Koinonia Messenger DECEMBER 2017 A PUBLICATION OF THE KOINONIA OF PENNSYLVANIA ECCLESIASTICAL JURISDICTION From the Bishop s Desk Greetings in the Name of Jesus Christ: Many people don t believe in Christmas anymore. They believe in Christmas gatherings, Christmas shopping, Christmas recitals, and Christmas acts of charity. The world has taken our Christmas and turned it into a money making holiday. In today s age, we as church leaders find ourselves in a major bind. It used to be that we found ourselves competing with the usual rivals of Santa Claus, television specials, and generic holiday cheer. However the sights and sounds of Christmas are evident as early as October and we are now faced with the allure of things like the new iphone X and all its glimmering features. Call me old fashioned, but I still believe that Jesus birth in Luke 2 is the most exciting story ever written and it s truly life changing. God loved you and me so much that He sent His only Son Jesus into the world to die for our sins. In all the hustle and bustle of the Christmas holiday, have you ever taken the time to reflect on that? God humbled Himself and came in the form of man and it was all part of the divine plan that was in place before the world began. So no matter how many presents are under the tree, remember nothing can top the greatest gift of all: JESUS. Inside This Issue: From The Bishop s Desk 1 Greetings from Mother Myrick 2 Contact Us 2 Jurisdiction Calendar 2 National Calendar 2 Church Spotlight 3 Church Directory & Schedule 3 Upcoming Special Events 6 A Moment of Meditation 7 Jurisdictional Highlights 8 Your Chief Servant, Bishop Ernest C. Morris, Sr Prelate Headquarters: Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ 6401 Ogontz Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19126 Phone: 215-276-2960 www.pakoinoniacogic.com
Greetings From Mother Myrick Dear Daughters: The year 2017 is swiftly coming to a close. As we look back, we can say that God has truly moved within the Women s Department in a miraculous way. Under the leadership of our prelate Bishop Morris, our jurisdiction has continued to prosper and flourish. I am delighted that God has opened a door for the Prayer and Bible Band very close to our Jurisdictional Headquarters. I look forward to seeing the great things that God has in store for us through this wonderful opportunity. As we go into the New Year, I encourage all of you to make a habit of attending our Training Institute held each month during our Jurisdictional First Saturday Meetings. These powerful sessions give us the chance to come together as we learn and grow in the ministry. Remember, we are better together! God has blessed us tremendously over the last year but this is only the beginning. I truly believe that He has more in store for the Women s Department and the Koinonia Jurisdiction in 2018. With love, Mother Emily Myrick Supervisor, Department of Women Jurisdictional Calendar Every Wednesday 7:00am-7:15am Conference Call Prayer (1-641-715-0861 Access Code: 1045587#) 1st Saturday of Every Month Jurisdictional First Saturday Meeting January 5-6, 2018: Unity Leadership Summit *Featuring Commonwealth, Koinonia, Eastern, Keystone, and Central Jurisdictions *Fri. Jan. 5th 7:00-10:00 p.m. & Sat. Jan. 6th 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. *Location: Radisson Hotel Valley Forge (1160 1st Avenue King of Prussia, PA 19406) *Registration: $25 (includes breakfast); Room Rate: $120 (Friday night only) National Calendar January 16-19, 2018 National Leadership Conference in Atlanta, GA April 2-4, 2018 I AM 2018 in Memphis, TN *Commemorating the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. s death May 7-10, 2018 GCPE Shepherds Conference in Baton Rouge, LA May 28-June 1, 2018 68th International Women s Convention in Milwaukee, WI November 6-13, 2018 111th Holy Convocation in St. Louis, MO CONTACT US Bishop Ernest C. Morris, Sr. Prelate Mother Emily Myrick Supervisor of Women Ashley N. Jefferson Koinonia Messenger Editor-in-Chief All event information and other requests for publication can be sent to: ashleyjefferson01@gmail.com 267-481-3315
Church Spotlight In this month's issue we are highlighting our very own Pastor Lawrence Matthews of Lighthouse Fellowship Church of God in Christ. Pastor Matthews received the majority of his ministry training at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ. As a former longtime member there, he served faithfully as a youth leader, Sunday School teacher, street team member and adjutant to our prelate Bishop Ernest C. Morris, Sr. In 2012, Pastor and First Lady Matthews stepped out in faith to start Lighthouse Fellowship COGIC, with the mission of transforming families one person at a time. Since its inception, Pastor Matthews and his church family have worked to fulfill that mission through their weekly services, Bible studies, youth activities and community outreach. In 2015, their family s faith was put to the test with the loss of their beloved son Josiah. However, Pastor and First Lady Matthews pushed through their pain and with God s strength and comfort, continued in ministry. Pastor Matthews is truly passionate about reaching the lost and making an impact on the community. He is committed to teaching the unadulterated Word of God and doing so in a way that people will understand, be eager to learn more and strive to live holy. Lighthouse Fellowship COGIC celebrated their 5th Church Anniversary in the spring and the ministry continues to flourish. Most recently Pastor Matthews was elevated to the position of Overseer at the 110th annual Holy Convocation in St. Louis, MO. We salute Pastor Matthews for his continued faithfulness, dedication and hard work for the up-building of God s Kingdom. To God be the glory! Local Church Directory & Weekly Schedule Better Life Ministries COGIC Pastor: Dr. Warren D. Wilcox,II 1 West Wayne Terrace Collingswood, NJ 08108 321BetterLife@gmail.com Facebook: @BetterLifeMinistries Sunday Service 8:00 a.m. Cathedral of Praise COGIC Pastor: Stephen Banks 263 South 60th Street Philadelphia, PA 19139 KHFCOGIC@aol.com Thursday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Church of God by Faith Pastor: Joyce Ladson 6500 Wister Street Philadelphia, PA 19138 Sunday School 11:30 a.m. Sunday Service 12:15 p.m. Courtney Temple COGIC Pastor: Supt. Esau Courtney Jr. 740 Pennington Avenue Trenton, NJ 08618 609-278-9550 Sunday Prayer 9:30a.m Sunday Service 12:00 p.m. Tuesday Prayer 7:00 p.m. Tuesday Bible Study 7:30 p.m. Friday Praise Night 7:30 p.m. Faith Chapel COGIC Pastor: C. Wayne Baxter 1212 Edgemont Road Harrisburg, PA 17109 717-233-4247 Sunday Service 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Prayer 6:00 p.m. First Love COGIC Pastor: Manu Omawale
Local Church Directory & Weekly Schedule (continued) Higher Ground Temple COGIC Pastor: Supt. Edward Barron 203 Vine Street Camden, NJ 08103 856-283-6114 hgtpraise@gmail.com Sunday Services 8:00 a.m. & 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Prayer Conference Call 7:00 p.m. Conference Call #: 641-715-3580 Access Code: 915290 Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Living Waters Christian Center Pastor: Jeffrey Gaskin, M.Div 420 South 52nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19143 215-554-5350 Sunday Radio Broadcast 4:00 p.m. on 1110 AM Gospel Highway 11 Friday Prayer/Bible Study 7:00 p.m. House of Judah COGIC Pastor: Charles Milliner 910 East Church Lane Philadelphia, PA 19144 houseofjudahcogic@outlook.com Wednesday Prayer/Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Friday Prayer Conference Call 7:00 p.m. Conference Call #: 515-739-1030 Access Code: 226781664# Jones Memorial COGIC Pastor: J. Christopher Barmore Supt. R.T. Jones, Jr. 3050 North 22nd Street Philadelphia, PA 19132 215-278-2942 Church Office Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Sunday Prayer: 8:30 a.m. Sunday School: 9:15 a.m. Sunday Intercessory Prayer: 10:15 a.m. Sunday Service 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Mid-Week Refreshing: 6:30 p.m. Light of the World Ministries Pastor: Terence Priester 6131 Green Street Philadelphia, PA 19144 Sunday Service 10:00 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study 6:30 p.m. Every Other Saturday Prayer 8:00 a.m. Lighthouse Fellowship COGIC Pastor: Overseer Lawrence Matthews 1925 Old York Road Abington, PA 19001 215-650-3803 Sunday Service 10:00 a.m. Tuesday Prayer 6:00 p.m. Tuesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Malachi COGIC Pastor: Supt. Anthony Lindsay 5209 Master Street Philadelphia, PA 19131 215-878-1115 Sunday Service 11:45 a.m. Wednesday Prayer/Bible Study 7:00p.m. Youth & Evangelistic Outing 7:00 p.m. Miracle Temple COGIC Pastor: Mother Emily Myrick 1409 East Main Street Millville, NJ 08332 856-825-5508 Sunday Morning Service 11:00 a.m. Sunday Evening Service 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7:00p.m. Morning Star COGIC Pastor: Supt. Hezekiah Lampley 2326 North 31st Street Philadelphia, PA 19132 215-221-5505 Sunday Morning Service 12:00 p.m. Sunday YPWW & Worship 4:00 p.m. Monday Men s Fellowship & Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Tuesday Prime Time Children s Program 4:00 p.m. Tuesday Bible Study 7:30 p.m. Thursday Praise & Worship 7:30 p.m. Friday Prayer 7:30 p.m. Daily Prayer Conference Call 6:00 a.m. Conference Call #: 1-515-739-1033 Access Code: 427291#
Local Church Directory & Weekly Schedule (continued) Mt. Airy COGIC Pastor: Bishop J. Louis Felton 6401 Ogontz Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19126 www.mtairycogic.com 215-276-2960 Sunday Service 7:30 a.m. & 10:45 a.m. Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Every 4th Sunday Children s Church 10:30 a.m. Wednesday YPWW & Service 7:00p.m. Thursday Broadcast (The Word Network) 12:30 a.m. Every 2nd Friday Youth Service 7:00 p.m. New Bethel Overflow COGIC Pastor: Samuel Pickett 3151 West Dakota Street Philadelphia, PA 19132 Sunday Service 11:30 a.m. New Mt. Zion Pentecostal COGIC Pastor: Zan Chancy Supt. William Chancy 1501 North 20th Street Philadelphia, PA 19121 215-235-3820 Sunday Service 11:30 a.m. Tuesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Oasis Sanctuary Pastor: Isaac Davidson 900 North 12th Street Reading, PA 19604 Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study 6:00 p.m. Open Bible COGIC Pastor: Carolyn McRae 1412 Lehigh Street Easton, PA 18042 484-241-1295 3rd Sunday Service 3:00 p.m. Monday Prayer 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Power Through The Word Pastor: Latanya Franklin 4256 Paul Street Philadelphia, PA 19124 Resurrected Life Evangelistic Church Pastor: Ronald W. Dunston Sr. 189 Anderson Avenue Morrisville, PA 19067 Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. Sunday Service: 11:15 a.m. Tuesday Prayer/Bible Study: 7:30 p.m. Shekinah Glory Ministries Pastor: J. Robert Harrison 132 Modena Road St. James Chapel COGIC Pastor: Supt. Steven McCracken 11 South 9th Street Reading, PA 19601 610-375-7537 True Covenant Worship Center Pastor: Eric Butler 4415 Marlton Pike Pennsauken, NJ 08109 Sunday School 9:10 a.m. Sunday Service 10:30 a.m. Monday Conference Call Prayer 7:00 a.m. Conference Call #: 641-715-0608 Access Code: 967477 Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. True Worship COGIC Pastor: Errol Nugent 200 East Cliveden Street Philadelphia, PA 19119 www.twcogic.com 215-856-4497 Sunday School 9:30 a.m. Sunday Service/Children s Church 11:00 a.m. Monday Conference Call Prayer 6:00 a.m. Conference Call #: 515-739-1030 Access Code: 644-298-826 Wednesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Voice of Holiness COGIC 475 North Burlington Road Bridgeton, NJ 08302 Pastor: Hopeton Bartley Sunday Morning Service 11:00 a.m. Sunday Evening Service 6:00 p.m. Tuesday Bible Study 7:00 p.m. Thursday Service 7:00 p.m.
Upcoming Special Events Mark your calendars for the following upcoming events in December: Courtney Temple COGIC Friday, December 22nd at 7:30 p.m.: Christmas Program & Celebration Sunday, December 31st at 10:00 p.m.: New Year s Eve Watch Night Service Jones Memorial COGIC Sunday, December 3rd at 4:00 p.m.: Bishop Rueben T. Jones & JMCC/CT Church serves New Hope Church where Bishop Harold Faust is pastor. (For more information, call 215-278-2942 Tuesday-Thursday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.) Friday, December 8th at 7:30 p.m.: Youth Department s I Study Saturday, December 9th at 11:00 a.m.: Youth Department sponsored Christmas Fellowship Sunday, December 31st at 9:30 p.m.: New Year s Eve Watch Night Service House of Judah COGIC Friday, December 9th at 8:00 p.m.: All-Night Prayer & Praise Service Lighthouse Fellowship COGIC Saturday, December 16th at 12:00 p.m.: Christmas Fellowship *Join us as we travel to The Evangel Cathedral for the Christmas Celebration 2017 featuring a Broadway-style musical and a live performance by gospel recording artist Fred Hammond *Tickets: $145 and includes roundtrip transportation, play and concert (Must be paid in full by December 2nd) Morning Star COGIC Sunday, December 24th at 4:00 p.m.: Toy Giveaway Extravaganza (Free gifts will be given) Sunday, December 31st at 10:00 p.m.: New Year s Eve Watch Night Service True Worship COGIC Sunday, December 17th at 11:00 a.m.: Family & Friends Day with Bishop featuring Bishop Ernest C. Morris Sr. as guest speaker
A Moment of Meditation Speaking Life Over Our Children By: Treena Sadler One day as I was reading the Daily Bread, something in the Book of Daniel caught my attention. The Bible says in Daniel 1:3-4: And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of the children of Israel, and of the king s seed, and of the princes; children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king s palace and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. After reading these verses of scripture over and over, what stood out to me most was the word children. It made me reflect on the hopes and dreams that we as parents have for our children. We want our children to be successful and safe in school. We want them to be on the honor roll, be excited about learning and not fall victim to the daily perils and negative influences that they may face from their peers. We want them to be leaders and not followers, the head and not the tail, to be above and not beneath. Part of our job, as parents, is to do what we can to ensure that our children are healthy and that they excel spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally, and academically. One of the tools that our Lord and Savior has equipped us with to do so is The Word of God. Proverbs 18:21, tells us that Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. For that reason it s important that we speak life into our children. As parents we must decree and declare The Word of God over our children s lives daily and we must also have them confess the Word over themselves as well. From reading the scripture in Daniel, the Lord laid on my heart a daily confession that my husband and I have begun speaking over our children: Father in the Name of Jesus, we declare that our children are without blemish, well favored, skillful in all wisdom, cunning in knowledge, and teachable. We thank you for giving them understanding and skill in all learning, wisdom in school and all of the activities that they participate in, for Your glory. God is not a respecter of persons. For His glory He poured out wisdom and blessings in the lives of the Hebrew children in the Old Testament and I know that He is willing and able to do the same for my children, your children, our children. Therefore I challenge every parent, grandparent, godparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, neighbor and friend to speak life everyday over your children.
Jurisdictional Highlights Check out highlights of the Koinonia Jurisdiction family at the 110th International Holy Convocation, which took place November 6th-14th in St. Louis, MO.