Voice of Hope

It hardly seems possible that another year has come and gone so quickly. It's as if it were only yesterday that we were looking forward to a new year filled with hopes and anticipation. During the year of 2008 we've seen much of the Lord's work done in Tennessee, as people have come to a life-changing experience with the Lord Jesus Christ, many have experienced the blessings of sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. A host of individuals have been baptized in water and many of our churches have seen their memberships increase as the membership covenant was administered. We've seen new churches organized and our youth camps, and other ministries have expanded. We look forward to 2009 as another great year for the Church of God of Prophecy around the world, but particularly in Tennessee. All of our staff wish you the best of the New Year and we trust the Lord Jesus Christ will bless and keep you.

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Sis. Mildred Clements, 85, wife of deceased pastor Bro. William Clements, passed away December 26, 2008 in Clarksville. The funeral arrangements are as follows: Visitation: Sunday, Dec. 28th, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday, Dec. 29th, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Funeral: Monday, Dec. 29th, 1pm Sykes Funeral Home 424 Franklin St. Clarksville, TN Ph. 931-647-1562 The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at Sykes Funeral Home with Bishop Ray C. Wynn and Minister David W. Taylor officiating. Burial will be in Coleman-Tatum Cemetery. Sis. Clements was born in Houston County, Tenn., on May 5, 1923, to the late Irvin and Mattie VonSchmitto Coleman. She was married to the late Pastor William Stokes Clements for 54 years, serving as a faithful pastor's wife, mother and friend to all who knew her. She graduated from Central School in Montgomery County on April 29, 1938, and was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy for 69 years. She was also preceded in death by three brothers,...

In just a few-short-weeks, we will begin our district meetings across the State of Tennessee. On the Saturday prior to each of these events, there will be a special time for POWERhouse Youth and Childrens meetings as well. Here is a breakdown of the events scheduled: Events begin at 3:00 p.m. Jan 3rd- Abundant Grace -Collinsville Jan 10th - Crossroads Jan. 17th- Lakeside Jan. 24th- Lawrence Chapel Feb. 7th - Arrowhead March 7th- Springplace

I must admit something. For the past 27 years of ministry, I've had a real appetite to read. I've read just about anything available, and have over those years gathered quite a diverse library. Most preachers are like that. About fifteen-years-ago, a church member put a book in my hands that absolutely changed my life. The book is A GRACE AWAKENING by Dr. Charles Swindoll, and it is such a good book that I've read it through multiple times. In fact, before the next year is out, I will probably read it again. I also have the habit of reading multiple books at the same time...no, I don't mean literally, but I will read a chapter or two a day of several bookss. I've found this to broaden my knowledge and help me to learn quickly. However, this past week, I bought a book that I started reading, and I literally kept reading it until I finished it this morning. For the first time in years, I've read it through without picking up the other three I was reading...

Some-time-ago, I switched my daily postings from this blog to a section of our State Website at: http://www.tncogop.org I noticed that we are still receiving web traffic here. If you are a regular (or occasional) reader of this blog and have not started reading it at the website listed in the previous paragraph, please email me at: ecmckinley@gmail.com and let me know you are still reading here. It is not an added problem to post to the two blogs, however, we want to serve you best, and to make sure you are keeping up with the regular posts at http://www.tncogop.org God bless. Bishop E.C. McKinley

Today I received the dates for International Youth Ministries events and I am sharing them now for your to make plans to attend. International Youth Conference October 9-11, 2009 Ridgecrest North Carolina International Youth Camp (IYC) January 15-17, 2010 Kentucky Campground Elizabethtown, KY I'm sure more information will be forthcoming from the International Offices, but this notice will help our youth ministries across Tennessee to set their calendars.

Yesterday, Debra and I joined a lively group of senior saints at the Roberts Tabernacle church for a Thanksgiving luncheon. Karen Coley and the ladies of the church organized and served a wonderful meal, along with some fun time and special singing. We are so thankful for the loving ministry that takes place in our churches across Tennessee so often displayed in these type events.

Debra and I arrived at the Lake Barkley resort center yesterday around 4:00 p.m. The foilage painted a beautiful picture before us, along with the deer feeding alongside the road and the water fowl on the lake. This has become an annual event as we travel to assist the International Women's Ministries Department in one of the many regional retreats conducted by Cathy Payne and her staff. As always, we met with old friends and made some new ones. People from places like California, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Dakota, North Carolina, Tennessee and even Montreal, Canada. What a lively crew! The theme of the weekend is "Awake" which is a continuation of our International General Assembly from Nashville this past August. As I write today, I am sitting at the desk overlooking the falling leaves and the still waters of the lake, reminded of the beauty of God's creation and His special purpose for all of us. I read from Psalm 33:1 in my daily devotion, "Sing joyful...

As many of our regular readers know, we have transitioned our daily blog posts to the Tennessee Church of God of Prophecy state office website. We are thankful to have a highly functional, relevant website. You may find the website by clicking here . This transition was rather quick, but I've decided to continue posting here, only instead of posting from the standpoint of the Bishop of the churches of Tennessee, I have decided this will be a good site to share information of a more personal nature, especially as it regards my personal ministry, travels, etc,. I do hope you will check back from time-to-time and see the changes we will go through. God bless. Bishop McKinley

Dear friends, Thank you for being so faithful in checking into our blog to keep up with events across Tennessee. With the state website coming online, we are now posting regularly at that site. To go there CLICK HERE and then click on the "blog" text on the main page to stay current. We do believe the new website will be a blessing to you, I hope you will check it out soon!

Last night, Debra and I were privileged to meet with the Pastors and their companions in the Upper Middle Tennessee Section for a time of fellowship, a great meal and sharing of information. Bishop F. Leon & Faye Graves, District Presbyter arranged the meeting facilities and did a great job on the choice. We are so thankful for their help and leadership. The meeting was in Lebanon, Tennessee and all but two pastors/companions were in attendance. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful pastoral team in Tennessee, and we know the churches are blessed. This is the first of meetings that will continue for the next Ten days. By that time, we will have had the opportunity for this type of meeting with all of our pastoral leadership in Tennessee, with the exception of the Crossroads area and all of the District Presbyters. The Crossroads area meeting will be later, and pastors will be informed of the meeting location and other information prior to the meeting.

It doesn't seem possible that seven years have passed since the horrible day that America changed forever. Extremists commandeered aircraft that turned modes of transportation into weapons of death and destruction. That day the lives of countless millions changed. The victims of the terrorists of 9/11 who lost their lives weren't the only ones who suffered. Their families have been forever affected and changed as their loved ones were taken from them so suddenly and in such a traumatic way. The victims at the Pentagon, the Twin Towers in New York and in a field in Pennsylvania were the result of hatred and twisted truth. We must never forget. Our soldiers have served on the battlefields of foreign lands, our family members were deployed to bring freedom and liberty from the hands of dictatorial regimes, and to protect our way of life. Please join me today in prayer for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines, for our law enforcement officers, emergency medical a...

I am sharing an email I received from Pastor Terry Lowery. I asked (and received) his permission to share the good news and he encouraged me to share all of it with you. Thank God for His goodness. Sir, Glorious day. We baptized 9 Sunday. Many backed out at the last minute. I probably need a little more time with them, but, so happy to be the one to baptize them. It was pay off time. We are now beginning a membership class for them. I want them to join the church. That is a change for me. I began to think that membership did not matter. I was confused about what that meant for a few years, but the Lord has helped me through that. That has hurt the local churches in America I believe. I am afraid many pastors have felt the same way I did. We had the Lords supper Sunday and ran out of communion cups for the first time. I ask that our children not participate unless parents are there to counsel them and ok the participation. I want them to feel a part, but know ...

Word has been received today from former Tennessee State Overseer, Bishop Eugene Weakley, regarding a special prayer need in their family. Sister Juanita Weakley ("Wonnie") received a diagnosis today of colon cancer. The area affected is small and they are believing God for a BIG miracle. The Weakleys are known for their love, concern, and prayer support for others in Tennessee for many years. As the family of God, let's join our hearts and prayers with them today believing for God's healing power!

What a privilege it was to join 27 other people in the new church mission started today in the heart of Nashville. Pastors Dennis and Young Didion recently moved from California to Nashville following the Lord's direction to establish a church-planting ministry here, and I am thrilled that Tennessee is sponsoring this great work. Pastor Dennis Didion is the Senior pastor of the New Life Church in Nashville and Pastor Young Didion is pastor of the Korean-language work. We were honored to have Pastor Lee from the Clarksville (Korean-language) Church of God of Prophecy, and Robert Minor there as well. The worship service was wonderful, especially listening to the singing in Korean and English. Dr. E.C. McKinley, State Presiding Bishop for the Church of God of Prophecy delivered the message and it was interpreted into Korean by Pastor Young. Please join us in prayer for this new work, and help us to see more church plants among the Korean peoples in Tennessee.

A stirring in my heart. That’s really the only way to explain what has been motivating me for some time now. As the gavel dropped concluding the 2008 International Assembly of the Church of God of Prophecy, it felt like something literally began to move in me. In our last state convention (2007) I shared my heart’s vision for the churches and ministries of Tennessee. It included a re commitment to the Great Commission of Matthew 28. I shared that we need to “refuse to be defined” and to press on to the things that matter most. I shared one statement that continues to wake me up in the early mornings, and I would like to share it with you again today. “We need to stop trying to be a denomination and return to our roots as a missionary movement. Dedicated to evangelism and discipleship of believers.” During the last assembly we heard the core values reiterated. We are committed to prayer, evangelization of the lost and the discipleship of believers. I can still hear and feel the...

The Following is an email received from Annette Taylor of the Harvest Partners Department at the International Offices: "Brother David, Just got an E-mail from Brother Ted Cooper reporting about Alto Salaverry, Peru… Attached are several photos of the new property and church building which were purchased through special Harvest Partners Level 2 project funding by our congregation in Lebanon, TN. Michelle Brooks-Young is the HP Coordinator for the Lebanon Church. To God be the glory for the wonderful things He is accomplishing through HP Mission-Minded congregations such as Lebanon, TN… Blessings, Annette" Read more of the correspondence: 'Hello dear brother Ted, Hope everything is fine with you, I am very happy because of the blessings we have received from God. Yesterday Jun 09, we purchased the property for ALTO SALAVERRY Mission church. It is a happiness for us. Brother Rafael coordinated with my Dist. overseer sister Edith Saladaña to purchase the...

Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing praises to your name. 2 Samuel 22:50 We praise God for the great services Sunday! Our Sunday morning Bible study classes are growing and the Lord is blessing. We are blessed with a great Christian Education Director, Barbara Brown, and each teacher. During the 11:00 A. M. worship service Brother Gene Kelly did a great job of bringing Word of God in song and preaching! The altar service was great and we praise God for one saved! It was so good to see Gene and Pat Kelly this weekend. Please continue to pray for their ministry as God is going to use them in many ways! Sunday night the district came together for our 5th Sunday night district service at Zion Hill Church of God of Prophecy. The house was full of people and the Spirit of the Lord. Pastor Mike Jennet brought the message under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Mike did an outstanding job of challenging the district to reach the lost for Jesus Chri...

Today, I am announcing the appointment of a new State Evangelist for Tennessee. Pastor Tim and Kimberly Farmer have been serving as senior pastor at the Lawrence Chapel Church of God of Prophecy since leaving their post as Regional Evangelists/Youth Directors for the Ohio and West Virginia region. With a burden to see the lost saved and the people of God revived, Tim and Kimberly are launching out into ministry in our churches, to help all of our congregations (no matter what size) to experience revival. Their energetic approach to ministry will be a real asset to our congregations, and with excellent musical and preaching ministry, there is no doubt you will be blessed. Based in Spring Hill, Tennessee (just outside Nashville), they will be traveling the state all but two weeks each year. I am encouraging our pastors to schedule a revival as soon as you possibly can, and plan on a move of God in your church. This appointment will be effective October 1, 2008, and it would be ...

We are pleased to announce the date for the 2008/2009 Men's Retreat has been confirmed. The retreat is set for April 17th & 18th at Camp Hickory Hills near Dickson, Tennessee. There are three special guest speakers confirmed for the retreat and we are sure you will be blessed by the anointed, inspirational and visionary ministry presented on this special weekend. Confirmed guests are: Bishop Sam Clements, North American General Presbyter Bishop E.C. McKinley, Tennessee State Overseer Bishop Tim Coalter, Pastor of the Peerless Road Church in Cleveland, Tennessee More information will become available, and a special mailing will be sent to all pastors. We look forward to seeing you there!

I am pleased to announce that ONLINE reporting is now available for ministers in Tennessee. I invite our ministers to take advantage of this new feature. I believe you will find it simple to use. Simply checkout our "Quicklinks" section at our state website. www.tncogop.org

Choice consists of the mental process of thinking involved with the process of judging the merits of multiple options and selecting one of them for action. Some simple examples include deciding whether to get up in the morning or go back to sleep, or selecting a given route for a journey. More complex examples (often decisions that affect what a person thinks or their core beliefs) include choosing a lifestyle, religious affiliation, or political position. This morning I met a man who was working what most would consider a dead-end job. While I see this man on a regular basis (on my way to the office) for the first time I wondered what was it that brought him to this place. Now while I don't usually "jump to conclusions" the obvious truth was staring me in the face. This man came to this point in life because of the choices he made along the way. We all make choices, and those choices lead to behavior, and behavior has consequences. As I sat there, watching this...

Today we learned that due to scheduling conflicts of our campground and our special guest speakers, the Men's Retreat will be rescheduled. Please check back here for updates, forthcoming within the next week. We are look forward to a Spring Date, possibly in April, and then firming up a date to permanently move the retreat to the fall of the year. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

We hope you will stop by and check out our new state website today. You will notice right away that this is a much-needed improvement, and will find new features. The biggest change you will find is a "flash" feature added to the site, as well as a "find a church" feature. We hope you will check it out today. CLICK HERE

Children's Ministries Presents: Back to School Bashes is coming to an area near you: August 30th: Paris Church of God of Prophecy: 3pm September 6th: Ridgely Church of God of Prophecy: 10am September 13th: Family Worship Center in Gordonsville: 3pm I believe we do a great job in preparing our children to return to school. We buy them the school supplies they will need and ensure they look their very best. God placed on my heart several years ago the importance of preparing our children spiritually to return to school. Our school system has our children for more hours per day than their parents and definitely more than our churches. I believe it is important to ensure they have a firm foundation in order to have what it takes to STAND and be IMMOVABLE when the times come to make a choice. I hope to see you at one the events listed above. If you need further information, please contact Kim Batson at 615-604-7484 or kim.batson@comcast.net .

I am happy to announce that a long-overdue update to the State Website is about to be unveiled. There may be some interruptions to the website for 24-72 hours as the new site is propagated on the servers around the world. I do believe you will find the new site more "user-friendly" and it will have a wealth of resources on it for your use. You will also notice new "flash" embedded and the following: 1. Local church contact info 2. Upcoming events 3. Video/audio files 4. Numerous other upgrades Please remember, that I will continue using this blogsite for a while until all of the upgrades are finished. So, please check in often. The new site is at the same link: www.tncogop.org God bless.

As we continue our thoughts on the future direction of the Church of God of Prophecy in Tennessee, I felt it appropriate to make mention of the importance of proper focus. As one who needs eyeglasses to see anything up close, I am reminded daily of the importance of proper focus. For instance, it would be easy to overdose on medications, misread balance sheets or even read the newspaper without the eyeglasses bringing everything into focus. It is my firm conviction that in the past, our church has lost focus. We have paid attention to some things so closely that we lost focus on what mattered the most. We've found it necessary to bring our focus back around to the things that are at the heart of God. While many feel like success is building larger churches or gymnasiums, the truth is that if these facilities are not used to win lost people to the Lord or to develop leaders, then we are only building our pride. Or perhaps there has been the quest to earn the degree in a give...

The last three posts have been my attempt to "lay down the gauntlet" for our churches and ministries in the State of Tennessee. We must die out to the "status quo" and move forward with a fervor to see the work of the Lord done. Far-too-long, we have settled for mediocre when great achievement was just around the corner. In ministry for the past 25 years, I've observed countless ministers (both lay and licensed) drop by the wayside, lose interest, lose hope, and just give in to the struggle of making it in the earthly world, forgetting the eternal struggle we are all in. This post is intended to be a rallying cry to do spiritual battle for the Lord. No longer will it be acceptable to be sidetracked by issues and opinions of men. No longer will it be acceptable to give a minimal amount of time, talent and treasure to the work of the Lord. Our willingness to be satisfied with the "good" keeps us from obtaining the "great!" No one should ...

In the past two posts, I've shared with you the first two of our three core values that will drive everything we do. The third value is ministry development. In recent years, the term "Leadership Development" has been applied to just about anything and everything, however, the truth is, there must be real focus on what development is. First of all, I am talking about more than preachers, but preachers are NOT excluded in process. In each of our churches there is an "army" of volunteers. They do everything from scrubbing the toilets to teaching Sunday School classes. The list is endless of the people who needs to share in the developmental process. It would be simple enough to have a series of classes aimed at the pastors, however, the truth is that ALL of us need development, and ALL of us are to be in the ministry in some way, shape or fashion. One-hundred-years-ago we were a missionary movement, punctuated by the cry "every member a worker and a wor...

I have now been in full-time ministry for twenty-five-years. There have been a lot of lessons along the way, most of them learned by experience. On more than one occasions, I have heard ministers, experts and commentators pronounce the death of evangelism. I've even heard some say that the "grace dispensation" has ended and no one will be saved in the near future. What is so sad is that usually this means the pronouncements become a self-fulfilling prophecy in the individual minister's life...they become unproductive, and instead of accepting the need to return to their prayer closet and altar of repentance, they blame their lack of spiritual productivity on the Lord Himself. You might notice that while I am commenting on evangelism, the word evangelization may be more appropriate. We've felt like there are only a few methods of reaching lost people, predominantly mass evangelism or personal evangelism, or revival-meetings. Isn't it interesting that even...

Earlier today I posted a video that mentioned the core values that drive the Church of God of Prophecy in Tennessee. For far-too-long, there has been (in some quarters) a lackadaisical attitude toward prayer in many of the churches in North America. There is an old axiom that goes something like this, "if you have a dinner the church will be full, but if you call a prayer meeting only a few will show up." It has been my misfortune to see this axiom fulfilled. When I was the Overseer of the Northwest Region, it was my privilege to meet and become acquainted with Sister Edith James. She was a Godly older woman who knew the value of prayer. One of our local churches had been closed and sitting vacant for a long time. Sister James took a pillow and a blanket and went to the local church for a season of prayer. Her prayer time was more than minutes or hours....actually she stayed there for days, with no food, praying and fasting on behalf of the ministry of our church in th...

By now, most of you from Tennessee are already home, but many of our brethren and their families are on their way back home. What a powerful International Assembly! It was punctuated by worship, fellowship and a renewed sense of vigor and vitality for the Church of God of Prophecy. Now as many of our church family are traveling home, we need to pray for them and ask for God's grace on their journeys. While we have glanced backward, we must now face forward and awake with a focus on prayer, harvesting and discipleship. As you may now know, I have been reappointed to serve the wonderful people of Tennessee. You have been so good to my family and I, and we will forever be grateful. We look to working alongside you to see the work of God done, and the Kingdom of God to rule in our hearts and our churches. A special thanks to everyone who assisted in the General Assembly from Tennessee, and if I were to begin to call names I might leave some out....but suffice it to say, whether yo...

Well, its over. The International Assembly of the Church of God of Prophecy came to a conclusion with a consecration service of the International Leadership of our movement. I have heard it said that this has been our greatest International Assembly in years, and I have to agree. I do not remember at time when there was more freedom of worship, and even in our business sessions a good spirit seemed to prevail. I do believe that our General Overseer, Bishop Randall Howard proved himself to be a strong leader to the constituency of our movement. I was so proud of him and the plurality of leaders that we call the General Presbytery. Please join me in prayer for him and his family as they try to recover from their hard work. I am also extremely proud of all of the people of Tennessee who made the International Assembly a success. Space does not provide for me to thank everyone by name, but suffice it to say that God knows the names and He has a special blessing for the servant leader...

Last night was another great night of celebration at the International Assembly of the Church of God of Prophecy. The Bahama Praise Team lifted us to new heights of worship, and with the special singing and giving the night was just beginning. Dr. Jerry Macklin, Senior Pastor of Glad Tidings Church of God of Christ in Hayword, California preached the word with power and anointing. The altar call as one of the most powerful I've ever witnessed, as pastors and State/National Bishops responded to the altar call with a fervor seldom witnessed. This will go on record as one of the greatest International Assemblies of a generation, and will not doubt set a high bar for future gatherings. Bishop Randall Howard, our General Overseer has done a marvelous job of moderating the Assembly, and the excitement level of our delegates seems to be treendously elevated.

This evening's service was a powerful one. Again the Bahama Praise Team led the congregation into worship, there was special singing, and an emphasis on ministry in Africa. Bishop Sherman Allen, General Presbyter of Africa preached a great message and the altar response was powerful. Tonight's service was shown on DAYSTAR network. If your system does not carry DAYSTAR you can watch it live starting at 6:45 Central Time at www.daystar.com , and it will be rebroadcast at midnight (also Central Time)

Last night, the evening was kicked off with the Bahama Brass Band and the Bahama National Worship Team. People danced and rejoiced as the Spirit of the Lord lifted us to new heights. We were blessed to have the General Overseers of the International Pentecostal Churches of Christ and the International Pentecostal Holiness Church address the movements. Bishop Vitally Vozsnuk the overseer of Ukraine preached a powerful message, assisted by translator Jerry Chalk. Everyone got a taste of what I experienced at the Ukraine Leadership Conference last October in the City of Kiev. We received a powerful word from the Lord and a great altar service. To God be the Glory!!!

Yesterday was filled with business, fellowship, worship and the Word. The General Overseer gave a report to the International Assembly of his work in the past two years, which preceded the business sessions of the day. The reports of the Financial director was followed by representatives of the outside audit firm, Capin and Crouse, then the Administrative Committee. These three reports were separate, but blended in that the three entities have worked together for the past two years. For the first time, we are able to report that our International and Domestic funds were audited with a qualified opinion, which means that the auditors found our financials to be in order. The Tomlinson Center Board gave their report, and the afternoon was filled with business of the BDP report. Everything presented was acceptec by the General Assembly. The evening service was kicked off by the World-famous Bahama Brass Band. I was priviliged to greet the delegates and present a gavel the General Ov...

Today begins the business sessions for the International Assembly. This evening will kick off with presentations, and I will have an opportunity to welcome the delegation to Tennessee. We are so happy that the Assembly is in Tennessee, and this may be the last time it is in our state for many, many years. I do hope many of you will be able to attend and take part. Please join us in prayer for the business sessions, this is the first time we will have the new proxy system fully implemented and we ask for your prayers. God bless.

I have already seen people from around the world at the convention center this morning. Proxy registration has began, and Londa and the ladies of Tennessee have been hard at work helping in the setup of the mission clothes closet. I dropped in earlier today and found them working hard at making a nice present available to the folks. Please continue in prayer with us for a glorious International Assembly.

For the past two days, we've been involved in meetings leading up to the General Assembly of the Churches of God of Prophecy. I've been blessed to sit among the great leaders of our church world-wide. We've had times of prayer, teaching, sharing and business. Many have already began their travels that will lead to Nashville, where we will sit together and worship. Please join me in prayer for the masses who are now on their way to Nashville this week. I will do my best to post daily the events of the General Assembly. God bless you!

For all of this week, General Assembly preparations have kept us totally occupied. As I write, we are in International Presbytery meetings, but I wanted to share a prayer request. Wilma Massengale, spouse of retired minister Luther Massengale was rushed to the hospital last night, and then transferred to the Oakridge Hospital with stroke-like symptoms. I will post updates as I get them.

A printed version of this list of events, and updated pastoral/staff appointment contact information will be released after the General Assembly to the churches in Tennessee. In an effort to help you plan your events, the following dates are posted: August 2008 August 12-17, General Assembly August 30, Back to School Bash at Paris, Tennessee (begins at 3:00 p.m.) September 2008 September 6, Back to School Bash at Ridgely, Tennessee (begins at 10:00 a.m.) September 13, Back to School Bash at Gordonsville, Tennessee (begins at 3:00 p.m.) October 2008 October 3-4, State Men's Retreat at Camp Hickory Hills October 4, reFRESH Women's Conference at Tullahoma, Tennessee (9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) October 11, reFRESH Women's Conference at Curtis Hill, Tennessee (9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) November 2008 November 1, reFRESH Women's Conference at Elizabethton, Tennessee (9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) November 14-16, Regional Ladies Retreat at Lake Barkley, Kentucky November 21-23, Power...

Dear friends and family, Thank you so much for your prayers and emails. You all have been such a huge encouragement to us. We took Alaiyah to the local children’s hospital on Sunday morning and they admitted her into the hospital and started her on a IV with strong doses of antibiotics. She will be in the hospital until Friday and is doing so much better. Praise God for your prayers. Praise God for a great children’s hospital here in Pontianak. Her fever broke Sunday night and is now normal. Her leg continues to heal well with the antibiotics and she is eating. Please continue to pray for her recovery. Tomorrow the Doctor said they will take her off the IV and start giving her antibiotics orally. Pray that as we take her off the iv that her stomach will be able to handle the antibiotics orally. Pray that the incision in her leg will keep healing. Pray for a complete recovery before we go to Salatiga to start language training. We won’t leave until we know she has recovered...

Brother David Allen, our camp manager at Camp Hickory Hills underwent surgery recently. He is now at home resting. I know that Brother Allen and the entire family could use our prayers.

Please join with me in prayer for the father of our pastor at Wrigley, Pastor Sammy Allen. Here is a portion of an email message I received from him earlier: "Thank you for all your prayers for my dad. We went home to North Carolina early Friday morning and got back to Dickson Sunday night. He was moved Friday night to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill, NC. The doctor was to let him know today when surgery was planned and I was suppose to get a call so that I could be there, but I found out tonight that my dad had surgery today. The surgeon was able to remove the shunt clean out the area and place a new shunt in. No part of his lung was removed. I talked to my dad tonight and he sounded pretty good. I'm not sure at this time when he will be going home. Thank you for praying. Sammy"

Yesterday and today have been filled with non-stop preparations and meetings for the General Assembly. The State/National Overseers will be traveling to begin meeting this week in Nashville. Will you please join me in prayer for travel mercies for all of those on their way to Nashville? Also, Sister Wilma Massengale is still in Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. This precious lady and her family need our prayer support, and I hope you will join me in prayer for them, believing the Lord is able to meet their need.

Debra and I spent most of the evening at the Vanderbilt Hospital Emergency Room with Sister Wilma Massengale. Many of you in Tennessee know that she is the wife of Pastor Luther Massengale, who just retired from the Crab Orchard church. The doctors are still performing diagnostic tests and there is no word (as of 10:45 p.m.) on what treatment plans are for her. Please join with m in prayer for Sister Massengale and the family tonight.

Please take note that I will no longer use the email account: overseer@tncogop.org due to our website changes to take place shortly. Some have left messages that they are getting a MAILBOX FULL return message. Please use the following address: ecmckinley@gmail.com

We are still looking for help with ushers and proxy registration. Anyone who would be interested in helping out, please contact Shaun McKinley at smckinley@cogop.org

Please join me in prayer for Sister Mildred Davis, the mother of our state treasurer and specialized ministries director Londa Richardson. She was injured in a fall earlier today, but she has been released from the hospital this evening. Most of you know that Londa's father is Bishop Allen Davis, retired overseer and general headquarters worker. We are trusting the Lord to touch the entire Davis family tonight.

Volunteers Still Needed for 95th Assembly! We are still in need of individuals to assist with key positions at the 95th International Assembly. Check out these great opportunities to serve! Proxy Registration Volunteers We are in need of individuals to assist with registering proxy delegates as they arrive at the Assembly. Not much is required of our registrars, you simply check off the name of the individual registering and provide them with their nametag and registration packet. The times we still have openings and need assistance as are follows: Monday (8/11) – 9 AM – Noon, Noon – 3 PM, 3 PM – 6 PM Tuesday (8/12) – 7 AM – 10 AM, 10 AM – 2 PM, 2 PM – 5 PM Wednesday (8/13) - 7 AM – 10 AM, 10 AM - Noon Proxy Scanner Operators Proxy Scanner Operators will be positioned around the main floor of the Sommet Center on Tuesday afternoon (8/12) and Wednesday (8/13) morning to monitor the scanning devices as proxies cast their expressions. There are no special qualifications needed for thi...

Please pray for my dad, Donnie! He was put in the hospital Monday with pneumonia and he is worse! They are moving him tonight from Wake Med in Raleigh, NC to UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill. He had a shunt put in a few years ago and it is infected. They are looking at removing it and 2/3's of that lung. It is a very serious operation especially for his health and age. My mom is also sick and she is not handling the news very well concerning my dad. Thank you Sammy Allen

Bro. McKinley: Greetings in the name of the Lord! I trust all is well with you and Sis. McKinley today. I have a request. Are there any Pastors or members in Tennessee that you could personally contact and recruit to serve as ushers in the upcoming Assembly? As of this note, we do not have the number of commitments to serve the Assembly that we have had in the previous years. Some of those who have served before will not be attending this year. I know that you are busy with other duties but if you think of anyone that you could contact I would appreciate it very much. You can have them contact me and I will follow up with them. Thanks for your help in this mater. Blessings! Michael Willingham michaelwillingham@insightbb.co...

From Paul Holt Greetings: Please help us get the word out! There are now a number of rooms available for delegates at the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville for the 95th International Assembly. The Renaissance is the host hotel for the Assembly. You may go direct from the Renaissance through a covered passageway (without going on the street) to the Nashville Convention Center and on to the Sommet Center where the general sessions will be convened. That rate at the Renaissance is $124.00 per night. Please call 615-255-8400 to make a reservation. The Renaissance is located at 611 Commerce Street in Nashville, TN 37203.

My older sister Judy lives in Northern Indiana. Over the weekend she was having difficulties with chest pains/high blood pressure while at work. She was taken to the hospital in Kokomo, Indiana, and after triage there was taken to one of the "Heart" center hospitals in Indianapolis. This is my older sister, (just turned 60) and she has had some medical difficulties through the years. I spoke with my younger Sister Mary at about 7:00 a.m. today and learned that she is in the cardiac unit there and awaiting some type of procedure to be done. Please join me in prayer for my sister. Thank you so much, God bless.

Special thanks to Pastor Verlin and Jean Thornton and the congregation at Restoration Fellowship Church of God of Prophecy. It was a program packed with exciting testimonies and song, and the food afterwards was great! Along with a couple of local politicians, we were blessed with the fellowship of our General Overseer, Bishop RE Howard and his son Brett, and our General Presbyter, Bishop Sam Clements and Linda. My lovely wife, Debra and our daughter Lindsey attended with me. We were thrilled to see a full house, and even a tent set up outside the building to handle overflow, which happened. God is good!

Tomorrow, July 27th is a special day to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Church of God of Prophecy in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The church recently decided to clarify its local mission by adopting the name "Restoration Fellowship" Church of God of Prophecy. Special guests for tomorrows services will be: The Honorable Chris Bratcher, Vice-Mayor of Murfreesboro The Honorable Ernest G. Burgess, Rutherford County Mayor Bishop R.E. Howard, General Overseer Bishop Sam Clements, North American General Presbyter I will be blessed to bring the message on this special occasion. The services begin at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Verlin and Jean Thornton extend a cordial invitation to one an all! Lunch will be served following the morning service.

General Assembly 2008

Tennessee will be hosting the "Mission Clothes Closet" at the International Assembly. This is a great opportunity to minister hands-on to missionaries from around the world. The Clothes Closet is open from 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday thru Thursday. Many volunteers are needed to assist in this ministry. Three volunteer shifts are available each day (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; 2:30 - 5:00 p.m.) Many have already volunteered and we say "Thank You!" However, we are very short of volunteers for the following: Monday, August 11th (11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; 2:30 - 5:00 p.m.) Tuesday, August 12th (2:30 - 5:00 p.m.) Wednesday, August 13th (2:30 - 5:00 p.m.) Thursday, August 14th (11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.) If you would like to volunteer, please contact londajoy@aol.com or Kim.Batson@comcast.net . Plan to be blessed for sharing your time and energy. We look forward to hearing from you soon! Londa R...

I received this information from Assembly Task Force Coordinator Paul Holt: THIS IS GREAT INFORMATION: Some asked about information on “tipping” at the International Assembly. The Emily Post Institute offers the following guidelines on tipping: Restaurant wait service (sit down) 15-20% pre-tax Restaurant wait service (buffet) 10% Restroom Attendant $0.50 - $3.00, depending on service Valet $2.00 to $5.00 Skycap $2.00 first bag, $1.00 per additional bag Doorman $1.00 to $2.00 for carrying luggage $1.00 to $2.00 for hailing cab $1.00 to $4.00 for going beyond the call of duty Bellhop $2.00 for the first bag; $1.00 per additional bag Housekeeper $2.00 to $5.00 per day, left daily Concierge $5.00 for tickets or reservations, $10.00 if hard to...

95th International Assembly August 12-17, 2008 Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee 2008 Assembly Lodging Every hotel has its own policy relative to deposits required, cancellation, penalties, parking and etc. For a good understanding, be sure to inquire about the policy of the hotel which you choose. Be sure to identify yourself as being with the Church of God of Prophecy International Assembly. Hotel websites are given to allow you to look at the property. When making a reservation, please call the phone number listed to get the Assembly rate. HOTELS WITH WHICH CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN FINALIZED Hilton Suites – Nashville All rooms are suites 121 Fourth Avenue South Nashville, TN 37201 Call (615) 620-2150 to make a reservation $133.00 0.09 miles from and adjacent to the Sommet Center www.hilton.com SOLD OUT Renaissance Nashville Hotel * 611 Commerce Street Nashville, TN 37203 Call (615) 255-8400 to make a reservation $124.00 0.14 miles from the Sommet Center www.mariott.com Homewood Su...