Voice of Hope

As the week closes, a multitude of our leaders from all levels of leadership are traveling home (of course the closer delegates are home by now) with their hearts filled from the past four-days of teaching, worship and fellowship at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Convention Center in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This was a joint effort within the leadership ranks of our churches to reach out and develop ourselves to be better ministers of the Gospel, particularly to the young harvest around us. We had a good representation from the pastors, and local church leaders in Tennessee, and everyone I spoke with enjoyed the conference and received a great deal of material and fresh inspiration. Bishop Sam Clements, the North American General Presbyter, along with Trevor and Ailene Reid, International Youth Ministries Team and Katherine Creasy, International Children's Ministries director were the co-hosts of the conference. Along with these ministries, all but two of the North American Oversee...

We would like to make the following announcement: Preregistration deadline for POWERHOUSE is this Friday, October 29th. The first 200 to preregister will receive a free POWERHOUSE t-shirt. Also available for pre-order only are POWERHOUSE hoodies. For details on how to pre-order, please visit www.camphickoryhills.org/powerhouse . Our newest announcement is that DECEMBERADIO will be in concert Friday night after the service. For more information on this Grammy award winning band visit: www.decemberadio.com . Promo materials have been sent to each pastor. For digital copies of those file, you may visit the CHH website noted above to download the files. Thanks, Jeff & Kimmy Jones CHH Coordinators

Tennessee Women’s Ministries (Women of Grace) is pleased to announce two fall conferences for women to be held at the following locations: Jackson - Saturday, October 23rd & Grimsley – Saturday, November 6th Each day of celebration will be from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Cost is $10.00 which includes lunch. Churches having five or more attend from their local congregation may register for the reduced price of $8.00 each. This year’s conference theme is: “A Gathering Place” Jesus promised, “Where two or three were gathered together in His name, He would be in the midst of them.” As women gather for worship and fellowship, we believe there will be a gathering of renewal, reviving, and refreshing. All ladies are invited to attend and bring a friend. Applications have been mailed to all congregations. Registration is also available online. Please register today by clicking here or www.tnwomenofgrace.com -- Post From My iPad

For those of you who check this blog regularly, you might notice that I haven't posted to it for one week. This was an intentional and planned absence from all things technical and ministry-related. Most State Presiding Bishops take vacation either the week before International Presbytery meetings and International Assembly, or the week after. This year, I decided to waited until the middle of October. This would enable me to meet with the pastors and other leaders in small groups, and answer any concerns, questions or problems that might arise as a result of assembly or IP meetings. This is also the week that my two grandchildren celebrate their birthdays. Reagan is now four-years-old and Madison is now one-year-old. The one thing that I came away from this week with is the genuine knowledge that I needed a time or rest and relaxation. This is something all ministry leaders need, and should be required to do...take time off. In a recent meeting, one of our pastors said, ...

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By now, many of you have heard of the release of the results of a study by ARKS, commissioned by the Administrative Committee of the Church of God of Prophecy. To read a related article in the Cleveland Daily Banner CLICK HERE You input is vitally important, and will indirectly affect the outcome of this report. Nothing will be completely decided unto the International Assembly of 2012, but now is the time for your voice to be heard. Direct your questions/comments to vision2020@cogop.org

This past week has been a particularly full one, and I am thankful that today is the start of a new week. I was blessed to minister in revival services at the Restoration Fellowship Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where Verlin and Jean Thornton serve. Special thanks to Glynis (Varlack) Algood for leading worship and for Noelle who has a way of lighting up the whole room when she enters. The revival began on Sunday and continued through Wednesday evening. After the services on Tuesday night, I drove to Cleveland to participate in a briefing from ARKS, Inc concerning a properties study that was conducted. You will see this information in a previous post. Your input is welcome at the international level, and I would encourage you to share your thoughts on the report. More info is at www.cogop.org along with an email contact at vision2020@cogop.org After the briefing in Cleveland, I drove back to Murfreesboro for the final night of services, then back home. On Thursday, it was ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Church of God of Prophecy International Offices Office of the General Overseer   For Additional Information, Contact:   Shaun McKinley, Communications Director (423) 559-­‐5103 smckinley@cogop.org NEW REPORT LATEST STEP IN CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY’S VISION 2020 STRATEGY     A new report from ARKS, Inc. consulting firm, released on Oct. 6, 2010, has provided the Church of God of Prophecy  a clear picture of its property value and presents multiple options for implanting the Church’s VISION  2020 strategy. Findings of the report were presented at a special meeting attended by the General Presbyters, members of the Assembly Standing Committees (BDP, F&S, and Administrative), the Tomlinson Center Board, and the International Offices staff.   VISION 2020, presented during the 96th International Assembly this past July, stresses three core values of the Church, including prayer, the harvest and leadership development.   During his annual report to ...

"Hello Bro. McKinley, I wanted to let you be aware that we have had a death here at Crossroads last night. Sis. Betty Johnson-Sharp. Her mother, Sis. Brownie Roberts and one of her daughters, Sis. Rachel Gipson, are members here. The family wishes to have the visitation and funeral all here at Crossroads. Visitation will begin on Thursday from 12 noon-8pm and on Friday from 9am-3pm with the funeral at 3pm. God bless! Bro. Gary"

Attention pastors in the White Bluff/Dickson area of the state: Due to the death of a member at the Crossroads church the Core Values Meeting scheduled for Thursday, October 7, 2010 has been cancelled. Our pastor/companion fellowship dinner is still scheduled for Tuesday, October 12th at 6:00 pm. at the Farmer's Restaurant. I will simply share the Core Values with you after our meal that night. Please help me get the word out to your fellow pastors.

The final night of revival in Murfreesboro is Wednesday evening. Services begin at 7:00 p.m. I am so grateful to the pastors and churches in the Murfreesboro area. -- Post From My iPad

The revival services continue at the Restoration Fellowship COGOP in Mufreesboro. We are so blessed to have an active participation from the district churches, and the folks of the local church in Murfreesboro. The services continue this week through tomorrow night with special singing, testimonies and ministry. We do hope you will be able to join us for at least one of the remaining services. -- Post From My iPad

Revival services began this morning at the Restoration Fellowship Church of God of Prophecy in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. In the morning services, Pastor Verlin Thornton ministered the word, and tonight I was privileged to continue the revival messages tonight. It was a blessing to see so many in attendance, and special appreciation to Pastor Jimmy Jernigan and his family for joining us. I was so thankful for Glynis Varlack Algood for leading the worship services this week. If you possibly can, we would love to see you in the services, they continue from Monday through Wednesday of this week beginning at 7:00 p.m. -- Post From My iPad Location: Blue Ridge Trce,Hendersonville,United States

Debra and I were privileged to be with Pastor Bobby and Cindy Peoples at the Gordonsville Family Worship Center for homecoming services. As always we are given such a warm, cordial and loving welcome, and were thrilled for the move of God in the worship service. Afterwards, the lunch was great. I was also blessed by something I saw happen there. Yes, when Angel came to the Lord and then during the lunch. I watched as each child came through the line, escorted by an adult. It was touching to see the adults give such special care and attention to the children. Thank you to Bobby and Cindy and to the church for "living out" the gospel in front of us! -- Post From My iPad

As I write today, I am looking forward to ministering at a series of revival services at the Restoration Fellowship Church of God of Prophecy, located at 675 DeJarnette Street in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Pastor Verlin and Jean Thornton have extended and invitation, and I would like to join them in sharing my hopes that you and others from your church will be with us. The service schedule is as follows: Sunday at 10:00 A.M., with Sister Londa Richardson Sunday at 6:00 P.M. with Bishop E.C. McKinley Monday at 7:00 P.M. with Bishop E.C. McKinley Tuesday at 7:00 P.M. with Bishop E.C. McKinley Wednesday at 7:00 P.M. with Bishop E.C. McKinley Special guest worship leader is Glynnis (Varlack) Allgood. I am excited about what God will be doing in these services, and expect His Presence in every service, and I do hope you will be able to join us for at least one service. -- Post From My iPad

I have received the following update of events from Pastor Charlie Erickson: OCT 16 - Fall Festival (games, food & fellowship) OCT 31 - No evening service - we will be going to Meridian Baptist for praise & worship NOV 12 & 13 - Abundant Life Craft Bazaar -- Post From My iPad

I am looking forward to being with Pastor Bobby and Cindy Peoples Sunday morning for homecoming services at the Gordonsville Family Worship Center near Hickman, Tennessee. The church is located at: 204 Lancaster Hwy Hickman , TN 38567 We do hope you can be with us at 10:00 a.m. -- Post From My iPad

Last night, Debra and I shared a wonderful time of fellowship and a good meal with the pastors in the Crossville, Tennessee area of our state. As I was leaving the meeting, one of our pastors whom I have deep respect for asked me a question and made a comment that made me think. He said, "you are always telling us to take some time off to rest, but you never tell us how to do it." When I realized that during the dinner meeting I fielded two cellphone calls, and did some "on-the-spot" counseling, I could clearly see that I wasn't leading by example. It dawned on me that he was right. We all recognize the need for rest, and we readily point to the Lord's command to remember the sabbath and keep it holy. The old joke is, "even the Lord rested on the seventh day, and it wasn't because He was tired." He was letting us know that man has to have rest...the opportunity for body and mind to catch up and rejuvenate. Like anything else, it must be ...

Most of you know that we have been requesting prayer for Isaac Tinch (who is currently in Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville, TN) a young boy from our Rickman church in Tennessee. If you would like, you may read the posts on this blog by looking in the archives. Last night I met with pastors in the Crossville area for a fellowship dinner. Appropriately, the meeting led with a report from Pastor Bary Ray about this special need, and then we all collectively prayed for Isaac and his family. His parents, Charles and April have been told that the doctors are sending Isaac to Scottish Rite Children's Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. As you can imagine, the costs are extremely high for all of this treatment, and the family is depending daily on the Lord's help and intervention. We are setting up a fund to assist the family in this difficult time, especially for travel expense as Isaac is moved to Atlanta. Please join me in prayer about what God would have you do for thi...