Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins National Celebration Program

DONE

Former Prelate, Venezuela Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church Of God In Christ

Derrick W. Hutchins, Sr. Bishop

The Farewell Celebration for

Derrick W. Hutchins, Sr.

Former Prelate,Venezuela Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction Church Of God In Christ, Inc.

Saturday, the seventeenth day of December Ten o’clock in the Morning Two Thousand Twenty Two Anno Domini

New Life Church Of God In Christ 3311 N Powers Drive Orlando, Florida 32818

OFFICIANT

His Grace, The Most Reverend J. Drew Sheard Presiding Bishop & Chief Apostle Church Of God In Christ, Inc.

Assisted by the General Board

The Right Reverend Derrick Wayne

Sr. Celebration of Life

Hutchins,

Jeremiah 1:5

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

The inevitable sovereign will of God was manifested on Sunday, August 25, 1957 when the Lord allowed Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins to enter into this Earthly Life from the lineage and parentage of the Elder Roy Hutchins Sr. and Mother Lozetta Hutchins. From the humble beginnings of a God-centered family, the Man-child born to this union, Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins, would grow and mature into one of the greatest and most prolific prognosticators of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Luke 1:80

“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit…”

Under the nurturing hands of his parents and the spiritual tutelage and guidance of his pastor the Bishop Roger L. Jones Sr., Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins grew in wisdom and knowledge of Jesus Christ at the Greater Holy Temple C.O.G.I.C. in the city of Flint, MI. It was here that he was taught the God of the Bible and subsequently received salvation coupled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Here at the Greater Holy Temple church, the seeds of a Great Servant-Leader would be sown into the life of Bishop Derrick W Hutchins. The spirit of a servant was cultivated in the embryonic years of his life as he humbly and willingly served his pastor and the Saints of God.

Isaiah 6:8

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

It was in the year of 1972 that Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins would hear the clarion call of our Savior to preach the gospel. As a sagacious and ardent student of the word of God, Bishop Hutchins, not only studied the ministry and art of preaching from his pastor Bishop Jones, but he also matriculated through the halls of academia, making full proof of his ministry, “being ready always to give an answer to every man that asked him a reason of the hope that is in him with meekness and fear…” Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins was a proud alumnus of the Saints Junior College and Academy of the Church of God in Christ in Lexington, MS. He furthered his academic pursuits and received a bachelor of science degree in psychology and philosophy from the Prestigious and Historic Tougaloo College in Jackson, MS. Continuing his pursuance of excellence in education, Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins entered the Masters Program at the University of Michigan. As a result of his commitment to excellence in academia and stellar tenure as a gospel preacher, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate degree from the St. Thomas Christian College in Jacksonville, Florida. For five decades, Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins travel the length and breadth of the United States; preaching thousands of revivals and crusades where souls were inspired, sinners were saved, the bound was set free, bodies were healed and lives were restored. From presiding bishops to the average layman of the church, phrases such as “a preacher’s preacher”, “a preaching machine” and “one of the greatest preachers in our church” were descriptive characteristics illuminating the ministry of Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins. He possessed an uncanny and unique anointing captivating the minds and spirits of audiences every time he proclaimed the word.

Jeremiah 3:15

And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Accurately described as a “leader who God has raised up and empowered for leader ship in the 21st-century”, Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins was chosen and anointed by God to preach the uncompromising, unapologetic and

unwavering Word of the Lord that transcended age, denominational and racial barriers, and touch the lives of a countless number of people from around the world. Even though he traveled as an itinerant preacher and evangelist, the call of the pastorate was upon his life. Under the leading of the Holy Ghost, Bishop Derrick W Hutchins established an organized some of the country’s greatest churches in the cities of Columbia, SC, Chattanooga, TN, and Orlando, FL. The impact of his life and ministry in these cities yet ring loud and clear even in his absence.

Ephesians 4:11-12

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

In November 2016, the former Presiding Bishop, Bishop Charles E. Blake, and the Presidium of the Church of God in Christ, with the ratification of the General Assembly, consecrated Bishop Derrick W Hutchins as a Bishop in the Lord’s church, appointing him as the jurisdictional prelate of Venezuela, South America. His ascension to the episcopacy was the glowing culmination of years of fervent and altruistic service to the Church of God in Christ; for it was in the year of 2000 that the Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins was elected to one of the highest offices in our denomination, the Chairman of the General Council of Pastors and Elders, which consisted of over 10,000 pastors and 40,000 ordained elders. For three consecutive terms, Bishop Hutchins was elected to this high office and grew the pastors and elders conference from a few hundred to over 5,000 in attendance during his first term. Once again, the leadership of the Church Of God In Christ looked favorably up on him and appointed him as the ViceChairman of the National Program Committee for the International Holy Convocation in 2015 and in 2021 Bishop Hutchins was appointed as Co-Chair of the Annual National Leadership conference of our great church.  Not only was he a Prince in the Lord’s church, but the Lord graced him with an apostolic anointing to expand the kingdom and work of God. For it was in 2020, that the Lord allowed this Servant-Leader to gather over fifty (50) pastors from around the southeastern portion of the nation who were seeking ecclesiastical shelter and covering as they fervently fulfilled the call of God on their lives. With this massive burden upon him, Bishop Derrick W Hutchins, humbly accepted the roll and responsibility as the establishmentarian of the Georgia Cosmopolitan Fellowship of Churches, gathering churches, as far as the states of Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia.

Acts 13:36

“For David (Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins) after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption…”

On Monday, December 5, 2022, Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins heeded the voice of our Savior calling, bidding him to take his rest as he entered into Eternal Life to receive his reward as a servant that has done well. In that moment, he joined the great cloud of witnesses from his family; his parents Elder Roy Hutchins Sr, Mother Lozetta Hutchins and brother Min. Roy Hutchins Jr….

Those left to cherish his love and to honor his heritage of holiness are his loving and devoted wife, Dr. Katrina Hutchins, his only begotten son, in whom he was well pleased, Pastor Derrick W. Hutchins II, the apples of his eye, his grandchildren Jordan Elyse and Derrick Wayne Hutchins III, supportive and devoted siblings, Pastor Dennis Keith Hutchins, Elder Randall Hutchins, Evangelist Bridget Hutchins, Brent Hutchins and Dinah Jones, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members. And lastly, the spiritual family of the New Life Church and the Georgia Cosmopolitan Fellowship of Churches.

We will continue his legacy by always “Looking Up and Moving Forward!”

Order of Homegoing Celebration

†Where Indicated Please Stand

QUIET MOMENTS

†THE PROCESSIONAL

The Deputy Adjutant Generals

The General Board

The General Secretary The Board of Bishops The Hutchins Family THE SEALING OF THE BIER

The Adjutant General †THE HYMN OF COMFORT

The Choir and Congregation “We’ll Understand It Better By and By” (page 8) †INVOCATION..................................................................... The Right Reverend Michael E. Hill, Sr. †THE OLD TESTAMENT

..........The Right Reverend Prince E. W. Bryant, Sr. Isaiah 40:28-31 THE CHORAL RESPONSE

C. H. Mason Memorial Choir “The Hallelujah Chant” †THE NEW TESTAMENT

The Right Right Reverend Malcolm W. Coby I Corinthians 15:51-58 †THE AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (page 9)................ The Right Reverend Charles H. McClelland THE SELECTION

The C. H. Mason Memorial Choir

THE NATIONAL TRIBUTES:

The Department of Women

Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis General Supervisor, International Department of Women Represented by Mother Argatha Gilmore Area 12 Representative and Supervisor, Florida Western Jurisdiction

The General Council of Pastors and Elders.................. The Reverend Michael Eaddy, Chairman

The College of Bishops

The Right Reverend Albert Galbraith, Jr., Chairman Represented by The Right Reverend Jimmie L. Williams, Prelate Florida Easter Jurisdiction

The Judiciary Board

The General Assembly

The General Church

THE SELECTION

The Right Reverend Martin Luther Johnson Chief Justice

The Right Reverend Lemuel F. Thuston, Chairman Represented by The Reverend Melvin Smith Vice Chairman, General Assembly

The Right Reverend Joel Harley Lyles, Jr. General Secretary

The C. H. Mason Memorial Choir

THE INTRODUCTION OF THE BISHOP

C. H. Mason Memorial Choir

The Right Reverend Brandon B. Porter Secretary, General Board, Church Of God in Christ THE SERMONIC SELECTION

THE EULOGY

The Most Reverend J. Drew Sheard Presiding Bishop & Chief Apostle Church Of God In Christ, Inc. †THE RECESSIONAL

We’ll Understand It Better By and By

VERSE 1

We are often tossed and driv’n

On the restless sea of time, Somber skies and howling tempests Oft succeed a bright sunshine, In that land of perfect day, When the mists have rolled away, We will understand it better by and by.

Refrain

By and by when the morning comes, All the saints of God are gathered home, We’ll tell the story how we’ve overcome: For we’ll understand it better by and by.

VERSE 2

We are often destitute Of the things that life demands, Want of food and want of shelter, Thirsty hills and barren lands, We are trusting in the Lord, And according to His word, We will understand it better by and by.

Refrain

VERSE 3

Trials dark on ev’ry hand, And we cannot understand, All the ways that God would lead us To that blessed Promised Land; But He guides us with His eye And we’ll follow till we die. For we’ll understand it better by and by.

Refrain

VERSE 4

Temptations, hidden snares Often take us unawares, And our hearts are made to bleed For many a thoughtless word or deed, And we wonder why the test When we try to do our best. But we’ll understand it better by and by.

1851-1933

Charles Albert Tindley,

Arr. by F.A. Clark

The Affirmation of Faith

† Where Indicated, Please Stand

†The Leader: †The Congregation: †The Leader: †The Congregation: †The Leader: †The Congregation: †The Leader: †The Congregation:

We affirm our faith in the Bible. We believe the Bible to be the inspired and only infallible written word of God.

We affirm our faith in God. We believe that there is one God eternally existent in three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

We affirm our faith in the Blessed Hope. We believe in the blessed Hope, which is the rapture of the Church of God, which is in Christ, at His return.

We affirm our faith in Repentance and Salvation. We believe that the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Jesus Christ. We believe that regeneration by the Holy Ghost is absolutely essential for personal salvation.

†The Leader: †The Congregation: †The Leader: †The Congregation: †The Leader: †The Congregation:

We affirm our faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing for the human body in answer to believing prayer.

We affirm our faith in the Holy Ghost. We believe that the baptism in the Holy Ghost, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it.

We affirm our faith in Sanctification. We believe in the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling, the Christian is enabled to live a holy and separated life in this present world.

Amen.

Ministry of Comfort Entrusted to Interment

Premier Funeral Service & Event Center 211 Edgewood Drive Apopka, Florida 32703

Phone: (407) 703-2012 Woodlawn Cemetery 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road Gotha, Florida 34734

Honorary Pallbearers

The Board of Bishops Church Of God In Christ, Inc.

Active Pallbearers Acknowledgement

The National Adjutancy

The Family of the late Bishop Derrick W. Hutchins, Sr. wishes to acknowledge with deep appreciation, the many comforting messages, floral tributes, prayers, and other expressions of kindness and concerns evidenced in thought and deed.

The Presidium

THE MOST REVEREND JOHN DREW SHEARD, Presiding Bishop & Chief Apostle

The Right Reverend Jerry Wayne Macklin, First Assistant Presiding Bishop

The Right Reverend Lawrence Marcellus Wooten, Second Assistant Presiding Bishop

The Right Reverend Brandon Burdett Porter, Secretary

The Right Reverend Michael Eugene Hill, Sr. Assistant Secretary

The Right Reverend Sedgwick Charles Daniels

The Right Reverend Darrell Lynn Hines

The Right Reverend Prince Earl William Bryant, Sr. The Right Reverend David Allen Hall, Sr. The Right Reverend Malcolm Winslow Coby

The Right Reverend Charles Henry McClelland

The Right Reverend Elijah Hosea Hankerson III

The General Board Member, Emeritus

The Right Reverend Charles Edward Blake, Sr., Presiding Bishop Emeritus

The General Secretary

The Right Reverend Joel Harley Lyles, Jr.

The Board of Bishops

The Right Reverend Albert Galbraith, Jr., Chairman

The Right Reverend Roger Lee Jones, First Vice Chairman

The Right Reverend William Henry Watson, III, Second Vice Chairman

The Right Reverend Adrian Dumarr Williams, Secretary

The National Adjutancy

The Right Reverend Dickerson L.S. Wells, Adjutant General

The Reverend Glenn Arthur McKinney, Deputy Adjutant General

The Reverend Herman George Platt, Deputy Adjutant General

The Reverend John Brandon Smith, Deputy Adjutant General

The Reverend Nickolus Clay South, Scribe

The Reverend Waddee Bernell Thoroughgood, Adjutant Apostolic