PASTOR APPRECIATION DAY

Transcription

1 VOICE OF THE APPALACHIAN CONFERENCE OF THE IPHC Vol. 80, No. 1 September 2018 PASTOR APPRECIATION DAY OCTOBER 7, 2018 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine. (1 Timothy 5:17, NKJV)

2 Bishop s Page PRESTON MATHENA LIBERTY HILL CELEBRATES DEBT-FREE WORSHIP CENTER On Sunday, June 10, 2018, Pastor Bobby Lewis and the congregation of Liberty Hill Pentecostal Holiness Church, along with Bishop Preston Mathena, held a note-burning ceremony. A few years ago, the Lord revealed to Pastor Lewis a new worship center in a dream. It was later that two other members of the church came to Pastor Lewis speaking to him about dreams that entailed a new worship center. Pastor Lewis shared the visions of a new worship center with the leadership of the church, and they began contemplating the possibility. It was at the same time that the Lord started blessing the church with a substantial amount of money through tithes and offerings. The leadership invested this money into CDs. Pastor Lewis recalled that one of the CDs gained $10,000 in interest alone. When the membership voted to begin the building process, the church had $750,000. By the time the construction process was underway, we had been blessed with another $65,000, which brought the total to $815,000. This wasn t enough to pay for the building in full. The membership decided to take a loan for the $125,000 that was needed to finish the church. Thanks to good leadership, the debt was paid off in only three years. Liberty Hill thanks each and every one who had a hand in the completed building program. To God be the glory! Man cannot take glory for what the LORD has done at Liberty Hill Pentecostal Holiness Church! EXECUTIVE COUNCIL ELECTED AT QUADRENNIAL CONFERENCE Left to right: James Tunnell, board member; Mike Dodson, assistant superintendent; Wanda Myers, board member; Preston Mathena, superintendent; Stacy Cope, board member; Frank Neff, secretary-treasurer; Larry Meadors, board member VOICE OF THE APPALACHIAN CONFERENCE OF THE IPHC

3 OCTOBER RETIRED MINISTERS BIRTHDAYS OCTOBER 1 OCTOBER 3 OCTOBER 5 Rev. Mrs. Marysue Freeman Rev. Clarence Aker Rev. Richard Kingrea P.O. Box Apache Run P.O. Box 6654 Morehead City, NC Max Meadows, VA Christiansburg, VA OCTOBER 6 OCTOBER 9 OCTOBER 10 Rev. Donald Trent Rev. James Abram Rev. Carl Early 1465 Second Creek Road 1153 Rosenbaum Road 75 Church St. Second Creek, WV Bluefield, VA Christiansburg, VA OCTOBER 12 OCTOBER 14 OCTOBER 16 Rev Mrs. LaTrissia Black Rev. Robert Presnell Rev. David Wood 4004 West Main St. 232 E. 36th St Jewell Ave. Princeton, WV Buena Vista, VA Dublin, VA OCTOBER 23 OCTOBER 31 Rev. William Carico Rev. Mrs. Barbara Early 2453 Creekview Drive 75 Church St. Galax, VA Christiansburg, VA October Calendar MESSENGER (USPS ) Vol. 80 September 2018 No. 1 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 WOMEN S MINISTRIES Tammy Porter 2473 Ivanhoe Road Max Meadows, VA Phone: WIN Donna Hankla 139 Ridgeway Drive Bland, VA Phone: MEN S MINISTRIES Steve Winesett 3414 Water Plant Road Hillsville, VA Deadline for all script to reach the office: 1st of each month for the next month s issue to woodsh12@gmail.com. 5 Vision 4 Education Emmanuel College 7 Boys Ministries Day 7 Pastor Appreciation Day 8-11 DM Summit Charleston, S.C. 13 Boys Ministries Luray Caverns 16 Boss s Day Maranatha College Classes 21 Bible Quiz Scrimmage 29 Harvest Train Offering 29 WIN Prayer Call He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name s sake. Psalm 23:2-3 CONFERENCE BOARD Superintendent Preston Mathena Assistant Superintendent Mike Dodson Secretary/Treasurer Frank Neff Board Member Larry Meadors Board Member Stacy Cope Board Member Wanda Myers Board Member Jim Tunnell MESSENGER (USPS ) is published monthly by LifeSprings Resources, 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 SEPTEMBER 2018

4 World Missions & Evangelism LARRY MEADORS Pastor Paul Chapman, Stephanie Keen, Jamie Alderman, Kurt Gillespie BECKLEY PRAISE CHURCH SENDS TEAM TO AFRICA On June 28, 2018, a team from Beckley Praise Church went to Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. God moved powerfully in the ministry time at Calvary Worship Center, where Pastor Ron and Sharon Wooten opened their pulpit to me, and at the Burundi Church later. For four days we worked with the school/orphanage at Pistis Education Center in Nakuru. From concrete work to painting to showing the love of God to each child and adult, we helped restore and transform the school. God truly blessed the team, and we were able to complete the list of tasks we had set out to do. We arrived back in the U.S. only to find ourselves ready to get back on the plane and go again. See you again, Nairobi! Submitted by Pastor Paul Chapman LIFE CHURCH BUILDS A BRIDGE IN PANAMA In July, Pastor Brandon Hay of Life Church, along with team members from Crossroads and Destiny Outreach, traveled to Panama to build a bridge for a thriving church there, as well as host VBS for the kids in the area. The bridge will help the people from this town have easier access to the church. Though the project was a bigger task than expected, with God s help and hard work from the team and our missionary hosts (Dan and Brenda Clowers), the task was completed. The VBS was a great success, as many kids and adults got to see a puppet show for the first time. It was a wonderful blessing to see the missions team interacting with the kids from the Panama church. I believe we will maintain contact with Pastor Jose Levi and this church in Panama for years to come! When the week was over, we could say without a doubt that the bridge was complete in more ways than one. Submitted by Pastor Brandon Hay Praise Report: The Trinidad Church Construction project has been fully funded! Thank the Lord for the $30,000 that has been raised for this very first IPHC church in this country. A construction team is now forming to help go and build the church January 21-29, Send in your application (available at appconf.org) ASAP to be part of this team. There are missions projects still available for your church to earn the 5- & 7-Star Missions Award for 2018! Romania Pastors Training Center Funds will complete the building before winter. #42508 Ukraine Van to Deliver Aid Funds will directly help our churches in the war zone. #41502 GO UPDATE: We have received $92,108 toward our 2018 goal of $150,000. Please continue giving to the Global Outreach Offering! VOICE OF THE APPALACHIAN CONFERENCE OF THE IPHC

5 Discipleship Ministries RON FREDERICKS With 437 awesome campers, 161 excellent staff members, some great fun, a powerful and challenging Word, and a strong presence of the Holy Spirit, CAMP MARANATHA 2018: SALT & LIGHT was a tremendous experience for all this summer. I am thankful for our Camp Maranatha family: those who served as camp pastors; the worship teams from Emmanuel College, Radford Worship Center and Valley Harvest Ministries; the kitchen crew; the cleaning crew; recreation staff; lifeguards; nurses; canteen workers; counselors; our Conference Office staff; and 0 the Discipleship Ministries board, their spouses and families. We could not have done it without you! There is no way to list each individual here, but you are a GREAT team and an even GREATER family to be a part of! I want to say thank you for your commitment, hard work and dedication to CAMP MARANATHA. To the churches, pastors, youth and children s pastors and leaders, parents, and grandparents who sacrificed to make sure your kids were here, we value and appreciate your hard work and every effort made. To the young people from across the conference who came and opened their hearts to Christ, we love you and continue to pray that you will continue in the experience you had while at Camp Maranatha and that you will continue to be SALT and LIGHT where God has planted you! Camp experiences this summer: 50 first-time salvations, 163 rededications, 108 sanctifications, 117 baptized in the Holy Spirit, 61 called to the ministry, 146 expressed a call to minister in music, with youth or with children, and 81 experienced healing. WE PRAISE GOD FOR WHAT HE IS DOING! Girls traveled from across the conference to the Girls Only weekend at Camp Maranatha, August 3-5, The theme for the weekend was IGNITE. Pastor Tammy Porter and her daughter, Montana Porter Arnold, were the keynote speakers. They challenged each girl through biblical illustrations, showing them how the present generation IGNITES the next generation to be followers of God. Five young ladies received Christ into their hearts. Excitement filled the air, for we know now there are five more generations getting ready to IGNITE the world. Elaine Wood, Conference Girls Ministries Coordinator SEPTEMBER 2018

6 Women s Ministries KATHY MATHENA It has been a pleasure and a joy I would like to express my appreciation to the women of the Appalachian Conference for giving me the honor and privilege of serving as W.M. director for the past eight years and on the W.M. board for a total of 19 years. I have found it to be both fulfilling and rewarding. My life has been changed, challenged and enriched by this great opportunity. It has been a pleasure and a joy to have served with women who are growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We have rejoiced together, laughed together and cried together. You, the women of the Appalachian Conference, are making an impact and major contribution to the body of Christ. I thank each of you for your faithful service in various capacities. Your involvement in the past, and I believe in the future, will be what makes Women s Ministries so special. At this time, I would like to thank the W.M. board that you elected to serve with me for these past eight years and for all they have done to enhance the Appalachian Conference Women s Ministries. I appreciate all their support and faithfulness, their servant spirit and the camaraderie we have as a board. Each one of you has made a major contribution to W.M. Sammie Andrews, assistant director; Martha Hall, secretary; Odessa Shupe and Joyce Thomasson, board members. A special thank-you to Ron Fredericks, D.M. director, for all of your support of W.M. You always go beyond the call of duty. Thank you to Elaine Wood, Girls Ministries director, who does her job with excellence in training and equipping your girls. Last but not least, to my husband Preston Mathena: thank you for your love and continued support and sometimes much-needed guidance. In closing, I would like to say that the future looks bright for Women s Ministries. I believe that the new board will become even more effective in reaching women of all ages, targeting the younger generation but never forgetting those that have led us in the past to where we are now. Submitted by Kathy Mathena, W.M. Director W.M. Annual Fall Retreat November 2, 2018 Music Road Inn, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Speaker: Veronica McGlothlin For more information, go to appconf.org. DATES TO REMEMBER Vision 4 Education (Feast of Ingathering) Emmanuel College October 5 Harvest Train November 20 VOICE OF THE APPALACHIAN CONFERENCE OF THE IPHC

7 World Intercession Network DONNA HANKLA HIS EYES WERE AS A FLAME OF FIRE (Revelation 1:14, KJV) John saw Jesus standing in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks. This powerful revelation of Jesus was the first significant vision in the book of Revelation. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a FLAME OF FIRE (Revelation 1:14, KJV, emphasis added). Fire is a symbol of divinity in the Semitic Middle East. Fire is a symbol of Yahweh Himself. Fire is also used to describe His Glory! Prayers of Protection Prayers of Power A Pillar of Cloud by Day and a Pillar of Fire by Night (Exodus 13:21,22). When the Lord led the children of Israel out of Egypt, He protected them with the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire. The enemy could not touch God s people. His cloud came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel (Exodus 14:20). His angel went before the camp of Israel and protected them from behind (v. 19). Prayers of Power Elijah needed God s power to convert the nation from Baal worship to the worship of God. The king and queen forced the nation to worship Baal. These leaders opposed God. Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal, which numbered 450 (1 Kings 18:19). Elijah told the people that the God who answered by fire would be God. The people agreed with this challenge. All day, the prophets of Baal prayed and danced and cut themselves. Baal did not answer! There was no fire! There was no power! Elijah wet the wood of the altar and called upon the true God. And God answered by fire. Then the fire of the Lord fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench (1 Kings 18:38, KJV). This demonstration of God s power turned the hearts of the people. The people fell on their faces and worshiped God (v. 39). PRAY FOR HIS POWER Nothing is impossible with God. A release of His power can save lost loved ones, heal disease and lift His people out of debt. Pray for a release of His great power! STEVE WINESETT MEN S MINISTRIES DIRECTOR DON T STOP UNTIL YOU ARE FINISHED This idea is from The Last Arrow by Erwin Raphael McManus and is an encouragement to spend all of our energy and effort to be the men God intends for us to be. Leave nothing in reserve, but use all that we have to make our world a better place. The plans and purposes for our Christian lives can only be completed when we choose to continue on as proper examples, fathers, brothers, teachers or leaders. We must make a determined and specific choice to be relentless in finishing our given commission. Don t sell yourself short before God. Only He knows the extent of your influence, and it isn t fair to anyone if you decide when it s time to quit. Philippians 4:13, 14 recognizes the obstacles that we encounter in our daily walk as earthly men as well as Spirit-filled Christians. The verses also remind us to put our focus on only one thing: to press on with our God-given purpose, so we may complete the task. Our purposes often change with our seasons in life. I encourage you to press on in each season, so that every task is completed in season and the next purpose set before you can be tackled with vigorous determination. Be relentless in sharing God s love and grace, so that the world will know that you are always in the fight for righteousness. SEPTEMBER 2018

8 MESSENGER (USPS ) 5847 Oak Grove Avenue Dublin, Virginia Periodicals Postage Paid at Franklin Springs, GA Address Service Requested 2018 NEWLY LICENSED MINISTERS: (not pictured) Todd Amburgey, Whitney Browning, David Carter, Brandon Eggleston, Angela Lineberry, Keith Maxwell, Rocky Nicely, Alicia Phillips, Justin Phillips, Hayley Pugh, Gregory Taylor, Aaron Tunnell 2018 ORDAINED MINISTERS Left to right: Tim McKenzie, David Wall, Bobby Singleton, Wesley Hill, William Marion, Cathryn Y. Smith 2017 RETIRED MINISTERS We appreciate the ministries of these men of God. Left to right: Dr. C. R. Conner 49 years Rev. Henry H. Ayers, Jr. 38 years Rev. Donald L. Trent 15 years