Alabama Update May 2016

ALABAMA

UPDATE THE CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY

Summer Ministries

MAY 2016

Bringing Prayer Back In our lives and our churches, prayer must be our greatest action

The greatest action we can take in any situation is to pray. Yet, it is often the last action we take. Should prayer not be the first choice we make? Why should it take a bad diagnosis, a major business loss or a big problem to move prayer up on our daily action plan?

I believe now is the time to bring prayer back into every fabric of our personal lives and into the worship services of our churches.

When We Pray In our independent world, we must refuse to declare independence from God. Dependence on God is essential for our very survival. Consider these thoughts on prayer and its importance in our lives: 1. Prayer is dependence When we pray, we are depending on God. When we do not pray, we are depending on ourselves.

Therefore, pray. Talk to God daily. Talk to God throughout the day. Carry on a continual communion with God. Talking to yourself may make you feel better, but only God can help you through your life. Talking to others may provide some counsel, but Jesus will counsel you, coach you, and be your constant through your life.

The Bible calls Him the “Wonderful Counselor.”

2. Prayer is faith When you pray, you are declaring absolute dependence on the Lord! Therefore, pray whenever you need to exercise any level of faith, because prayer is faith. When you pray rightly, you are trusting in the Lord completely.

In fact, faith is built up greatly when we pray with and for one another. I regularly pray with and for others. My ongoing daily prayer list is continually changing. Prayer builds faith in my life. It creates expectancy for God to move in the situation.

3. Prayer is action When you start your day with God, you are taking action upon your day. When you pray anywhere about anything, you are taking action.

Oftentimes, we take matters in our own hands. Our impulsiveness or impatience shows we are depending on ourselves and not upon God. Please remember; Prayer is not inaction; prayer is your greatest action.

Let me reiterate: The greatest action you can take is prayer. This does not eliminate other actions. If a person needs a job, we do not simply pray for a job, we also take the action of trying to find a job. But prayer is a matter of priority and prominence in your life.

Now Is the Time to Bring Prayer Back into Our Churches Christians want prayer back in the schools; however, we ought to first bring it back into the worship services of our churches! Most churches spend more time in their worship services promoting the ministries of the church than praying. Jesus wants His church to be a house of prayer for all the nations!

When is the last time you experienced an entire Sunday morning worship service dedicated to prayer?

Has this ever occurred? Has prayer received more than a small focus in any worship service you have attended recently?

If not, why? If we are not filling God’s churches with passionate prayers that are focused with passionate prayers that are focused with purpose, what are we filling our worship services with? Could it be that we are not seeing that our greatest need is for the power of God to intervene in our lives, our church and our

nation? Could it be that we do not connect the deep need for prayer with the church’s greatest mission–to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the nations?

Four Characteristics of Prayer Services Some churches are committing entire worship services to the ministry of prayer. Four characteristics build an effective prayer service: 1. Teaching Each prayer time needs to be based on a teaching time from God’s Word. We stand on His Word, not on our words or passions.

2. Principles Each prayer time should be focused on principles like repentance, revival, surrender to the Lordship of Christ and the filling of the Spirit, spiritual awakening, and reaching the world for Christ, beginning in your own community.

3. Led by the Spirit Worship and prayer moments should be led as God’s Spirit leads, not necessarily according to the order of service.

4. Expression Hymns and worship songs are given to us to express our worship of Jesus Christ as our Lord. These can be powerful expressions as transition moments, moving from one prayer time to the other.

Just Imagine What could happen in your church if an entire Sunday morning service was turned into a prayer service! You could experience God moving in ways unlike you have seen in a long time, perhaps ever. People could come to Christ. Personal repentance could result in a releasing of the Spirit upon your church, unleashing the church to greater worship and ministry.

Here is what I know: If we do not plan to pray, we will not pray!

It is past time for us to prioritize prayer, both personally and in the church. For far too long, we have seen what we can do; it is time for us to see what God can do. This can only happen when we pray.

Acts 4:31 says, “When they had prayed, the place where they were assembled was shaken and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak God’s message with boldness.”

EACH DAY ....................................................................................................................................................................................

MAKE prayer your first choice. ....................................................................................................................................................................................

REALIZE that when you pray, you are demonstrating great faith in God. ....................................................................................................................................................................................

LIVE in a way that proves prayer is important to you. ....................................................................................................................................................................................

MAKE prayer a priority in your church. ....................................................................................................................................................................................

IN YOUR life and your church, pray like it matters.

Ronnie Floyd, Decision, April 2016, Pray for America, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Family Worship Every Day God’s Pioneer A. J. Tomlinson---1865-1943 Father, Mother, Children should be closely united together in the Master's service

I think the proper way for a newly married couple to commence housekeeping is with erecting a family altar for family worship and saying grace at the table. Thank the Lord for the food and ask His blessings upon it before a mouthful is eaten. It is true we cannot expect everybody to do this because many are not even saved until later in life, but how much better things would be if this were so! And our people are to train their children while small so when they marry they will expect nothing else but family worship and grace.

I was not raised to pray and love the Bible, but the very first year my wife and I began to keep house and live to ourselves an incident occurred that put our family worship going and it has never ceased to this day. Thanks to God for getting us started off right in that respect. And even now, after forty-eight years have sped by, the incident is fresh in my memory. We commenced housekeeping in a little frame house, sixteen by twenty, on the side of a country road in Hamilton County, Indiana, My mind runs back to that time and place as if it were yesterday. The special feature is the starting of our family worship. True it was a small family, only two of us, but it was enough to claim the promise of Jesus being in the midst.

We were married in April and this incident occurred in July. The hired men and myself were making hay. A storm came up and we ran our wagons into the big hay barn only partly loaded. I left the horses with the men and hastened to the little house about a couple of hundred yards away to be company for my wife during the storm. I reached the house and ran through the kitchen into the other room and sat down with my face toward the door that led into the kitchen which I just came through. Mary was standing in front of me and we were smiling at each other because I had reached the house by the time the rain began to fall.

Suddenly came a crash--a thunder peal that almost deafened us. Mary was the first to speak. "That must have struck the barn," she said. "No, dear, it's closer than the barn, it's our house," That ball of fire dropped out of that storm cloud right into the top of the chimney, down through the cook stove and out at the lower door and started toward us, but for some cause it turned right back around the stove and crashed out through the ceiling and weather boarding of the house. I saw it as it came out of the stove and made a dart in our direction and suddenly stopped as if speaking to us, then darted back and disappeared. It was a flash of lightning and did not take as long as it might appear from the way I am telling it. I felt it was the voice of God. I pondered the words in my heart like Mary, the mother of Jesus. I climbed up in the attic to see if any fire had started. When the storm was over I finished my day's work and hurried back to the house. In a little while I asked my wife for her Bible. I did not have one. I turned to some place---just any place and began to read. I said "It was the voice of God that spoke to me this afternoon sayings “Read the Bible, pray, start your family worship tonight!" The fear of God was upon me. It was the same with Wife. She could have read and prayed but I was afraid not to do it myself. My prayer was quite awkward, but it was enough to start our family worship.

I cannot say that I was saved that night, but we kept on with our family prayers until God did save me. Only two of us, which was a small family, but that was the beginning of our family worship. We erected our family altar and built the fire upon it that has never gone out. For forty-eight years the family altar fires have never gone out. I have been away from the home most of my life, but that faithful wife kept the fires burning. When I was on the mission field and Wife was taken sick and I could not get home to her for so long, the children were trained to keep the fire burning. They were also faithful in saying grace at the table.

Always when I came home, I found the altar fires still burning. I have been away from home months at a time, and when I came home I never failed to find Wife and all the children keeping up the family prayer. "The children grew up in it and have never departed from the practice."

That is one service the Lord put me into before I was ready. I was not knocked down in the road as Paul was, but that flash of lightning was as if God spoke to me. I knew nothing about the Bible. It was a long time after that lightning flash that spoke to me before I read about Paul's experience, I could almost think it was the Lord that spoke to me just as truly as it was He who spoke to Paul. I could hardly give it in terms as Paul did, but it had the effect in starting me out for the Lord and family worship just as really as the flash of light at midday sent Paul to the Gentiles.

We first started our family worship at night just before retiring. This was carried on for years. After we launched out in the Master's service more we changed our worship to the morning. Many times we would have it both night and morning. Then we always prayed at night, each one to ourselves and had the family worship in the morning. When we were out so much at night in revivals and other services we could not get together so well. The morning is still our time for family worship. When I am away, Wife carries on. Now that the children are grown and have homes of their own, Wife still keeps the altar fires burning.

When she is alone, she reads and prays just as if others were present. When we two are alone we read and pray--just two of us, as when we first started on that memorable night just a few hours after God spoke to us as He did.

Family worship every day. What is more beautiful than for Father, Mother, children to gather around the altar fire and read while all are quiet, then all kneel together and pray? We used to pray around. I guess my children cannot remember when they began to pray. Then they never did quit. They still keep up their prayers. And don't you think this is a glorious consolation to their parents? So many parents do not have the joy of hearing their children pray. I scarcely know how to sympathize with them because my children have always prayed.

Just here I think of the broken homes. They never learned the pleasure of Father, Mother and all the children joining in as fast as they grew up and learned to talk. Probably they did not want it that way. Probably they do not want it that way now. It may be possible that I am the only one in the wide world that was called to family prayer by God's voice through a stroke of lightning. Paul is the only one that we ever had any record of that was called to the Gentiles by a flash of light at midday. My experience was just as real, Probably others would have started family worship if God had called them as He did me. I wonder why the Lord was so mindful of me and got me started so early in life when so many others scarcely ever get started---and when such a few families are made happy by having Father, Mother and children participate in this sacred service all their lives. When I think of this, I mediate upon it with a feeling of deep sacredness. I wish I could be the means of starting a thousand families into the sacred service. They need not wait to be started into it by a flash of lightning. I suppose only one will have such a frightful experience to drive him to his knees. Only one couple will be spoken to just in that way, but a thousand couples could surely commence this noble service tonight and never stop it, just as well as we.

Family worship was one of the subjects discussed in our first Assembly held January 26 and 27, 1906. And how singular that I am preparing a message on this subject just thirty-one years later. It will be read by thousands thirty-one years after that discussion. Doubtless it will be exceedingly interesting to read the exact words written concerning that discussion and the result: "Family worship was discussed by Andrew Freeman and others. “It is, therefore, the sense of this assembly that we recommend and urge that the families of all churches engage in this very sacred service as least once a day and at a time most convenient to the household, and that the parents see that every child is taught, as early as possible, to reverence God and their parents by listening quietly and attentively to the reading of God's Word and getting down on their knees during the prayer. We recommend further that the insiders and deacons of each church use their influence and make special effort to encourage every family in the church to engage in this devotional exercise every day. And that the deacons ascertain the proper information and make a report of the number of families that have been induced to take up this service during the years the number that make it a regular practice and those that do not, and carry such report to the yearly or General Assembly," Away back there, thirty-one years ago, these were some of the duties assigned the deacons. They were to visit all the families of the local church and encourage them to have their family worship. Then they were required to report their findings at the Annual Assembly each year. This has long since been lost sight of and no such reports are now given at the Assemblies. But I do think every effort should be made to encourage all of our families to have their daily family worship. This is the way to help take care of the children and train them to reverence the Holy Bible and prayer. In the home is the place to train the children to get down on their little knees and close their little eyes and listen reverently while Mother and Father pray. Then they should be taught to pray some little prayer. For convenience at the close of their family worship the whole family may repeat the prayer in concert that Jesus taught His disciples to pray.

Too often children grow up and get out from under the family government too early---then it is not long till you hear mothers calling for prayers for their children. This could have been avoided if the proper government could have been observed in the home. Father, Mother, children, should be closely united in the Master's service, and the place to commence this close union is the family circle and their daily observance of the family worship. I can scarcely think of a more beautiful sight than to see parents and all the children in a group together engaged in family worship. Then the parents have the children under their control. Keep them in family worship as long as they remain at home, and when they get a home of their own they will be very sure to start their own homes with family worship. They could hardly be satisfied without it.

I wish I could be the means of starting a thousand family altars burning by this message. Nobody can say that it's not good. Who would say anything against the father of a family calling his children around him in the capacity of family worship?

See that proud father of a well-governed home as he takes up the Bible at the regular hour for worship and the children gathering around without a word being said because they have been trained? Mother has a special place to sit and every child knows it's place. Even the baby will stop its cooing long enough for Father to read the Scripture lesson, then watch them all as they get on their knees without being told. This is one picture that used to affect strangers or friends that came into our home to spend the night.

A description of a well-regulated home where the family altar fires burn is given by the psalmist in Psalms 127:3-5; 128.

Read and think and reflect and pray for others who may not have started this more than wonderful family worship.

I am enthused about family worship the same as I am about all of our other teachings and practices. I think one of the duties of the pastors and deacons is to teach our families to engage in family worship. I think family worship can be made one means of making preparation for the coming of the Lord. I would here say with one of the songs that is sometimes sunglasses "Do not neglect your family prayer,". As I become more and more enthused about family worship and the worth of it for our people, I feel that same kind of feeling that often comes over me when I am touching a subject that I believe God approves. I wonder if it could be a fact that some of our previous fathers and mothers are neglecting their family prayer and a thus depriving themselves and their children of one of the most important means of grace provided and recommended by the first Assembly when the light of the last days Church was just beginning to rise over the eastern hills. Come on friends, let more of us avail ourselves of this means of grace we call FAMILY WORSHIP.

Chickasaw: Our men and women had separate outings to eat out.

They enjoyed wonderful fellowship together.

Our youth did an amazing job planning, making decorations and overseeing our Easter party.

Cunningham Bridge: W e are praising the Lord for the many answered prayers at Cunningham Bridge.

Two families were blessed with jobs. One received healing of a painful abdominal condition.

A couple of our teenager, young men, have been restored in their faith. M any demonic strongholds are coming down.

Praise the Lord of His loving kindness.

Gordo: The Gordo Church has been praising and thanking God for His blessings. W e had a wonderful baptism service with three being baptized. W e enjoyed a special singer, Miss Hartley from Tuscaloosa and a guest youth speaker, Michaela Vice, who was very inspiring to everyone, young and old. God is good and He is blessing His people. W e have completed remodeling our sanctuary and Sunday School classes. W e have new carpet, new windows, and new paint throughout the building. God is always Good!

Greenpond: W e serve a Risen Savior. The Easter season has been outstanding where Communion and feet washing were observed.

The Easter program was wonderful and the presence of God was manifested in a marvelous way. The youth and children’s ministries are to be commended for a job well done. One hundred and twenty-six were in attendance with 1,500 eggs hunted and found by the children. Refreshments of hot dogs and chips were served afterwards. God is blessing our church.

His Spirit is overflowing in each service. Many lives are being changed.

Huntsville-M astin Lake: W e are rejoicing for the outpouring of God’s blessings on Mastin Lake during our revival this month.

Bishop Eric W ashburn and his wife Lori, were with us from Sunday until W ednesday night. The power of God’s Spirit was at work each service from the worship through the altar. Each service people responded to the altar call and was seeking God. One shared that we had all generations (3 months to 80) and all races (Caucasia, African American, Indian, Nigerian). This is the

Bride of Christ-all ages and all races. W e had several testify.... from salvation to special touches and healings. W e know of three salvations and numerous healings.

Two of our testimonies came from some newer people to our church that expressed God confirming things in their life and their walk with the Lord. Prayer and fasting of our church and its leaders paved the path for a wonderful move of God. W e are not there yet, but we are well on our way becoming the Church God desires us to be for our city and region. W e thank the churches and pastors that came in support of this revival.

Our attendance was good each night and many did not miss a service. Bishop W ashburn and Sister Lori did an outstanding job of flowing in God’s Spirit, ministering to our people both in the altars and in conversations. I would recommend them for any church looking for anointed Spirit led and Biblically sound teaching and preaching.

Jasper-Airport Road: Praising the Lord for His wonderful blessings! The Lord is truly blessing our church. Our attendance is on the rise and the Spirit of God is moving in our services. Lives are being changed and people are being healed. All glory to God! W e were praying for 75 in attendance for Easter and one soul to be saved, but God blessed us with an attendance of 87 and 5 souls saved. Praise the Lord! W e also had guest singers, “Point of Honor”, who blessed us with anointed singing.

A fantastic lunch followed including Pastor’s delicious bar b que! The ladies out done themselves on side dishes with a ham and baked goods!

W e started having W ednesday night prayer–praying for God to bless us as we begin to minister to those

around us! On Thursday nights we are having home prayer meetings.

Our first at the Pipers’ home, the Lord came into the place and shook us to our knees. The power of God fell and all those present felt a powerful move of the Holy Ghost! W e are continuing our home prayer meetings and God is meeting with us. In His W ord He said “If all will draw nigh to Him, He will draw nigh unto us” God is always true to His W ord! Praising the Lord for what is happening at the Airport Road COGOP. To God be the Glory! W e have also added a new patio to our fellowship hall. God is good.

Leesburg: W e held a dinner and sweets auction to supplement our Vacation Bible School fund and raised over $2,000.00. The children enjoyed a giant Easter egg hunt the W ednesday night before Easter. They hunted eggs with flashlights and everyone received a prize. Under the leadership of Frankie Ashley, the Youth Ministries presented an outstanding Easter drama on Easter Sunday morning portraying Jesus Life from the manager to the Resurrection. Approximately 35+ of our youth attended W inter Jam. M entone: On Easter Sunday we welcomed five new members into the church: Casey and Jessica Battles, Ed and Cindy Gentel and Jim Marbutt. Thank God for these and for the new family (John and Terri Lackey) who has been coming and (she) plays the piano. God is blessing us daily.

M oulton: W e had a wonderful Easter service with anointed singing and preaching. There were 35 in attendance.

Sheffield-Cliff Haven: W e thank God for the three new covenant members we received this month.

Short Creek: W e began the month with the powerful movie “W ar Room”. W hat a blessing this movie proved to be! W e celebrated Pastor Green’s birthday on Family Night by presenting him with a “Money Tree”. W e love and appreciate our Pastor.

He is a go-getter! W e celebrated the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday with a powerful worship service with 61 in attendance. W e had a fund-raiser dinner in which we were

blessed with over $700.00. There has been a lot of sickness and home-going of loved ones this month, but we have also experienced miracles of healing as well. The W omen’s Ministry is making plans for a “Paint Party” where each lady will paint a beautiful cross on canvas. Also, a mountain retreat is in the plans for May. Sterrett: W e were in revival with Evangelist Barry Absher.

T a r ra n t: O u r la d ie s h o n o red th e Presbyterian Manor with their “Monthly Birthday Party”. Everyone has enjoyed the W ednesday night Bible study, not only do they get fed from the W ord of God, but supper as well. M any people gathered at the city park to participate in the Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt and the next day even with the glooming weather, the community came together again for their Annual Easter Sunrise service in honor of the Resurrection (great attendance). The Tarrant singers put on an Easter Cantata “From Bethlehem to Calvary”and at the end of service we had a visitor to drop by...the Easter Bunny, he had baskets for all the kids.

God is good all the time.

Trinity: Another amazing service at Trinity W orship Center.

A man who began attending church, came up and wanted to rededicate his life to Christ, and he wanted to be filled with the Spirit of God. It is great to see someone receive the blessing of God. W e enjoyed a District meeting at our location. Brother Smith brought the W ord to us from the heart of God. W infield City Family: W e praise God for His blessings. W e had 120 for Easter service.

This has been our highest attendance so far. W e praise God for our youth who brought forth a Easter Resurrection Dramatization to “He Lives” under the direction of Joe Smith and W es Hallman. There was also two people saved in this service. Praise God! W e are thanking God for the move of His Spirit where the altar filled up, there were several messages given and interpreted. This is answer to prayer. W E are excited!!! The sheet rock is going up in the new building. It won’t be long, Lord willing! Keep praying for us!

John 15:7 “If ye abide in me and my words abide in you ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you!”

Harvest Partners Belarus Hennadyi Kernayhytski In February there was a youth service in Mogilev. At this events youth from the church invite their non-Christian friends,

classmates. First, they play games, talk about life and then there is a spiritual part.

Such services are planned to be organized once a month. The youth of the church shows the friendship and examples of a real Christian life to their friends unbelievers. A non-christian continue to come to the youth services.

great blessing for our families and our church!

Also, there was a meeting “Love for the whole life” in Minsk. It was an evening for family couples, couples who are just going to get married and those who are interested to listen to some helpful tips about a family life. As most people were couples, we wanted to create a celebration where they would just relax, have fun time and learn some valuable information. So we created a pleasant atmosphere, decorated the room, put the tables with flowers and candles, put together 2 couples at one table. Also, there were waiters who served drinks and a special fruit dessert. At first, we had an entertaining part, where the couples sang love songs, competed for the best poems about love and just watched funny videos about a family life. Then we prepared a talk show, where the leaders of home-groups shared their experience in different areas of a family life: finance, holidays, relationship with parents, dealing with conflicts and etc.

Everyone was able to ask questions and get the answers. It was a great time for everyone!

Letting go. Don’t we so often try to hold on to things over which we have no control, or really shouldn’t be controlling? W hy do we do that? There could be many reasons – we think no one else would do it the way we want it done, we want to know what is happening all the time, we think it is our responsibility and that we have to do it, or maybe we don’t even realize this is what we are doing. And what about those spiritual matters that only God can take care of? W e are doing ourselves a disservice and often preventing others from their own growth when we hold on too tightly or too long.

This month in Minsk there were many joyful events involving children. One family from our church, home-group leaders, adopted a three-month baby girl Milana. Doctors warned that the baby was not completely healthy, she had problems with the development of the joints, and that they as parents would have to work a lot with her to help her to become healthy. But it did not stop them from accepting the baby-girl into the family. In the church we blessed Milana and prayed for her. A few weeks later, we learned that in the examination, the doctor said that there were no more problems and she is healthy!

In our church there are a lot of newborn children and some are to be born very soon.

By tradition, we do a celebration called “Baby Shower” for each expectant mother.

W e prepare a beautiful table, prepare a small program, and give gifts from the church, and people also bring gifts. Only in 2016, we have already organized 4 Baby Showers. (To compare, in 2015 2we had 5 Baby Showers in total). And this year there are still more to be organized! And it is a

Tips For Abundant Life Carolyn Guyton

People. W hether it be our family members, our church members, or our employees and coworkers, it is not our responsibility to control others. Yes, we need to closely care for small children, but there comes the time when we start letting go and letting them do things for themselves. If we don’t continue this gradual process, they will not grow into mature adults. The same holds true for those in our congregations and our workplaces.

Those in leadership or supervision must allow for more responsibility to be delegated to others. This is how everyone grows.

Things. Matthew 6 tells us not to lay up treasures on earth, but in Heaven. W e need the necessities of life and we enjoy having those extras that make life more pleasant. It is not what we own, but how we feel about what we own, that is important. W hen we hold on too tightly to our possessions so that they become what we value most in life, then our treasure is here on earth. W e cannot take the physical possessions with us. W e must let go of the importance of this earthly life and spend more of our resources – love, time, and money–on spiritual, eternal matters.

Ourselves. The only way to truly let go of people and things is to first let go of ourselves. How do we do that? By spending quality time in God’s presence surrendering ourselves to Him. In Sarah Young’s, Jesus Calling, it states, “Take time to bask in the Light of my Love. As you relax more and Continued on next page.....ABUNDANT

ANNOUNCEMENT Prayer Line with Dr. Wessly Saturdays 9:00 - 10:00 AM Dial 712-432-1690 Access Code: 650786# ATTENTION!!

Alton COGOP is interviewing for a Youth Pastor. “We are looking for someone called by God to the Youth Ministry”. Contact: Pastor, Daniel Stronge, Alton Church, 2305 Old Alton Road, Birmingham, AL 35210, 2 0 5 - 2 3 3 - 0 0 1 3 , blendedminstries@yahoo.com Pinson Valley: Seeking a Youth Minister, call 470-9591.

STATE WEB SITES Alabama Update Blog: WWW.alabamaupd ate.blogspot.com Alabama Web Site: alcogop.org Youth-Tim Beck Web: www.experiencehydrate.com www.hydrateministries.com

AVAILABLE FOR REVIVALS

Anita Falkner Parker, 3615 Moody Pkwy, Moody, AL 35004. Telephone (205) 640-6207.

Brenda Kay Pate, P O Box 156; Woodstock, AL, 35188; 205-3881087 or 388-3129.

MUSICAL MINISTRY Breaking Chains, Elliot:251-4548946,breakingchainsworship@yahoo. com. ****************************** Continued.................... Abundant Life more, your grasping hand gradually opens up, releasing your prized possession into My care.” Only when we are securely resting in God’s presence can we be assured we are holding what He wants.

Let go of everything except God and He will give you the abundant life that only comes from Him. Seek every day for the abundant life that only comes from God. Carolyn Guyton, Speaker and Life Purpose Coach Subscribe to Live! mailing list at liveyourfullestlife.com and receive a free gift facebook.com/liveyourfullestlife; cguyton2@att.net

Joey Dobbs: Member of Sterrett Church of God of Prophecy.

Telephone (205)746-3017.

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

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

Steve Puckett, 471 Co Rd 275, Arley, Al, 35541, Home: 205-2955117; cell 864-385-0626.

SPEAKING AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS:

DEATHS

Eoline: Carolyn Nell Duncan was called to her final resting place February 24th.

Short Creek: Our dear Sister Evelyn Jones passed this life on April 7th. We will miss her. She was a wonderful blessing to us. Heaven has surely gained a sweet, loving angel!

MAY PASTORS/WIVES BIRTHDAYS Steve Barber Gwen Caples Liz Knowles Leland Lowery Dewayne Smith Sylvester Smith Terry Taylor Neva Wright ANNIVERSARIES Timothy and Ann Douglas

Future Events Hydrate Campus Tour June Summer Camps 5-11 12-18 19-25 26-29 30-7/4 July

Collegiate Senior Discovery PeeWee Outreach

International Assembly September 9-10 Women’s Conference Embassy Suites October 28-29 Men’s conference Camp Boothe November 3-6 Gordon-Conwell December 30-Jan 2 Winter Conference Camp Boothe ******************************

Summer Camps

Col. 2:7

ROOTED 2016

ISa. 61:3

Camp Boothe 2016 PROGRAMS

DATES

Calendar of Events TUITIO

AGES

DIRECTORS

Gordon Conwell

3/17 - 3/20

/A

/A

Bishop & Sister Jones (205) 425-1905

Collegiate

6/5 - 6/11

$165.00

15-19

ic & Haley Jackson (256) 460-2121

Senior

6/12 - 6/18

$165.00

12-14

Josh & Crissy Lynn (256) 714-0571

Discovery

6/19 - 6/25

$165.00

9-11

Denise & Rodney Junkin (205) 394-2265

PeeWee

6/26 - 6/29

$80.00

6-8

Sandy & Curt Knowles (910) 308-1746

Outreach

6/30 - 7/4

$110.00

8-12

Trey & Casey ini (662) 321-7477

Women’s Conference @ Embassy Suites

9/9 - 9/10

$85.00

16 & up

Liz Knowles (205) 412-7462

Men’s Conference

10/28 - 10/29

$45.00

16 & up

eal Wright (256) 443-3739

Gordon-Conwell

11/3 - 11/6

/A

/A

Bishop & Sister Jones (205) 425-1905

Winter Conference

12/30 - 1/2

$70.00

14 & above Leaders

Tim & Bethany Beck (205) 994-1897

***For Summer Camps: All applications must be postmarked by May 15th. Applications postmarked after this date will be charged a late fee of $25.00.

To avoid this fee, the application and tuition must be paid in full and received as stated above. 100% of tuition is transferable within the same year, but non-refundable after day of registration. All Summer Camp registration will begin at 2:00 p.m. Gates will not open until appointed time. Due to insurance regulations, registration ends 24 hours after beginning of registration. We are grateful to everyone who volunteers his/her time. For Summer Camps only, ALL SNACKS are included in the tuition cost. Everyone will receive the same amount of snacks. Please do not bring extra snacks. Drink and vending machines will be available for extra snacks. Pick up time on the last day of camps in 8:00 a.m.

Applications are available online at: www.campboothe.org Make all checks payable to: Camp Boothe Mail all applications to: Camp Boothe P.O. Box 240 Greenpond, AL 35074 Phone: (205) 938-2444 Fax: (205)938-9197

March Statistics

2016

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

21 10 57 28

2406.00 2823.58 4868.74 1287.50 5444.15 550.00

96 No Report 30 111 22 34 15 23 18 60 --35 42 6 22 31 No Report 125 41 92 44 39 45 78 --10 73 ---

7138.60

59 6

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

103 86 --42 No Report 35

9546.00 12002.50 2983.28 991.65 3867.98

77 112 23 21 16

--6750.89 2229.00 2188.00 2780.00

49 60 90 15 34 7 12 54 --No Report 32 89 8

4874.00 6424.00 --1062.00 2961.50 1581.68 2458.43 2111.30 393.00

53

3695.40

15 45 No Report 94 12 173 68 No Report 90 49 5 ---

--7947.53

3055.72 3148.00 714.02

11309.16 558.32 26781.88 5547.58 9624.23 7651.39 ---

5840.00 9498.15 1214.40 4080.50 759.00 2860.35 1420.00 3086.81 4257.43 3127.00 330.00 2579.35 2302.95 19065.00 3727.00 4928.00 3398.80 --3017.14 9204.75 3811.00 --3296.58

THE ABOVE STATISTICS WERE TAKEN FROM TREASURERS’ REPORTS RECEIVED IN STATE OFFICE AS OF APRIL 2016

Reports from Previous Months February Aliceville Boldo Dry Valley

10 -----

1360.54 917.64 1448.43

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

Joyce Flippo April 24, 2016 Deceased former pastor Edward Flippo’s wife

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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