Alabama Update December 2015

ALABAMA

UPDATE THE CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY

DECEMBER 2015

Alexander City:: On October 31 s t , we sponsored a “Trunk and Treat” to all local children.

Also, everyone was given free hot dogs. The Jeff Beck Family blessed us with their singing talent.

Alton: October was, at the least, on Outstanding October!

We have been so very busy and excited!

Forty-three went to see the movie War Room and it strengthened our prayer lives.

Ten of us went to Revelation Walk in Pell City. Our KiDzInMoTiOn had a total re-do in the KiDz love it....(and so do the adults!). Sunday morning, Pastor Daniel’s message was “How to Form a Lasting Relationship” Philippians 2:1-4. At the end of the message he asked if there was anyone there that wanted to be stronger in their relationship, grow closer together...maybe even get married? A sweet young couple, James and Jamie Brockman went forward and we had a Surprise Wedding! It was amazing and oh so sweet. The presence of God was felt and definitely was with this beautiful couple. The bride, Jamie was glowing and our hearts melted. The wedding was followed by a Surprise Reception in the Fellowship Hall. We have a saying here at Alton....”You never know what’s going to happen.

Every service is different!” October went out with our Fall Festival. Great attendance, lots of food, a maze, games, fun and fellowship....however, all of that paled in comparison to the fact that one gave their heart to Christ. One person saved! What an Outstanding October!

Chickasaw: We had a wonderful month. We had a program for Pastor Appreciation and great fellowship with dinner after church. We love our Pastor and Pastor’s wife. They are so wonderful to the members and families.

Collinsville-Harvest Center:

Yesterday, we had a Harvest Festival at Harvest Center. Our young people decorated the fellowship hall and set up games and a Photo Booth. We had a few visitors and everybody went away blessed and full of joy. The church surprised the Pastor and wife with a belated Pastor’s Appreciation. The surprise was overwhelming of expressions of appreciation.

Cunningham Bridge: We want to give God praise for all His blessings on us.

We had our third month of increase; that means, the love of God is flowing well.

Praise the Lord!

Keep remembering us in your prayers.

Fayette-North Pointe: God is turning up the juice, so to speak, at North Pointe Church in Fayette Alabama. His presence was felt in a marvelous way this morning. We had people in the altar during praise and worship, and again after Pastor Smalley’s message.

That night Brother Watkins preached on the importance of prayer and praise in a message titled, “Praise Power”.

The response to the altar call was overwhelming. God is taking our church to new levels of anointing. Our praise team is stepping up its game and learning some awesome new praise and worship songs that pack a punch! I’m so glad to be a part of it! This is my fifth year at North Pointe, a team of wild horses couldn’t tear me away! lol.

Love my pastor and his staff. We received two new members, Jason Moore and his wife, Rene Moore on

October 11th. Praise be to God. Gordo: We celebrated “Pastor Appreciation” this month.

We appreciate Rev. Rose and his wife. We are blessed to have them with us.

We also c e l e b r a t e d “Homecoming”.

Our guest speaker was Rev. Brent Smalley from the Fayette Church. His wife, Anita, played and sang. Everyone enjoyed the day with them and we had a delicious lunch afterward.

Goodwater-Joyful Praise: On October 4th we had our church anniversary and it turned out to be a great success. The end of the month was our 7th Annual Hallelujah Fest. It was a great Outreach.

Greenpond: Our God is awesome. His name is to be praised. We are a blessed church. The leadership and dedication of Pastor Noe and Sister Nita is to be commended. The Noe’s were honored for Pastor Appreciation with a special program, cards, gift cards, monetary gift and a wonderful fellowship lunch.

Associate Pastor, Ervine Vining was also honored with cards and gifts.

Sister Ervine is a special blessing to our church and all that know her. We enjoyed a revival with Pastor Sylvester Smith with outstanding sermons.

God’s presence was in our midst each night. The Walk to Calvary, a seven mile walk carrying the cross, was wonderful. Sixteen participated in the walk. There were honks, waves and pictures taken. One lady stopped with refreshments. Carolyn Guyton was the speaker for Ladies’ Day with the theme “The Apple of God’s Eye”. The ladies were truly blessed. “Witnessing for Jesus without Fear” has been a four week video and discussion series. It has been wonderful. Each week many have shared how they had the opportunity to share Jesus with someone. Fall festival was a huge success. Five hundred plus were in

attendance. Inflatables, cotton candy, hot dogs, popcorn, drinks, cakes and plenty of candy were some of the things that were enjoyed by all in attendance.

The Life Savers, young girls, and the young boys enjoyed a hay-ride with thirty-two in attendance. The seniors enjoyed a trip to Muscle Shoals touring the Fame Recording Studio and the birth place and museum of W. C. Handy, Father of the Blues. Lunch followed at the Old Cook Stove Restaurant.

Men’s retreat was a blessing to the men in attendance.

Hackleburg Community: Titled “Super Hero’s Light the Night”, we opted to avoid the death and evil and bring the light of Christ into peoples’s lives at HCC! The rain didn’t stop!

We moved everything in the gym...and 614 friends from the Hackleburg community and surrounding areas came to spend this incredible night with us!

We enjoyed: trunk and treat, cake walk, games, free hot dog meal, drawings for prizes! Great team, our new Children’s and Youth Pastor prepared and worked hard! And all 45 of the HCC volunteer staff it took to pull it off! We are thankful and now we follow up on all those 614 folks that registered!

Blessings......

Haleyville-Pathway: We’re had a wonderful year and hope to finish with great success.

Harris Chapel: We are thankful for a new member, Olivia Scoggions, joined October 18th . Thank you God. Jasper-Airport Road: We had another successful Trick or Treat under the leadership of Sister Piper. The childen enjoyed face painting, photo booth, free hotdogs and drinks. There was a drawing to win a free turkey. It was a wonderful night of food and fellowship with many new visitors for our church.

We are praising God for His goodness.

Mentone: We are grateful to God that we can report a new member, Nellie Croley. Praise the Lord!

Pinson Valley: We had a great trunk or treat and estimated about 125-150 people visited. It was wonderful time of fun and fellowship. Everyone worked so hard. We give all the praise to the Lord Jesus.

Short Creek: We appreciate our pastor and family. They go beyond the call in caring for their local congregation. We began the month with the celebration of our pastor and wife’s anniversary on October 3rd with the presentation of a beautiful cake and roses. We were proud to provide a week get-away for them to the mountains. We also blessed them with food and paper product pounding. We presented gifts of appreciation to the Pastoral Staff during the month as well.

Homecoming 2015 was held on the third Sunday of October with 80 in attendance. The church was privileged to attend service at the Tarrant COGOP to hear our General Overseer, Sam Clements preach a wonderful message.

We thank the Tarrant church for inviting us and for the beautiful reception after the service.

Tarrant: As we look over the month, we give God the praise and glory for all His goodness. Tarrant Kids enjoyed their field trip to Baker Farm Pumpkin Patch. Pastor Judy and Pastor Kevin showed appreciation to everyone by providing an Ice Cream Social. Seven men were blessed to attend the Men’s Conference at Camp Boothe. We were honored to host the Birmingham District Meeting with special guest Bishop Clements and Bishop Jones.

The Ladies’ Ministry helped the Presbyterian Manor in their fall festival. Our ladies hosted an evening meal at City Hall as they honored our very own David Lee for winning the Ultimate Elvis 2015. We ended the month by participating in the community Halloween Trunk and Treat, ministering to many children.

But the highlight of the month was...we welcomed Linda Adams into the COGOP by giving her a right hand of fellowship and one Sunday night a young lady came forward and gave her heart to the Lord. PTL. Trinity: We had a great trunk-a-treat.

But ...I just thank God for the new people in church and the mighty presence of His glory. One lady had told my wife the day before, that she was thankful that she had found the Church of God of Prophecy. She

brought a friend and said they would return.

Tips For Abundant Life Carolyn Guyton In His Hands. I was driving to work one day recently in a heavy rainstorm.

The rain was coming down intensely toward me, but it was not able to touch me. I was safe within the protection of the car. In the same way, we are safe and protected from the storms of life because we are living in God’s hands.

That doesn’t mean that we don’t see difficulties or have to live through tough times; it means that God is carrying us through these times and protecting us from the harm.

The Christmas season that is all about Joy and Peace, often comes at us like a storm. There are so many extra activities during this time of year – shopping and wrapping gifts, preparing and mailing cards, decorating, parties and special programs. Whether yours is the storm of this bustling season, or a true crisis of loss, illness or pain, God will help you if you: Allow Him. We so often try to fix our own problems. We may pray and ask God for help as a last resort, yet only after we have exhausted every idea we have to do it ourselves. God is always there for us and will help us if we will go to Him and then let Him work all things for our good. It may not be the way we would have done it or when we would have done it, but His ways are always better than ours. Let God take care of you!

Trust Him. “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2 When we consciously make the choice to live in that secret place, in God’s hands, we no Continued on next page..................

ANNOUNCEM ENT Prayer Line with Dr. W essly Saturdays 9:00 - 10:00 AM Dial 712-432-1690 Access Code: 650786# ATTENTION!!!

Alton COGOP is interviewing for a Youth Pastor. “W e are looking for someone called by God to the Youth Ministry”.

Contact: Pastor, Daniel Stronge, Alton C hurc h , 2 3 0 5 O ld A lto n R o ad , Birmingham, AL 35210, 2 0 5 - 2 3 3 - 0 0 1 3 , blendedminstries@yahoo.com STATE W EB SITES Alabama Update Blog: W W W .alabamaupd ate.blogspot.com Alabama W eb Site: alcogop.org Youth-Tim Beck W eb: www.experiencehydrate.com www.hydrateministries.com AVAILABLE FOR REVIVALS Joey Dobbs: Member of Sterrett Church of God of Prophecy. Telephone (205)7463017.

Earlean Emerson, P O Box 1863, Hamilton, AL 35570. Telephone (205) 921-5637.

Brenda Kay Pate, P O Box 156 W oodstock, AL 35188; 205-388-1087 or 388-3129. Fill in for pastors also.

Steve Puckett, 471 Co Rd 275, Arley, Al, 35541, Home: 205-295-5117; cell 864385-0626.

SPEAKING AND SPECIAL PROGRAM S: Anita Falkner Parker, 3615 Moody Pkwy, Moody, AL 35004. Telephone (205) 640-6207.

Brenda K ay Pate, P O Box 156; W oodstock, AL, 35188; 205-388-1087 or 388-3129.

M USICAL M INISTRY B reaking C hains, E lliot:2 5 1 -4 5 4 8946,breakingchainsworship@yahoo.com.

W EDDINGS Alton: James and Jamie Brockman were married October 4 th.

BIRTHS Carbon Hill: Ava Elise was born October 15 th to Josh and Stephanie Vinson.

DEATHS Summerbrook: Ruby Ubanks , a long

time member, went to her new home, December 8 th.

Tips for Abundant ...Continued........... longer need to figure things out. Instead, we just listen to Him and follow His direction.

God’s got this!

Rejoice in Him. Constant praise and worship to our Heavenly Father, the one and only God Almighty, will keep us focused on Him, living with His peace and joy. I love the way Sarah Young says it in the devotional book, Jesus Calling: “A life of praise and thankfulness becomes a life filled with miracles. Enjoy abundant life by overflowing with praise and thankfulness.”

Rejoice!

For free e-book, subscribe to Live! mailing list at liveyourfullestlife.com facebook.com/liveyourfullestlife; cguyton2@att.net

DECEM BER PASTORS/W IVES BIRTHDAYS James Caples Angela Fell Jeanette Hadley Gerome Key Connie Patterson Darlene Spears Laura Stronge ANNIVERSARIES M orris and Linda Bates Leland and Gail Lowery Shane and Tamera Pate Terry and Kathy Taylor

Anniston District T h e D istr ic t P a sto rs a n d th e ir Companions met at the Pell City Steak House for a Christmas Dinner and Appreciation Night. Brother Cephas Prophitt and his wife, Debra and their daughter, Gina were our guests. Brother Prophett was our speaker and we were so blessed by his devotion that he gave. The atmosphere was festive and joyful with good fellowship.

Ben Howard–Team Leader

It is Your Journey....Friend It matters not when the road is arough That you’re traveling on, my friend, If you walk upright and with confidence All the way to your journey’s end.

Don’t lose your faith when shadows fall, W hen the sun is hid from view, Don’t turn aside from the proven way To promise of something new.

M any souls have fallen along the way W ho could have continued on Had they not mingled among the thorns That beside life’s path have grown.

If you are weary and tempted to quit I would like to remind you, my friend, Awards are not for the ones who fall, But to those who endure to the end.

Author Prince A. Hartley

ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ

Future Events Hydrate Campus Tour

Dec 30-January 2 W inter Conference Camp Boothe 2016 January 10-23 D. M in School Gordon-Conwell Camp Boothe 18-22 Leaders of Leaders, Gordon-Conwell Camp Boothe M arch 06-19 D. M in School Gordon-Conwell Camp Boothe 17-20 Gordon-Conwell Camp Boothe 14-17 Leaders of Leaders Camp Boothe ÈÈÈÈÈÈÈ

Merry Christmas December 25, 2015

Kavaleuski Missionaries October 2015 Dear Friends, Peace to you, to your churches, and to your families!

Thank you for your partnership with us in our ministry in Siberia. It is an honor to be on the same team.

October was a very full month in our lives as missionaries. As you know, I left to Russia alone to bring our things from Belarus, to find an apartment to rent, and to prepare everything for my family’s arrival. For now, my wife and children are in Florida with her parents. Their documents are going to be ready soon, and they will soon be able to move to Russia. Please pray that all the documents will be in order and the process will be completed as soon as possible.

My visit to Belarus: At the beginning of October, I traveled from Russia to Minsk to pick up our belongings. The 2000 mile trip was not easy, but God blessed it. While in Minsk, I spent a few days fellowshipping with the church I had established two years ago, encouraging the believers again and again to move forward, serve God, and to take this world for Christ. On the way back to Siberia we got into a big storm.

There where many accidents all around us, and the police closed off roads; so we had to take a detour through the forest. Even through all this, God protected us, and we made it back to Yekaterinburg in one piece!

Church in Yekaterinburg: God put it on our hearts to not only serve in our local church that we started ten years ago, but also in churches in the whole Ural region.

Our goal is to build a team of 10-15 people who are on fire for God and filled with the Holy Spirit to preach and spread the Gospel throughout the Urals. With this team we will travel todifferent cities and villages, bringing the Gospel to every home, and building up the small local churches of our region. God willing, we also want to start as many new churches as possible. Now we are praying for God to guide us in choosing the right people who will commit themselves to this ministry.

We, Ekaterinburg church, are ten years old. October 16-18 we had a big celebration for the ten year anniversary of our church in Yekaterinburg. It is very popular to celebrate anniversaries in Russia, so we decided to combine our big celebration with a pastors and leaders conference. Through various vehicles like videos, dramas, prayers, and testimonies, we gave God thanks and all the glory for all that He has done the past ten years, bringing us through many challenges and growing us into a vibrant family church. Â

We are still renting the Methodist church because the city administration has forbidden the Protestant churches to rent any type of building. But the good news is that the Methodist church has become too small for us, so we have a great need for our own building.

Let’s stand in prayer for this together!

October Statistics

2015

CHURCH

SM

TITHES

CHURCH

SM

TITHES

Alexander City Aliceville Alton Altoona Anniston Praise Worship Bayou La Batre Bessemer Hopewell Rd Woodland Hills Boaz Boldo Brown’s Chapel Browntown Calera Harvest Chapel Carbon Hill Chickasaw Citronelle Clanton Collinsville Harvest Center Cordova Cottondale Cunningham Bridge Decatur Dothan Dry Valley East Lake Highlands Elba Elkmont Eoline Fayette-North Pointe Fort Payne Gadsden Living Waters Goodwater Joyful Praise Gordo Grant-Sanctuary Greenpond Grove Hill Hackleburg Haleyville Pathway Hamilton New Heights Happy Hill Harris Chapel Hartselle Hazel Green

27 11 55 23

2139.00 2040.54 4312.00 1442.72

47 9

5908.67 300.00

Huntsville Mastin Lake Bell Road Jasper Leesburg Lincoln Mentone Montgomery Moulton Munford Silver Run Odenville Parrish Pelham Pinson Parkway Poarch Red Bay Robertsdale Rock Cliff Sheffield Cliff Haven Short Creek Sterrett Summerbrook Tannehill Mission Tarrant City Trinity Worship Twilleytown West Blocton Winfield Family World Outreach

71 12 30 110 24 31 12 20 22 61 11 29 35 5 26 20 No Report 116 43 93 41 32 42 56 65 11 64 ---

8911.00 1601.00 3321.00 8041.80 1460.10 979.50 1185.00 3082.00 1200.00 4106.68 750.00 5816.46 1949.00 542.32 2628.00 1628.40

86 66 7 35 No Report 45

8605.00 13645.10 1065.90 1113.50 3879.30

68 96 19 14 14

--6346.92 2075.00 1950.00 3090.00

55 68 95 15 31 7 10 62 5 No Report 31 70 7

4312.50 4843.40 --722.00 2841.00 1668.56 1873.31 2369.05 416.00

56

4098.30

15 38 No Report 82 6 151 70 No Report 120 46 18 50

1789.06 3400.00

3688.62 2890.00 671.12

54019.84 907.00 23410.56 3948.91 6370.13 6031.16 -----

15405.00 3525.50 6889.00 4215.79 --3027.04 6459.80 3814.00 --3847.15

THE ABOVE STATISTICS WERE TAKEN FROM TREASURERS’ REPORTS RECEIVED IN STATE OFFICE AS OF NOVEMBER 2015

ALABAMA UPDATE Church of God of Prophecy P.O. Box 707 Bessemer, Alabama 35021-0707

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE A PAID Permit No.256 BESSEMER, AL ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Our Sympathy to our Ministers Families

Theresa L. Barrett December 7, 2015 Edith and late Johnny Ledbetter’s daughter

Robert Fleming November 16, 2015 Dena (Richie) Ables’ uncle

Jimmy Harbin November 21, 2015 Betty (C. T.) Branch’s brother

The Alabama Update is the official monthly publication of the Church of God of Prophecy in Alabama. Yearly subscription rate is $7.00. Statements in this publication referring to the Church of God have reference to the Church of God of Prophecy. Articles and news briefs submitted for publication must be received by the fifth of the month for publication, and should be sent to: Alabama Update, PO Box 707, Bessemer, AL . 35021-0707.

L. V. Jones, Editor Billie Ruth Jones, Assistant Editor C ========================================= SUBSCRIPTION BLANK Enclosed is $ for a year subscription ($7.00 per year) to the Alabama Update.

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