Alabama Update

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Season of Seeking in 2013

November 15, 2012

Greetings International Presbytery of the Church of God of Prophecy:

I just wrote this post to Facebook and I thought I would share it with you as well.

Season of Seeking:

In 45 days we will begin a new Season of Seeking in the Church of God of Prophecy. This will be year number seven for our church all around the world to unite together to start the New Year with prayer and fasting. To express our commitment to this important Core Value, thousands in many nations are joining together to fast and pray for some part, or all, of this 21 day period. As I reflect on our six years of ‘seeking’ I realize that God has honored us with so many blessings of grace as we prayed. Just this week I heard a new testimony which is obviously a God/grace thing. For the first time since the International Office has used budgets the International Assembly expenses were on budget. To God be the glory, with thanks to Bishop Paul Holt and his Assembly Task Force for leading the way in this. In the next 45 days I will share some other awesome ways God has poured out His grace as we have committed to ‘SEEK HIM.’

This note is to let you know that once more we will be turning our eyes toward the heavens as we begin this New Year. I invite you to consider how you can join this prayer season. I also invite you to pass the word along to your pastors and churches. Our International Office Facebook page already has the first post and will have a new post each week as we approach this season, as well as many posts during the season. Of course our web site will have information also.

I sat with a leader recently and we reflected on the six years that have just passed. There were numerous situations that ‘could have’ brought distraction or disruption to our Gospel work, but they did not. We both breathed a sigh of relief, said ‘thank God,’ and agreed that prayer has covered us with grace to this point. When God’s people pray, God often answers their prayers, and then God always goes the extra mile to pour grace on them beyond their prayers. I believe that is the testimony we have in the Church of God of Prophecy as we look to our seventh annual ‘Season of Seeking’ to start the New Year with God. Help me invite our people to join this journey.

Glorifying God Through Prayer and Leadership Development, All for the Harvest!

R. E. Howard

General Overseer

Winter Conference--COLLISION

Winter Conference: Collision is just 29 days away. I hope you are making plans to have your students, student leaders and youth workers at this conference. This conference is one of the best ways to end one year and start the next. We believe that through this conference great momentum can be gained. Our team is excited to see what God has in store for us in 29 days. Much planning and prayer is continually going on for our time together. We do not want just another conference nor a Jesus pep rally. We desire the fire of God to descend and permanently alter every single person in attendance.

Registration is going on right now and you'll want to make sure you get your students/leaders to this conference. Because of limited space, we can only house 200 students. Therefore, it is extremely important for you to get all applications in as soon as possible. Applications, schedules, and more information can be found online at www.hydrateministries.com.

We are also giving away a Foosball Table at the end of the conference to one student ministry. Here's how it works: every youth group that has 15 or more registered will be entered in a drawing to win the foosball table. The winning student ministry will then have a new foosball table to enjoy at their church each time they get together.

We ask that you remember us in prayer as this conference draws near. A collision awaits us in 29 days! Isaiah 6.

Greater things ahead,

Tim Beck

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Thanksgiving Season

WITH THANKSGIVING by Tim Beck

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

Near the end of her life, Frances Ridley Havergal, daily jotted down on a little calendar something she was thankful to God for. This was her way of thinking about thanking. I’ve been thinking a lot about thanking myself. One of the main reasons I believe many prayers go unanswered is due to the fact that we are missing the main ingredient. The great apostle stresses thanksgiving to us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 by saying, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Paul would also remind the believers at Ephesus to, “address one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Did you know that there are around 138 verses in the Scripture that speak of thanksgiving alone? Imagine, what would happen in our lives if “thanksgiving in all circumstances” would take center stage in our hearts and thoughts?

Lately, I’ve been hearing a lot of people quoting Philippians 4:6, but this is what they are saying, “be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication let your requests be made known to God.” Did you catch that? Read it again! “With Thanksgiving” is being left out. Oh and let me say, thanksgiving is also missing from our prayer times, church services, fellowship gathering, etc. You know it’s true! When was the last time a testimony service ruined a normal service in your congregation? And let me add… a true testimony service! When was the last time you entered your prayer closet thanking God, continued to thank God during your prayer time and then, exited your prayer closet thanking God? As I type this article, God reminded me of a time when my wife and I were having a quick lunch together. We sat down and I was in such a rush, my prayer went something like this, “God bless this food. Sanctify it and let it be nourishment to our bodies. In Jesus name. Amen.” After I concluded my brief prayer, my wife, Bethany spoke up and brought to my attention that I did not even thank God for the food. Could it be the reason our prayers never reach the throne of grace is because we have failed to mix in the main ingredient?

Beloved, our prayers and supplication must be mixed with thanksgiving. It is thanksgiving that makes the difference! I firmly believe it was thanksgiving that protected Daniel in the lion’s den! I’m convinced it was thanksgiving that caused the fourth man to show up in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! Yes, I’m persuaded that it was thanksgiving that brought David back to his throne and helped him secure his kingdom once again! The Psalmist would sing, “We give praise and thanks to You, O God, we praise and give thanks; Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near and they who invoke Your Name rehearse Your wonders.” Psalm 75:1. He said those who invoke or summon the Lord are the ones who rehearse His wonders or are thankful. Thanksgiving must once again be awakened in our prayers, services, fellowships, and conversations. If we’ve ever needed to invoke the Lord, it is now but it will only happen through thanksgiving.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 21:22, “And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive.” Faith and believing shows up in thanksgiving! In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your request known to God. As we pray, we need to enter in with thanksgiving and conclude with thanksgiving. We need to thank God that need is already met in Jesus’ name! We need to rejoice in advance for the miracles that are about to overtake us! Faith celebrates the victory in the midst of defeat. Believing shouts, “God is in control”, even when it looks like our circumstances are in control. Thanksgiving steps up and steps in applauding God in all situations, because we know that He is faithful and His mercy endures forever! We need less supplication and more thanksgiving! Try it. You’ll see a difference! I promise.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

State Convention August 1-4 2013

REGISTER NOW

Registration NOW OPEN for Create!

What is Create?

Create is an inspirational training event aimed at equipping those who minister through public speaking, writing, worship/music, media, and the arts. The conference will be held Thursday, January 24 and Friday, January 25, 2013 in Cleveland, Tennessee. An optional one-day training intensive will be held on Saturday, January 26 to provide more in-depth, hands-on learning opportunities for those who attended the conference.

Who is Create for?

CREATE is custom-made for those individuals in the church, both vocational and volunteer, that communicate. These individuals communicate in many ways, from a pulpit or through graphic design, they may connect via social media or lead a worship service experience. Regardless of the form of their communication, CREATE has something to inspire and equip church leaders and volunteers.

Attendees of CREATE can expect to:

Enjoy inspirational keynote speakers and engaging worship experiences
Receive information, ideas, and resources for more effective ministry
Receive practical, hands-on training from proven ministry leaders
Learn in workshops taught by knowledgeable professionals actively serving in both the church and marketplace, in three different tracks: Writing, Arts/Media, and Worship/Music
Connect with other "creatives" or church communicators throughout the ministry network of the Church of God of Prophecy and beyond
Leave CREATE re-energized and better enabled to minister in the local church and community

What Training is Offered?

Writing Track Topics-Inspirational Writing, Editing and Proofreading, Scriptwriting, Getting Published, Speechwriting, and more
Art/Media Track Topics-Graphic Arts, Photography, Event and Studio Production, Open Source Tools, Video Production, and more
Music Track Topics-Worship Leading, Songwriting, Publishing, Voice, and more

To learn more about training tracks click here and for one-day intensives click here.

Registration Fees and Lodging

January 24 & 25 Conference