn@bellsouth.net LAY ACADEMY DEAN: Rev. Sarah Windham eswindham@bellsouth.net Find us on Find the FACEBOOK group at StarkvilleDistrictUMC/ P. O. B o x , S t a r k v i l l e, M i s s i s s i p p i ( ) ( ) ( f a x )

4 CHARGE CONFERENCE DATES APPOINTMENT COUNTY PASTOR DATE TIME CC ELDER Ackerman: First-South Union Choctaw Kevin Yearber 9/26/16 6 PM Kevin Yearber Ackerman: Mt. Hermon Choctaw Ronald Jefferson 10/24/16 6 PM Jake Adams-Wilson Artesia Lowndes Gene Merkl 10/20/16 6 PM Tony Proctor Brooksville Circuit Noxubee Aubrey Mitchell 11/7/16 6 PM Embra Jackson Brooksville/Crawford Noxubee Kathy Brackett 9/26/16 6 PM Kyle Ivy Buffalo-Ethel Attala Leon Miller 9/26/16 6 PM George Buell Caledonia-Flint Hill Lowndes Mark McNair 10/3/16 6 PM Mark McNair Cedar Bluff-Siloam Clay Raleigh Richter 9/26/16 6 PM Mark McNair Columbus Circuit Lowndes Antra Geeter 10/17/16 6 PM Paul Luckett Columbus First Lowndes Raigan Miskelly 11/18/16 6 PM Raigan Miskelly Columbus: Covenant Lowndes Gene Bramlett 10/23/16 In Worship Embra Jackson Columbus: New Hope-Wesley Lowndes Sarah Windham 10/24/16 6 PM Embra Jackson Columbus: St. James Lowndes Paul Luckett 10/16/16 In Worship Embra Jackson Columbus: St. Stephen Lowndes James Black, Jr. 10/25/16 6 PM Curtis Bray Crawford: Wrights Chapel Lowndes Kori Bridges 9/25/16 In Worship Embra Jackson Ethel/Tabernacle Attala Gene Bright 10/27/16 6 PM Embra Jackson Eupora: Bellefontaine Webster Roger Miller 10/4/16 5 PM Kevin Yearber Eupora: First Webster Ron McDougald, III11/20/16 6 PM Embra Jackson Eupora: Lebanon Webster Roger Miller 10/4/16 6:30 PM Kevin Yearber Eupora: Liberty Webster Rochelle Minor 10/18/16 6 PM Embra Jackson Kosciusko Circuit Attala Ronald Thomas 10/3/16 6 PM George Buell Kosciusko: First Attala Scott Wright 11/6/16 In Worship Scott Wright Kosciusko: Wesley Attala Clinton Gipson 11/1/16 6 PM Scott Wright Longview-Adaton Oktibebeha Sara Jo Adams-Wilson 9/26/16 6 PM Jamie Bailey Louisville: First Winston Mike Childs 11/1/16 6 PM Mike Childs Louisville: Hopewell Winston Michael Simmons 9/26/16 6 PM Bryan Carrubba Louisville: Maple Springs-Piney Grove Winston David Malone 10/24/16 6 PM Mike Childs Louisville: South Winston Bryan Carrubba 10/3/16 6 PM Bryan Carrubba Louisville: Wesley Winston James Morris 9/27/16 6 PM Stacy Parvin Louisville: West Winston Mike Dowd 10/17/16 6 PM Mike Childs Louisville: Whitehall Winston Jonathan Stokes 10/24/16 6 PM Giles Lindley Maben-Lagrange Webster Scarlett Shepperd 9/26/16 6 PM Embra Jackson Macedonia Noxubee Ray Luke 10/10/16 5 PM Tony Proctor Macon: Cooksville Noxubee Glenn Miller 10/10/16 6 PM Kyle Ivy Macon: First Noxubee Andy Pearson 11/6/16 After Worship Andy Pearson Macon: Mt. Moriah Noxubee James Morris 9/19/16 4 PM Stacy Parvin Macon: St. Paul Noxubee Demetric Darden 10/10/16 6 PM Hugh Griffith Mathiston-Mt. Moriah Webster Jeep Pepper 10/24/16 6 PM Scott Wright McAdams Attala Jeff Pepper 9/26/16 6 PM Bud Gordon McCool: Liberty Hill Attala Doyle Mitchell 9/26/16 6 PM Doyle Mitchell *Chapel Hill Attala David Casteel 9/26/16 6 PM Doyle Mitchell Nanih Waiya Winston Becky Smith 10/24/16 6 PM Stacy Parvin NewBellZion Oktibebeha Eddie Hinton 10/18/16 6 PM Jake Adams-Wilson Noxapater-Mt. Pisgah Winston Jeff Walton TBA 6 PM Hugh Griffith Noxubee Circuit Noxubee Rickey Lawson 9/20/16 6 PM Embra Jackson Providence: Palestine Clay Cary Sutphin 10/3/16 6 PM Jeff Shannon Shaeffer's Chapel Lowndes Curtis Bray 11/9/16 6 PM Curtis Bray Shuqualak Noxubee Ray Luke 10/13/16 6:30 PM Tony Proctor Shuqualak: Asbury Noxubee Ronald Anthony 9/22/16 6 PM Embra Jackson Starkville First Oktibebeha Giles Lindley 10/19/16 6 PM Giles Lindley Starkville: Aldersgate Oktibebeha Jamie Bailey 10/12/16 6 PM Jamie Bailey Starkville: Griffin Oktibebeha Ozell Landfair 10/17/16 6 PM Embra Jackson *New Light Oktibebeha Ross Crawford 10/17/16 6 PM Embra Jackson Starkville: Lindsey Chapel-Plair Oktibebeha Jimmy Forrest 10/18/16 6 PM Embra Jackson Starkville: New Zion Oktibebeha Tyronne Stallings 10/19/16 6 PM Jamie Bailey Starkville: Rock Hill Oktibebeha Jerome Wilson 10/3/16 6 PM Bud Gordon Sturgis-Big Creek Oktibebeha Zack Cox 10/10/16 6 PM George Buell Sturgis-Boyd Chapel Oktibebeha Roosevelt Gage 9/26/16 6 PM Jim Ormon Tibee: Jones Chapel Clay Robert Scott 10/27/16 6 PM Darian Duckworth Webster Circuit Webster Nelson Forrest 10/24/16 6 PM Ozell Landfair Weir Circuit Choctaw Lyndon Geeter 10/3/16 6 PM George Buell Weir-Salem Choctaw Jim & Jean Threadgill10/3/16 6 PM Jamie Bailey West Point: Christ Clay Jeff Shannon 10/25/16 6 PM Embra Jackson West Point: First Clay Darian Duckworth 10/20/16 6 PM Embra Jackson West Point: St. Paul Clay Levell Yarbrough 10/17/16 6 PM Raigan Miskelly 4 ANNOUNCEMENTS IMAGINE NO MALARIA -- The Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church is focusing on Imagine No Malaria (INM), a mission to raise awareness and money to stop this preventable and treatable disease. Bishop Swanson has set a goal for our conference to provide 100,000 mosquito nets by Annual Conference next June. For more information or resources, go to DISTRICT HEALTH FAIR The Starkville District is looking for a host church to sponsor this year s District Health Fair. We have 150 new medical students from all over the state ready to come to the district to lead a health fair. For more information about serving as the Starkville District host church, contact Lee Burdine at (662) or him at lee@lifebux.com We need photos of your church events! The Starkville District would like to feature events from every church in each newsletter. Please send us your events and announcements to gwenwoodssisson@yahoo.com. Thanks so much! NEWSLETTER DEADLINES ARE NOON EACH TUESDAY! Consider sending group photos from your church conference!

5 5 COX Continued from page 1... Choir Day at Wesley UMC... On Sunday, Sept. 4, Wesley United Methodist Church hosted their first Choir Day! With a lot of prayer, hard work, and dedication Choir Day was a success. The combined choir with over 30+ members did a phenomenal job. There were also guest musicians and other choirs/groups and soloists from the community to take part in choir day. Thank God for all of the support from the church family and community. (Photos submitted) Three opportunities available for Local Church Administry Training Local church treasurers, finance committee members and church business administrators have three opportunities this fall for continued learning in Church Administry Training. Three workshops are set to provide counsel and guidance, and upon completion of the one-day course and assignments, participants will be recognized as official Mississippi Conference church administrators. Registration forms are available on the Starkville District Facebook page this week or by registering online at Cost is $60 per person, which covers meals, snacks and resources for the complete day. Class dates are October 8 at Crystal Springs UMC in the Brookhaven District; November 12 at Calvary UMC in the New Albany District; and December 3 at Wiggins First UMC in the Seashore District. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. with coursework beginning at 9 a.m. For more information about the Church Administry Training Course, contact David Stotts at (601) Starkville District Superintendent Rev. Dr. Embra Jackson said we are so very happy to have Zac Cox to join the Starkville District. When the Bishop and Cabinet were looking for a person to continue the ministry of Rev. Jim and Jean Threadgill at the Sturgis-Big Creek Charge, Zac's name was submitted by the Tupelo District Superintendent, Dr. Jimmy Barnes, Jackson said. Zac brings a great deal of energy, enthusiasm and spiritual leadership to these churches. I participated in a recent worship service that he lead on the anniversary of 911 and was very impressed with his leadership and message. In addition, the members of the churches have accepted him with open arms. The Starkville District and the Sturgis-Big Creek charge are blessed by Zac Cox as a spiritual leader. This is Cox s first appointment through the Mississippi Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is bi-vocational, so in addition to serving as part-time minister at both Sturgis UMC and Big Creek UMC, he works at Renasant Bank in Tupelo. What I love about these churches is that they have so much love and compassion, Cox said. The patience and caring they have shown me is unreal. I feel like I have known them for years! They are very sweet and loving people. They have a strong love for our God and will do whatever possible to spread the gospel. Cox has served as the volunteer youth leader for the past four years at Carolina UMC and New Chapel UMC (currently Evergreen UMC preaching station). I answered my calling at my home church of Carolina UMC, Cox said. Carolina, New Chapel, and Evergreen UMC molded me into the man I am now. Cox has also worked at Renasant Bank in Tupelo in Back Office Operations for the past two years. He graduated from Itawamba Community College with an associate s degree in Business and Marketing. He is currently an online student at Mississippi University for Women, working on a bachelor s degree in Professional Studies specializing in Business management and finance. With that completed in December 2017, Cox will enroll in Seminary for his master s degree. He plans to continue to obtain his doctorate degree. Cox went to Dorsey Junior High School until the eighth grade then went on to graduate from Mantachie High School. He is the son of Steve and Melissa Cox. He has a brother, Justin, 26, (Justin s fiance is Randi-Leigh), and a deceased brother, Adam. He has five sisters, including: Julie, 16, (foster); Alyssa, 15, (blood sister); Madison, 14, (Adopted); Hope, 13, (Foster); and Alisha, 6, (Adopted). I love each of them very, very much, Cox said. Cox is engaged to be married on July 8, 2017 to Melyndie McCreary. Melyndie is from Mantachie, and she is the daughter of Mitchell and Doris McCreary, and she has a sister, Rebekah McCreary, 18. Melyndie is also a graduate from ICC, and she is currently a senior at MUW. She will earn her bachelor s degree in Speech Pathology, with a minor in psychology. She has plans to pursue her master s degree. Melyndie is a true blessing to my life and I thank God each and every day for her, Cox said. She is a strong and beautiful young woman. She has a deep love for our God and others! Cox has plans to eventually serve a church on a full time basis. When he is not working, preaching or taking classes, Cox loves outdoor activities, such as boating and duck hunting. He loves college football, and played football throughout grade school, junior and high school. And he would rather listen to music than watch television. P. O. B o x , S t a r k v i l l e, M i s s i s s i p p i ( ) ( ) ( f a x )