Pentecostal Church of God Northern California/Nevada District Newsletter Rev. Lonnie J. Cox, District Bishop November 30, 2018 To the excellent Pastors, Ministers, and Congregations of our District Church, The deadliest and costliest fire in California history claimed one of our families and church buildings. At last count: 88 souls, 15,000 homes and 500 businesses. By comparison, the Santa Rosa fire was ¼ the size of the Camp Fire that took our Paradise PCG (more info below on Thursday 11/8). Woodland Christian Center is accepting Resumes for Lead Pastor! Hear Ye!!! After 38 wonderful years of ministry at WCC, Lead Pastors Richard and Gloria Sinclair will be retiring after the first of the year. Richard asked me to announce that the church is accepting resumes for Try Outs. This is an exceptional church. Please contact the office for directions. 1
Friday 11/2 was a mixed day of celebration for us. Today was the first anniversary of my sister Donna Yeley passing away. She was one of the sweetest gals you will ever meet! Her husband Louis has moved to Oklahoma along with several of the children. Daughter Damona still lives in Mckinleyville, CA with her family. We miss Donna Lee! Sunday 11/4. The first Sunday of Legacy Month for Freedom Christian Church, Manteca, with Pastors Doug and Stephanie Wheeler. This was also the 72 year anniversary of the church. I was honored to preach on Pentecostal Without Apology! The Pastors also showed a video with slides going back to 1946. Below are photos of the present PLA and PYPA groups in the church. Congratulations! FCC and well done! Also on Friday we enjoyed the NCV WM Rally at Woodbridge. I dropped Margaret off and went to a coffee shop to get some required paperwork done. When I returned this excellent crowd was present and Margaret was preaching to them. I also noticed the outstanding new platform and lighting! Well done! Pastor! 2
Tuesday 11/6. Election Day! We voted based on our conscience. How about you? Thursday 11/8. A Famous and Infamous day in our District Church! First the Famous part: Peach Bowl Breakfast and Presbyter Election. Presbyters Mark and Jeanette Hicks chose not to return to office, so the election was without incumbents. Thank you Bro. and Sis. Hicks for your faithful service to our District Church! Pastors Michael and Pat Jacobsen were elected on the nominating ballots. PTL! We are excited to work with them again at the District level. Amen. As we left the Gridley Grille, it looked like we were driving into an inferno! The Camp Fire was already burning above Paradise and out of control! We took Mom to breakfast at the Cornucopia, sat by the window and watched the fire growing on the mountain The Infamous part: We lost the Dodge family from our District Congregation. They were a faithful and beloved part of our Paradise PCG. Pastor Kelly Navarro spoke with Randy just an hour before they went missing. Paula was a well known real estate agent in town. Please pray for their family! Below are photos of the destroyed church from the side and front. 3
President Donald Trump, Governor Jerry Brown and Governor elect Gavin Newsom toured the city and were devastated by the destruction. It will be years before the town of Paradise comes back. But, the city intends to come back, and we intend to be there when they do. Pray for Pastors Kelly and Heather Navarro and our Paradise PCG congregation. P.S.: our church property was fully insured. PTL! Veterans Day Sunday 11/11. At New Beginnings, Our daughter-in-law Giovanna Cox preached Remember To Remember. Remember WHO you are and WHOSE you are. Those who delight in God s words; ponder them. GENERAL BOARD MEETING Monday 11/12-13. Bishop Wayman Ming Jr. is doing everything in his power to make our CENTENNIAL GENERAL CONVENTION the PCG event of our lifetime. Come on you guys, let s book our reservations and go! The date is June 24-27, 2019. The location is Calvary Church, Irving, TX. 4401 North State Highway 161. For a complete packet of information visit our website at: one.pcg.org We ll see you there! Amen! 4
Thursday 11/15 Woodland Christian Center Business Meeting. Pastor Richard Sinclair announced his retirement and the church moved to start accepting Try Outs!!! (see p.1) SIX FLAGS. Saturday 11/17. Margaret and I were very proud of our son DYD Don for making sure this still happened. The day was cut short due to smoke and ash falling on the park from the Camp Fire. Several hundred people and performers attended anyway, but the Park said the air quality was too poor to stay open. Due to his injuries Don could only sit at the gate and greet people; but he was there! Don t miss the District WINTER BLAST Rally and SCANDIA on Dec. 14 at 7pm. Don will be preaching (his first time back since the accident) and unveiling the new theme and logo for 2019! Wait until you see the new t-shirts! Wow! You will have to have one! I m getting mine! Also on Saturday 11/17. Mother Lode WM Rally at the Plymouth PCG! The rally was very well attended and we were delighted to be back in this wonderful church. Margaret loved preaching and the fellowship with everyone was excellent! Thanks to Presbyters Doyle and Zula Judd for promoting this. Also attending the rally were our new Pastors at Plymouth PCG, Kris and Vanessa McGill. The church invited Kris back to preach again on Sunday 11/18 with an election following the service. They were elected by a very strong margin. Congratulations! Pastors! Welcome to Mother Lode Section. (I also did a walk through with the church board to consider work that needs to be done on the church parsonage.) Sunday 11/18. Margaret and I visited Faith Tabernacle with Pastors (former DYD) Nathan and Sherry Dennis. It was a pleasure to see them again. Nathan told us his dad has been very ill and I was grieved to hear he passed away three days later. Please pray for Nathan and the entire family. Thursday 11/22. Thanksgiving Day. We were blessed to have most of our family with us for a delicious dinner. We hope you enjoyed the same. 5
Saturday 11/24. My mom Ramona s 89 th birthday. Wow! My brother Mike brought her some Sees Candy (her favorite) and took her to lunch at her favorite restaurant (Cornucopia). She said, He s such a good son! I agree mom! Happy Birthday! We look forward to the big 90 next year! LOOK WHO WE SAW Monday 11/26. Margaret and I finally made it to the new Cracker Barrel on Howe Ave. for breakfast. We had to wait over ½ hour to get it. But, as she says, Margaret was very happy, happy, happy! The food was delicious and worth the wait. As we were on our way in, Dolly Crandall was on her way out. She actually spotted us. We haven t seen her since Don s funeral. Dolly lives in Vacaville and was in town on business. Since she was here, she talked a couple of her girlfriends to check out the new Cracker Barrel. It was wonderful to see her again and I wish we could have had more time to visit. God bless you Dollie. Sunday 11/25. New Life Christian Center at Madison with Pastors Harrel and Judi Wiley. We love preaching for this great church. In this photo, Pastors Wiley (right) are pictured with their assistants for 37 years, Robert and Lana Johnson (left). Robert will be ordained this March at our District Convention. I overheard this encouraging word while at General Board Meeting in Texas. I believe the man s name is Brother Waldrop, and he said, If you ever try to open a church somewhere, the first one to walk in the door will be Jesus! Amen! In 4 days I will be meeting with our District Board and we will be preparing for our District Convention coming in March 6-8, and our Centennial General Convention coming in June 24-27. Margaret and I hope you will mark these dates on your calendar, save your money, and plan to attend these historic events. Guess what? If you haven t realized it yet, we are the PCG! Amen. In Him, Rev. Lonnie J. Cox District Bishop NCA/PCG 6