Saturday, January 26, 2013

Pastor's Conference January 2013

A great Pastor's Conference just ended with new pastors and new ministers joining our Leadership in Alabama.  We welcome them with open arms.  Everyone expressed how uplifting these few hours were to them and some made the statement, "I am ready to return to work with excitement".  We are expecting great things to be accomplished in our local churches.  Praise God! 

Along with our wonderful pastors & companions, we were honored to have Dr. H. E. Cardin and our North America Presbyer, Bishop Sam Clements and wife Linda.  These guests always make our conference extra special.  We thank them for coming.


New Pastors at Collinsville--Steven & Darlene Spears

New Pastors at Alton--Jeremy & Pam Hitt
 
New Pastors at Elkmont James & Brenda Oliver

New ministers at Browntown-The Whitakers

New Pastors at Calera--James & Linda Simpson

New Pastors at Sheffield--Neal & Neva Wright


Friday, January 25, 2013

REMOVING THE VEIL by Tim Beck



For everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking Him as Lord] will be saved. But how are people to call upon Him Whom they have not believed [in Whom they have no faith, on Whom they have no reliance]? And how are they to believe in Him [adhere to, trust in, and rely upon Him] of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher {someone to tell them}.” Romans 10:13-14

Please understand, the Gospel must be preached, spoken, declared or else, people will not call on the name of the Lord. We also know that if people do not call on the name of the Lord, they cannot be saved. The last time I checked we still believe that! Amen? It has been said the reason many people do not attend church is because they’ve never been asked. Could it be the reason many have not been saved, be due to the fact, we have failed to open our mouths and declare the Good News of Jesus Christ? Could it be that we rely way too much on good deeds, friendly smiles, and charitable giving? Now don’t get me wrong, all of those things have their place. Yes, we are written epistles for all to read, good deeds go a long way, and giving is a huge part of Kingdom living. But the Scriptures are very clear… they will not know unless we open our mouths and boldly proclaim the message of the virgin birth, the sinless life, the mighty miracles, the false accusations, the vicious sentence, the cruel cross, and the empty tomb. Once again Paul stresses’ to us at the beginning of Romans, “that it is the Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation.”

We must articulate our faith. Saints of God, we must sing and shout it louder than the angels. We are the redeemed and we must say so! Everyday people are going to hell. Does that not shake us to our core? One statistic says that over 158,000 people die daily. News Flash… people are perishing because we remain silent witnesses (if there’s even such a thing). Hell is growing larger as you read this, because we don’t want to offend anybody or we’re afraid we’ll lose acceptance among people. Wake up, Beloved of God! This is a matter of life and death. We cannot remain silent! II Corinthians 3:12- “Since we have such [glorious] hope (such joyful and confident expectation), we speak very freely, openly and fearlessly. Not like Moses, we do not put a veil over our faces.” In Chapter 4 Paul writes, “if our gospel is veiled, it is hidden to them that are lost.” As I begin to mediate on this passage, I see with my spiritual eyes, people leaving churches/prayer closets (where glory is experienced) then just before walking through the door into the world, they grab a veil and cover their mouths. I pray our spiritual eyes will be opened so that we can see if there is a veil over our mouth. Sadly, the veils we will discover are veils of fear, apathy, unconcern, and selfishness. Let me make a bold statement… If Christ is not on our lips, we ought to check and see if He is in our hearts.

Matthew records the words of Jesus this way, “For out of the fullness (the outflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.” If our hearts and lives are full of Christ, then surely in our speech, we will continually tell of the marvelous things He has done! The Psalmist declares, “My mouth shall tell of Your righteous acts and of Your deeds of salvation all the day, for their number is more than I know.” Psalm 71:15. We have the power of life and death in our tongues. Think about that verse differently for one moment. Life, if we open our mouths proclaiming the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, but death, if we say nothing. Again, how will they know unless we tell them? The world needs more than our smiling faces, good deeds, and relief aid! They need our tongues boldly publishing the message of Redemption! May the Lord of Glory touch our mouths as He did Zachariah’s! Tongues be loosed and mouths be opened as we pray Ephesians 6:19, “that we may open our mouths to proclaim boldly the mystery of the Gospel.”!

Monday, January 14, 2013

Week Three Prayer Targets
"But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" 1 Corinthians 15:57
"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58
PRAYER TARGETS
Core Value Focus - LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
  • Pray that God will raise up leaders among us in every nation.
  • Pray the prayer objective Jesus taught us, "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." Matthew 9:38
  • Pray for renewal of the call to disciple, mentor, and raise up leaders in this body.
  • Bless every ministry that is working now to strengthen leadership around us.
  • Mention specifically the Center for Biblical Leadership, the Tomlinson Center, School of Practical and Advanced Studies, Youth Ministry and Children's Ministry.
Global Missions Focus - CENTRAL AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, and EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST/CIS
  • Call out these three General Presbyters by name, Bishop Ben Feliz, Central America, Bishop Gabriel Vidal, South America, and Bishop Clayton Endecott, Europe, CIS, and the Middle East
  • Pray for the national leaders and national ministries in these regions, as well as local church pastors.
  • Pray for supply of needed resources in funds, leaders, buildings, vision and more.
  • Pray for all of the nations included here to see where God is at work and to run to join Him in the open door of outreach in their lands.

Monday, January 7, 2013

Week Two Prayer Targets
As we enter the second week of our Season of Seeking, welcome the presence and prayer partnership of the Holy Spirit. Welcome Him to pray with you, to pray in you, and to pray through you. With His partnership in prayer, this week we will penetrate barriers and bring victory.
PRAYER TARGETS
Core Value Focus - HARVEST
We have four points of focus in our Vision 2020 projections for Harvest to pray over this week.
  1. Church planting
  2. Strong local churches
  3. The Young Harvest (Youth and Children)
  4. World Missions
Global Missions Focus - ASIA/OCEANIA and UNITED STATES and CANADA
In Asia/Oceania:
  • Pray for China.
  • Pray for the largest Muslim nation of the world, Indonesia.
  • Pray for India the second largest nation in the world.
  • Bless our leadership in this land, our General Presbyter, Bishop David Browder, our national leaders, and local pastors.
In the United States and Canada:
  • Pray that this wonderful nation will experience a great fresh awakening herself. *Pray for our leadership here, General Presbyter, Bishop Sam Clements, our State/Regional Bishops, and local pastors.
  • Pray God will bring inspired insight for evangelization.
  • Pray for a touch of 2 Chronicles 7:14, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

21 Days


Week One Prayer Targets
Jesus said "My house shall be called of all nations a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves." Luke 19:46

This week keep in your mind that we are joining together to make God's house a house of prayer and that we, God's people, are becoming a movement of prayer.

PRAYER TARGETS  
Core Value Focus - PRAYER
  • Pray that the Church of God of Prophecy become a mighty world-wide ministry in prayer.
  • Pray that the call and inspiration of prayer will fill this movement.
Global Missions Focus - AFRICA AND CARIBBEAN
In Africa:
  • Pray for God to send leaders that will sustain the great harvest work.
  • Pray for the transition of leadership under newly selected General Presbyter, Bishop Stephen Masilela.
  • Pray for financial strength through biblical stewardship to arise.
  • Bless our national leaders and our local church pastors.
In the Caribbean:
  • Bless our national leaders and our local church pastors.
  • Pray for our General Presbyter, Bishop Clayton Martin, our national leaders, and local church pastors
  • Pray for continued recovery in Haiti
  • Agree for a new revival to sweep across the Caribbean nations  
Let your faith rise this week knowing that "the eyes of the Lord are running to and fro throughout the earth to show himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward him."

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Global Missions

CHANGING LIVES....TOGETHER.
In our home, the New Year celebration is always one of hope. We celebrate the presence and purpose of God throughout the concluding year and are reminded of His blessings and grace we experienced. Looking forward, we are excited to discover the promise of God in a new season. And, without fail, our preparation includes an evaluation of our annual missions giving.

Mission participation embraces the reality that the Church of God of Prophecy is a missionary movement, and our priority has always been missions. It embraces an evangelism that spreads the message of God's eternal rescue, from wherever believers in Christ are to the farthest places and people of the world; it is at the center of divine significance. God wants every person, everywhere, to be reached with His life-altering message of salvation. Our vision of what God desires for human beings is not limited by personality, geography, nationality, language, culture, race, education, income, or religion. Its scope is universal. Its reach is global. Its intent is world-encompassing. Its perspective is personal.  Its purpose is transformational.

Worshippers in a Church of God of Prophecy in Argentina.
Empowered by the continuing experience of Christ's personal and powerful presence, we proclaim Him to all people with the Spirit's anointing, the Father's express approval, in spoken words and acts of mercy and power. Participation in the mission is urgent.

We are all participants as we mobilize to pray for missionaries and the global spreading of the message of Jesus. By prayer and support, mission workers take the message of God's love to people in other parts of the world including Nicaragua, Indonesia, New Zealand, Congo Brazzaville, Georgia, Peru, Dominica; inclusive of 130 nations around the globe. We are connected to our mission workers, personally, and we become missionaries living purposefully, generously, and sacrificially, so Jesus will be known everywhere.

Worship at the Church of God of Prophecy in Kiev, Ukraine.
You are a part of this effort! You can still help change lives this year. Your tax deductable year-end financial gift will assist in continuing this mission effort; it will make a difference in the lives of those who are touched with this Gospel.

Thank you so much!

Blessings in the presence and purpose of God in 2013,

Cathy Payne
Global Missions Ministries

Donate today!
                                                                   Global Missions Ministries
Church of God of Prophecy
P.O. Box 2910
Cleveland, TN  37320-2910