Pastor James Townley and Sis. Katrina Townley Page 20 Page 1
October is Consecration Month here at FPC and we are looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for us! We encourage all that will join us as we put forth the effort to give ourselves to God in a fresh way, in our mind, soul, body, and spirit. We can rest assured that when we offer sacrifice and praise unto God, that He is more than willing to intercede on our behalf and bring to us joy and peace and restoration and victory. By giving of ourselves in prayer and fasting, and giving our focus to Him, there is no telling what will happen when God steps onto the scene...and who then is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? (I Chronicles 29:5) God has so many things in store for us, He is just waiting for us to open ourselves to Him and what He wants to do. There is still time left in 2018 for God to show us that He has so much more! Let s bind together and get behind our pastor s vision of victory and progress for First Pentecostal Church! If we make a fresh sacrifice, then God will send a fresh fire! October is also Pastor Appreciation Month. The First Pentecostal Church of Jennings has been so blessed through the years to have had such sound, strong leadership. We are thankful for who God has given us in the past, and who we are blessed to have in the present. We give honor to our Pastor: Our shepherd and our watchman on the wall. We are grateful for (Continued on page 4) Page 2 Page 19
Here are a few more thoughts from scripture about the House of the Lord. The Psalmist was serious about this subject! Psalm 92: 13 Those that be in the house of the LORD shall in the courts of our God. Define these words: Planted: Flourish: Psalm 23: 6 Surely and shall follow me the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD. Good things come to those who stay in the house of the Lord! Psalm 27: 4 thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD the days of my life, to behold the of the LORD, and to in his temple. What does the word enquire suggest? Theme for 2018 There is More Romans 11:33 3 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! October is Consecration Month! Payer each night at 6:30 PM October 1st is Pastor Townley s birthday. We wish you a great big Happy Birthday! October is Pastor Appreciation Month Pastor Townley FPC loves and appreciates you and your family! 7th Sunday Eve Building Fund Offering 7th, 21st BFF 13th Leadership meeting in annex from 9 am to 3 pm. 14th Bro. Hanscom and Bro. Wilson preaching 27th Jennings Downtown Alive A Special welcome to all visitors, we invite you back! David was very focused when it came to serving God! We should be too! Page 18 If you are a guest visiting FPC please text Welcome to 337-806-8989. Thank you! We will then be able to connect with you! Page 3
(Continued from page 2) Bro. Townley s role in our lives, his leading by example, and his heart for people. Jeremiah 3:15 says, And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. It is evident that God has smiled on us yet again, and given us one of His best. We are a blessed church, and because of that we can be a blessing to others. God wants us to be a light to a lost and dying world. What the church is as a whole reflects the heart of its leader, and we have certainly been blessed with exceptional leadership at FPC! So let us show exceptional love and exceptional acceptance to the lost and dying that God brings in. We are so blessed! Bro. Townley set the vision at the beginning of the year for a monthly building fund offering. The goal is to raise $150,000 to begin construction on our new church. With our offering in September of $13,489 we only need an average of $16,363 for the next three months to reach this goal! God is making a way for us to start a new building! If you know of anyone that would like to donate, they can do so online at our website at www.fpcjennings.com. January $2,336.00 February $7,875.98 March $9,121.02 April $11,800.77 May $10,145.72 June $13,273.57 July $17,014.92 August $15,856.09 Sept $13,489.00 (Continued from page 16) Walking With Him I walked through life the best I could I lived the way I knew My world was filled with family, friends and things I loved to do. My life was long and richly blessed God blessed me everywhere And in my times of losses I walked with God in prayer. When I was young I heard of Jesus and what He had for me I chose to give my life to Him we walked, just Him and me. He took me through some highs and lows He kept my hand in His I walked with Him and lived my life for such a time as this. I leaned on God when I was sad He bottled all my tears My jar of prayers mixed with my faith He honored through the years. I ve dreamed of going home someday to those I loved so dear Walking in Jesus arms I made it, now I m here. I tried to leave a legacy of how to love, to pray Of how to live for Jesus and walk in faith each day. I m dancing now on streets of gold my body now restored I m walking just the way I dreamed with Him, forevermore. Sis. Alexander loved to serve those she loved, and she loved abundantly. The legacy that she leaves behind is a great testimony to her faith, and to the faithfulness of her Savior, Jesus. We can learn from her example that living for Jesus is truly the best life. Total: Page $ 100,913.07 4 Page 17
On September 22, we lost a great matriarch of our church, and her absence is deeply felt. Sis. Alexander was not only our previous pastor s wife for many years, but also a faithful saint and a prayer warrior. Her prayers were sent up as a covering over our church family for many years, and we have surely felt the benefits of her sacrifice. Our heritage is rich, and we have been greatly blessed to have had a strong and faithful Mother of Zion in our corner. Sis. Alexander lived a long and prosperous life, seeing and doing everything she could get her hands on. She was tireless in her work, and she accomplished a lot in her 101 years. But as she grew older, her eyesight began to fail her, and her body grew weak. Her mind and her spirit did not wither though, and she still had the strength to move mountains with her faith. She had a prayer jar that she filled with the names and needs of her loved ones, and she prayed over it daily. Her favorite scripture was James 5:16 which states, Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Sis. Alexander was a righteous woman and she prayed effectually. We are still experiencing the effects of her prayers. One of her biggest struggles was not being able to walk in her latter months of life. She had the will, but her body would not make a way for her to be able to walk. She tried every chance she got, and always said that one day she would walk again. Because of the life she lived and her dedication to the Lord, we know that she has gained her Heavenly reward and is walking the streets of gold, finally able to walk exactly like she dreamed. Here is the poem that Lauren penned for her funeral: Happy Birthday Pastor James Townley Maisie Gatte Tucker Guillotte Riley Guillotte Ev. Sam Stegall Russell Lasitsa Nathan Hancock Conner Nguyen Mistie DeLeon Morgan Blake DeLeon Lauren Touchet Roger Guillotte Trevor Gatte Vickie Gatte Spiritual Birthdays James Spell (3rd) Galena Lisitsa (7th) Lauren Touchet (23rd) Ann Gatte (24th) Wanda Simar (28th) (1st) (1st) (1st) (1st) (2nd) (3rd) (7th) (10th) (17th) (17th) (18th) (20th) (21st) (24th) Wedding Anniversaries Bro. Johnathan and Sis Jennifer Howell 11th Darren & Sedonia Spell 17th (Continued on page 17) Page 16 Page 5
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Remember to keep our missionaries in prayer The Brakens East Asia Page 14 Page 7
Pastor Appreciation by Bishop Tommy McGhee Paul encouraged Timothy to make full proof of his ministry in 2 Timothy 4:5 KJV. With these words, this young minister was challenged to demonstrate the true characteristics of a person and pastor who is called by God, and is obedient and faithful to Him. A Pastors role is about being and doing. Pastors who fulfill the Biblical role, as demonstrated by our Lord and instructed by the Apostle Paul, should be acknowledged and honored by the church. Scripture admonishes us to know those who labor among us and to honor them. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 NIV says, Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. II Timothy 5:17 NIV says, The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. As we approach Pastor Appreciation Day, I want you to consider the following acrostic for the word PASTOR. P Preacher The preacher is to Exalt the Savior. Jesus said when we lift Him up, He will draw all men unto Him. Preaching is not about us, but about Him. He has been exalted and given a name that is above every name. A Administrator An administrator has the responsibility to Establish the Structure. Paul told Titus The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished. A faithful pastor seeks to create a biblical structure so the church can stay on mission and be obedient to our Lord. (Continued on page 9) Page 8 Page 13
(Continued from page 9) Be the Christian you should be. Keep growing in the Lord and maintain a consistent life and witness. It is always encouraging for a pastor to hear of the Godly character of the people under his care. Pastor Appreciation Day is simply a day set apart to give special honor to whom honor is due. Godly men and women who serve the Lord and His people in this special and sacred role are due to be honored. However, remember that every day is a good day to encourage and appreciate your pastor! Going To Meet The Master By Bro. Bill Adams (For Sis. Alexander) 1. Years ago, I heard of Jesus, How they spoke of that great name. That he was God and He was the Father, Oh how the story all began. C. Now I m going to meet the Master Yes, I m going to see the Lord I m going to shout, OH Hallelujah With the Redeemed for evermore! 2. For many years I worked for Him What a pleasure, it has been Oh but to see His face in glory! With all the saints who ve gathered in. 3. To those who still are waiting, Don t you worry, just hold on. For with joy, we ll greet the Savior We ll all worship around the throne. C. Now I m going to meet the Master Yes, I m going to see the Lord I m going to shout, OH Hallelujah Page 12 (Continued from page 8) S Shepherd The Shepherd should Encourage the Sheep. A loving shepherd will be faithful to feed and lead, to guard and guide the sheep under his care. T Teacher As a Teacher, the pastor must Equip the Saints. Ephesians 4 challenges the pastors and teachers to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. O Overseer The Overseer must diligently and continually Examine the Spirits. Paul warned Timothy that in later times there would be deceiving spirits I Timothy 4:1 NIV. John the beloved also reminded the church to not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world 1 John 4:1 NIV. R Restorer The Restorer should Extend the Staff. Pastors are always looking for lost sheep. In Luke 15, Jesus shares how the shepherd is not satisfied to have most of the sheep at the end of the day. A faithful shepherd is like his master who came to seek and to save the lost. Our Shepherd loves His sheep and wants us to find them. The Shepherd/Pastor goes out into the night to rescue and restore those who have wandered away from the fold. The work and burdens of these servants of God have never been greater. One of the greatest needs of pastors is for people who will join with him or her in the work of the ministry. Hopefully you are asking what can I do to help my pastor? Below are just a few ideas that would mean so much to your spiritual leader: Pray for your pastor and family. There is no doubt that ministers are the target of satanic attack. Examine your expectations. Far too often, people expect pastors to be everywhere and do everything for everyone. Let s make sure we are realistic in what we expect. Find your place in ministry. Many churches are suffering from the lack of willing persons to help lead in ministry. A church full of needy, immature Christians is a field to work in, but a church with leaders who are equipped for ministry is a force to work with. Page 9 (Continued on page 12)
October 2018 Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat 1. 2 Midweek Service 7:30 3 4 5Men s Prayer 7:15 am Men s Breakfast @ Shoney s 8 am 6 7*** Sunday School 9:45 am Evening Service 6:00 pm Building Fund Offering 8 9 Midweek Service 7:30 10 11 12 Men s Prayer 7:15 am Men s Breakfast @ Shoney s 8 am 13 Leadership Meeting Annex 9 to 3 BFF 14 Sunday School 9:45 am Evening Service 6pm Bro. Hanscom Bro. Wilson 15 16 Midweek Service 7:30 17 18 19 Men s Prayer 7:15 am Men s Breakfast @ Shoney s 8 am 20 Super Sunday 21 Sunday School 9:45 am Evening Service 6pm 22 23 Midweek Service 7:30 24 25 26 Men s Prayer 7:15 am Men s Breakfast @ Shoney s 8 am 27 Downtown Alive BFF 28 Sunday School 9:45 am Evening Service 6:00 pm 29 30 Midweek Service 7:30 31 Prayer 6: :30 PM Romans 11:33 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! Page 10 Page 11