Voice of Hope

Each year, the Church of God of Prophecy world-wide enters a special time of prayer, fasting and seeking for the Lord's intervention into the ministries of our church.  There are a multitude of resources available from our International Offices.  Simply go to www.cogop.org and follow the links. In Tennessee we will begin our District Meetings where great emphasis will be placed on the necessity of Spirit-filled living.  All around us, there are multitudes of people perishing without the hope we have embraced. I challenge each and every church to be involved.  Join us as we seek the Lord for His Presence in our churches and ministries throughout this great State.

My family and I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Each year, Bishop Robert and Ruby Ledford host a Chritmas breakfast for the leadership and their spouse in upper East Tennessee.  Debra and I were privileged to be with them again this year at the breakfast at the Arrowhead Church in Knoxville. We count it an great honor and privilege to serve among such faithful servants of God.

The IRS has announced New Mileage Rates for  The IRS has announced that the optional mileage allowance for owned or leased autos (including vans, pickups or panel trucks) will decrease by .5¢ per mile to 56¢ for business travel beginning in January 2014. This rate can also be used by employers to reimburse employees tax-free under an accountable plan if they supply their own autos for business use and to value personal use of certain low-cost employer-provided vehicles.   The rate for using a car in 2014 to get medical care or in connection with a move that qualifies for the moving expense will decrease by .5¢ to 23.5¢ per mile. The rate for charitable driving remains unchanged at 14¢ per mile.

Friends, I found a few minutes this afternoon to sit and collect my thoughts.  It seems as if our lives have been in a whirlwind since spring of 2013.  As many of you know, our State Convention in Murfreesboro was a wonderful event, and that the Lord ministered in such a very special way.  I will always be thankful for God's Presence in our meetings, whether they are small committee meetings or large events like State Conventions or International Assemblies. As we left the convention, our faces were set straight ahead for the wedding of our daughter Lindsey. She had a marvelous wedding and it was a privilege to celebrate with Lindsey and Andy in their life together.  During all of this time, Lindsey has stepped up her ministry efforts and had preached in multiple churches.  One thing that is heart-warming to me is that she and Andy are being invited to our local churches and beyond to other states.  Most recently, the PowerHouse event was an overwhelmin...

Bishop McKinley, Sister Carroll's arrangements are as follows: Visitation Monday 5-9 and  Tuesday 1-9 at Vanderwall funeral home in Dayton. The funeral is  Wednesday at 4  at the Vanderwall funeral home. I also sent you a Facebook message with these arrangements. Bless You My Brother, Eric ISent from my iPad

I am saddened to report the sudden passing of Sister Devonnia Carroll of the Dayton Church.  Devonnia served alongside her husband, the pastor, Rev. Bob Carroll.  I will post arrangements when received.  Please join me in prayer for the family.

Final arrangements for Reverend James Manus. Family will receive friends at Jennings and Ayers Funeral home in Murfreesboro Sunday, Dec 1st., 3-7pm. and Monday, Dec 2nd 11am-1pm. Homegoing service at 1pm in the chapel. Rest in peace Brother Manus. We'll see you in the morning!* *Thanks to Myrna Hill Moore

I learned only moments ago from District Presbyter Rick Lyles of the passing of Pastor James Manus. There are no arrangements at this moments, but I will post them here when I learn of them. Pastor Manus was a well-loved minister in Tennessee. Please help me pray for the family at this difficult moment.

Well friends, Thanksgiving Day is later this week.  I know that is probably not a newsflash to you, but I thought I would mention it in case you jumped right into Christmas preparations...after all, there are about five days less of shopping and Wall Street needs for you to pay attention. As usual, the television, radio, newspaper advertisements are coming at us in all directions, and if that is not enough, chances are that you will be receiving phone calls from marketing agencies to buy products. Christmas decorations will increasingly appear around you and before long Frosty the Snowman will start playing on the radio. With all that in mind, I would like to encourage you to slow down and realize that this week should be set aside to remember our blessings and pray for God's intervention in our lives.  To spend time with friends and families and enjoy the blessings of good food and fellowship. I trust you will find much to be thankful for and that you will remember th...

Bertha Cox Scroggins member of the Signal Mountain Church passed away.   CLICK HERE for funeral arrangements.  Please join us in prayer for the family.

The arrangements have been made for Sister Sue Stutts, the mother of our Sunbright Church Pastor, Bishop Jerry Robbins.  Her online obituary is now available, announcing the dates and times for visitation, funeral services and interment.  Please join me in pray for Sue's family.  To read the services at Curry Funeral Home by CLICKING HERE.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                             FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: November 7, 2013                                        Ken Davis, Vice President of Institutional Advancement 423-478-7707 kdavis@ptseminary.edu                                                                                        Pentecostal Theological Seminary Announces  Transition CLEVELAND, TN , November 8, 2013  –   Dr.  Ste v en J. Land , President of the  Pentecostal Theological Seminary announced the sele...

For quite some time, my wife has constantly told me the attic needed to be cleaned out.  As you know, the attic is in the upper part of our house.  Well, today she made it perfectly clear that TODAY is the day it will happen. You could not imagine the amount of "things" I have collected over the years. Having been an accountant I had the multitude of boxes of records and files that I just had to keep. These were quickly sorted and put in a safe place, and then I moved on. Next, being a preacher, I sorted through thirty-plus years of archived sermons.  A difficult task for any preacher...I wanted to read through each one, which only took away valuable time.  There was a lot of GOOD stuff there, but some that surprised me.  Some was prophetic and some was...well I'll just leave it at that. Then, the computer paraphernalia of cords and connectors for both PC and Mac.  Most exciting, I found that I possess some equipment that has grown in value beca...

Attention Pastor's Wife This year's Pastoral Wife get-a-way is scheduled for December 6-8, 2013 in beautiful Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. This is a time of relaxation and fellowship. Email your questions to: londajoy@aol.com

Isaac needs your help!!  As many of you know we have been trying to raise money for an all-terrain wheel chair for Isaac. The chair we are looking at is an Action Track Chair. You can see the chair by clicking on this link  www.actiontrac kchair.com .  The cost of this chair is right at $17,000 and none of it is covered by insurance. This awesome chair allows Isaac to sit or stand depending on the activity that he would be involved in so he can be included in everything that we do outside.  This past summer we had the opportunity to let Isaac try one of these chairs. A picture of this is attached below. The thrilled look on his face is all it took for us to know that this is the answer we have been looking for. This chair will enable Isaac to get back outside doing all the things he loved, even being able to play in the snow or go exploring in the woods!  We have been approached by a friend, who told us that God had laid it on his heart to help in this en...

M.A. Bouldin was promoted to heaven this week.  He was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy in Campaign, and his precious wife has served as local church clerk/treasurer for 55 years. While we grieve for the family, we know he is in the presence of the Lord.  Here are the arrangements. Sunday Visitation:  11am - 9 pm.  Monday visitation:  10am - 2 pm.  Funeral  Service at 2:00 p.m. Monday  Highs Funeral Home 101 N. College Street McMinnville, TN  37110 (931) 473-2137 www.highfuneralhome.com

COOKEVILLE — Memorial Services for Mr. Donald Claude Roby, 77, of Cookeville, will be Thursday, Oct. 17, at 2 p.m. at the Church of God of Prophecy. The family will receive friends Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of the service at the church. Mr. Roby entered into rest Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013, after an extended illness. He was born Feb. 3, 1936, in Colebrook, N.H., to the late Claude George Roby and Eva Anderson Roby. Mr. Roby grew up in Colebrook, N.H. He was an excellent student and was also a multiple-sports athlete while in high school. He then attended Plymouth College before volunteering to serve our country in the military. Stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., Mr. Roby became a member of the 101st Airborne Division. Serving under Gen. Westmoreland, he received a sharpshooter award and an outstanding field soldier honor. After he won his post-boxing championship, he humbly performed a week of K.P. duty assigned to him for challenging Sgt. Rucker to a boxing match, which Ruck...

There will be a Fall Youth Rally on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Paris Church of God of Prophecy located at 4088 Highway 218 Bypass. The day will begin at 12:00 noon with lunch followed by an afternoon of fun, fellowship and classes taught by Lindsey Schreiber.  There will also be a class held by Jeff Jones for the youth leaders, pastors and parents. The event will conclude with an evening of Worship beginning at 6:00 p.m. and message by Jeff Jones. Please RSVP your youth group to Kim Joyner at 731-234-0034 or Dee Parker at 731-694-2860. THANK YOU!!!! -- Dee Parker, Agency Benefits Coordinator Benton County Board of Education 731-584-6111

Greetings to the wonderful churches on the Plateau, Cookeville Pastor Thelma Roby's husband of over 50 years passed away in their home this morning after around 12 years of illness. There will be a memorial service 2:00 PM at the Cookeville church, Thursday afternoon. The family would appreciate your prayers and contact in this sad time. Bishop McKinley will return to Tennessee from an important church business trip this Monday. I have a special request by Wayne & Jan Nabor for Genevia King.  She has been having special medical procedures in Nashville this week If you have special announcements or needs, feel free to contact me and I will alert the churches. Sincerely, Freddie Harding Cumberland Plateau District

Last month, our travel schedule was so heavy that we spent only a few nights at home.  That is not so unusual, but it seems the schedule is heavier than usual.  Tonight, I am writing from the seventh floor of a hotel in Nassau, Bahamas, with everything packed and ready to fly home tomorrow.  My body is tired m: my spirit is stirred.  Not long ago, someone asked me, "why do you keep going like you do?  If you don't slow down you are going to wear out."  Its really simple. I have only a short time of influence left in this world and I want to make a difference.  As we rode the bus to downtown Nassau yesterday, the girl with her young child in the next seat couldn't have been more than 13-years-old.  I witnessed to one of the vendors on the street corner about the Lord's goodness.  Later that day, she actually came and found me to tell me that someone had prayed for her, and told her exactly what I had, and she was making plans to be baptized....

Brother McKinley, Wanted to let you know about the Death of Sister Virginia (Jean) Martin. She passed this morning shortly after midnight, she was 92 years old and was one, of two of the last surviving charter members of the Shelbyville Church.  Arrangements are as follows, visitation from 3 till 8 pm Friday Oct. 11, and the Funeral will be Saturday Oct.12 at 1 pm. Visitation and funeral will be at the Feldhaus Chapel on 231 N in Shelbyville Tn. thought you might want to know. God Bless,  Allen H Brown

October 12th:  Lakeside in Westmoreland January 18th:  Grace Chapel in Ashland City February 22nd:  Cookeville March 29th:  Dayton Church near Cleveland Registration begins at 8:30am. Training will be 9am to 3pm.  $10 per participant. Lunch is included. 

I invite you to read about this special event from the Cleveland Daily Banner CLICK HERE

Dear Folks, About 20-years-ago I found myself going through an extremely difficult time in ministry. It seemed as if every demon in hell was turned loose with orders to harass me and cause me to give up and quit. One of the most difficult points of attack came from someone whom I believed to be a friend...needless to say, that person was not the friend I believed him to be. It devastated me and drove me to the couch, where I pulled a blanket over my head and determined that I would not get up. Tears filled my eyes and I had a big pity party. I cried and asked the Lord, "why do I ever trust anyone?"  It was an honest cry and question from my heart. I laid there for quite some time...wondering why someone would ever purposely set out to hurt me while telling me they loved me.  The Lord spoke very clearly to my heart. He told me to get up and quit feeling sorry for myself, that He totally understands betrayal and has experienced it Himself. Suddenly, I was ashamed of how I had a...

Heritage Memorial Funeral Home 701 Carl Vinson Pkwy. Warner Robins, GA 31093 478.329.1400 www.heritagememorialfuneralhome.com Visitation is Saturday, September 28, 12:00 to 1:00 P.M. with the celebration of life service at 1:00, at the funeral home. Please remember Brother Mixon’s extended family in your prayers.

October 12th:  Lakeside in Westmoreland January 18th:  Grace Chapel in Ashland City February 22nd:  Cookeville March 29th:  Dayton Church near Cleveland Registration begins at 8:30am. Training will be 9am to 3pm.  $10 per participant. Lunch is included. 

Friends, It appears as if emails have not been getting through to me.  I do not understand what has happened, other than a short time I had to use a PC, and perhaps something was corrupted in my settings. If you have emailed me of late and not received an answer, please resubmit your email.  I am sorry for any difficulty this may have caused. E.C. McKinley

I realized today that it has been some time since I posted to this blog.  It was not an intentional oversight, but rather the sheer load I have carried for the past couple of months.  Out of our state convention and then it was countdown to my daughter, Lindsey's wedding.  From there, off to Los Angeles, California for an overseer's meeting and then home long enough to change clothes before taking off the North Carolina for the Institute of Children's Ministries at the Lifeway Conference Center.   Now, see how easy it is to record a whole couple of months of activity? Well, I've determined that I am caught up enough to resume the regular posts so here we go: This past week I determined in my heart to find some time alone with God for personal reflection and edification.  The mountains of Western North Carolina certainly make a beautiful backdrop for such a quest, and I took full advantage of the opportunity. While in a time alone with the Lord, it...

I am sorry to share the news that Sister Avis McDonald passed away from this life on August 12, 2013.  Sister McDonald was licensed as a minister in the Church of God of Prophecy on April 28, 1978 and was faithful until the time of her passing. Visitation will be tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and the funeral service tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. at the Speck Funeral Home located in Livingston, Tennessee. Please join me in prayer for the family.

August 3:  Paris Church October 12th:  Lakeside Church in Westmoreland January 18th:  Grace Chapel Church in Ashland City February 22nd:  Cookeville Church March 29th:  Dayton Church Registration will begin at 8:30am.  $10 per participant.  Lunch will be provided.  To register, please contact Kim Batson at kim.batson@comcast.net  or 615-604-7484.

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36) A sobering question that Jesus asked that is worth asking again today.  Just what is your soul worth?  If, somehow we could buy it, what is the bottom line? The soul of man is the most valued and precious treasure ever made.  The soul of man causes war to take place in heaven, and then spills over into the church, the family and in a man or woman's own psyche.  Angels of God surround His children to help protect and watch over them...to guide their footsteps, and to do war on their behalf against the evil forces of Satan and his armies of angels and imps.  To create such a ruckus, it must be worth something. Since the fall of man in the garden of Eden, this war has waged without respite. There have been no truces, there have been no withdrawal of forces, and there certainly have been no negotiations for a cease fire or settlement of hostilities.  It i...

When will it happen?  When will the church wake up to realize that we stand on the precipice of total disaster.  Evil men (and women) have crept in aware and have preached ANOTHER GOSPEL.  It is a gospel that appeals to the flesh and subjugates men and women of God to the whims and desires of less-than-spiritual people.   As I travel throughout the land I am reminded of my travels in Europe some thirty-years-ago.  In many of the cities the churches have become museums and monuments to men and women of by-gone days.  With their ornate architecture and polished floors and furniture, they really are something to see.  The steeples once were to tallest buildings in the city...a testimony that God is above all human effort and the ONLY hope for mankind.  Now?  Well, now they stand in the shadows of skyscrapers dedicated to unbridled capitalism. As I travel throughout Central and South America, I see mosques popping up, standing as the talle...

Dear Friends, It has been some time since I posted on this blog site.  The pressures of the preparing, moderating and preaching at the Tennessee State Convention were quite heavy, and that was followed up by the opportunity to preach at the Georgia State Convention the following week. However, the thing that has kept me from posting for so long was not just those events and the time involved, but also a time of seeking the Will of God for my life, and for the pastoral appointments of so many churches under my charge. I have been seized by an overwhelming burden for revival in the church.  Parts of this burden have been expressed on my Facebook page and also on my Twitter account, but this blog will perhaps help me to share more of that burden without the limitation of character counts required on Facebook and Twitter. I see numerous indicators of the lack of revival in the church in general, but in our local churches in Tennessee in particular.  Let me share a few...

Visitation 5-8pm Wed.   Service 10am Thurs.   Rush Funeral Home North Chapel

I received information this afternoon that Zella Creel passed away.  Sister Creel was a long-time worker in our International Offices.  More information will be posted when I receive it.

"But mark this:  There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God - having a form of godliness but denying its power.  Have nothing to do with them." (2 Timothy 3:1-5) For the past three years, I have been intently studying the books of 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy and Titus.  These three books of the New Testament are pastoral letters, written by the apostle Paul to a young protégé, Timothy and to another named Titus, giving them instructions for pastoral ministry.  Timothy was to oversee the church at Ephesus while Titus was charged with the care of the church at Crete.  I had studied these books before, but the Lord has directed me there regularly in order to...

Dear Friends, In this, and subsequent posts, I will be sharing the Tennessee State Convention Program.  I am thrilled about all that will be going on July 5-7, 2013 at the Murfreesboro Hotel and Convention Center, and I know that you will want to join us and be a part of a great event. The theme of our convention is found in Hosea 10:12, "Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground:  for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." There is a real need of a REVIVAL of righteousness among God's people.  Not our own righteousness, but that born of a Holy Ghost revival among us.  The church is being caught up in the same sins as the world and there MUST be a difference.  God's people are called out to be salt and light to our generation, and unless we begin to sow the right things, destruction is eminent. I often wonder if there are some local churches that God has removed His candlestick and...

Last night, Bishop Ray Allen, retired minister went home to be with the Lord.  As many of you know, Bishop Allen is the father of our Campground Caretaker, David Allen.  Visitation will be on Friday night from 6:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. and the funeral services on Saturday morning at 10:30 A.M. at the Big Sandy Church of God of Prophecy, located on Hwy 69A in Big Sandy, Tennessee Friday Night Visitation will be at: Stockdale Malin Funeral Home 13625 Highway 69 A Big Sandy, TN 38221 Please join me in prayer for the family.

William R. Nunnery, 87, of Cleveland, TN, died on Monday, June 3, 2013 at Signature Health Care Hospice Facility in Cleveland after a life long fight with diabetes. He was born on October 22, 1925 in Stedman, NC. He was married to Flora Laws for 66 years. They were married in Rossville, GA on September 17, 1946. William served as a minister and Bishop in the Church of God of Prophecy his entire life. He held numerous positions in the church, including as pastor in North Carolina and Maryland, and then as State Overseer in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Iowa, Delaware, New Jersey and Kansas. His last pastorate was at age 79 for 2 ½ years in Bonnettsville, NC.  William’s only hobby was as an admirer and trader of automobiles and trucks. He is believed to have owned or traded over 100 vehicles in his lifetime and had a very keen memory of each one.  Survivors include his wife, Flora Laws Nunnery of Cleveland; daughter, June Nunnery Metaxas and husband Tassos; dau...

Congratulations to Pastor Donny Kirby of the Big Sandy, Tennessee Church on the completion of his Master's Degree work.  Pastor Kirby was awarded his Masters of Divinity Degree (M.Div) from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee.  Great job! 

We are pleased to congratulate Dr. Milton Gordon on the completion of his Doctor of Ministry Degree at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee. Dr. Gordon currently serves the Waverly Tennessee Church of God of Prophecy with his wife Karen. "This is a long, hard climb...with countless hours of study, research and writing" said Dr. E.C. McKinley, the Presiding Bishop of the Church of God of Prophecy in Tennessee.  He continued, "Pastor Gordon has climbed the mountain, now its time for him to enjoy the view."

You may make your reservation at the host hotel for the Tennessee State Convention by using the group code COG: Call 1-800-EMBASSY, or the hotel directly at (615) 890-4464 or make your reservation online at www.murfreesboro.embassysuites.com . When making reservations online follow these steps: * Enter dates  on the hotel homepage (July 5-7) *Select " Check Availability " *On the left hand side of the screen, under  Narrow Your Results  select "Have a Special Code?" *Enter the three-letter group code COG *Choose room type *Proceed with reservation SPECIAL NOTE:  The deadline for the discounted rate is June 22, 2013.  After this date, the rooms will be released and the discount rate will NO LONGER BE AVAILABLE.

I have appointed Bishop Eric Washburn, the pastor of the Springplace Church to serve as the District Presbyter for the area previously served by Bishop A.J. Coalter. I am asking you to join me in prayer as Pastor Washburn assumes this new ministry.