APPRECIATING OUR PASTORS Watch the Pastor Appreciation Month Video from General Overseer Sam N. Clements The Bible teaches us to give honor to whom honor is due. I do not know of any position in the Church that deserves more honor than a God-called, God-anointed pastor. A pastor is a shepherd, a minister in spiritual and jurisdictional charge of a church congregation or community. Jeremiah 3:15 states, "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding." Again in Ephesians 4:11-12, "And He gave some apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the perfecting (maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." Today we have many preachers (ministers) with various callings and giftings that are well-trained and equipped in their ministry, but not every minister has a pastor's heart. All are needed and have a unique role to play in the body of Christ, but true pastors according to God's own heart are few. My personal prayer is, "Please, God, give us more!" Our pastors hold the most important positions in this church and without them the church would not exist. Please take special time, not just once a year, but every opportunity you have to encourage and support them in every way possible. People that continually give of themselves also need to receive. May God bless every pastor across this world with renewed courage and zeal to "feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; neither as being lords over God's heritage but being examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away" (1 Peter 5:2-4). Bishop Sam N. Clements, General Overseer

True North Districts and Team Leaders

Dothan District Morris Bates
Dothan
Elba
Opp

Jasper District John Butler
Carbon Hill
Cordova
Jasper-
Airport Road
Boldo
New Generation
Parrish
Short Creek
Twilleytown

Shoals District Neal Wright
Cliff Haven
Haleyville
Happy Hill
Hamilton
Hackleburg
Harris Chapel
Red Bay
Moulton
Winfield

Birmingham District Judy Lyles
Alton
East Lake
Pinson
Tarrant

Huntsville District Joshua Lynn
Altoona
Decatur
Elkmont
Grant
Guntersville/Arab Mission
Hartselle
Hazel Green
Huntsville-
Bell Road
Mastin Lake Road
Madison
Rock Cliff
Summerbrook

Mobile District Ernest Pigorsch
Bayou La Batre
Chickasaw
Citronelle
Grove Hill
Poarch
Robertsdale


Tuscaloosa District Damon Rose
Aliceville
Brown’s Chapel
Cottondale
Fayette
Gordo

Alexander City District Richie Ables
Alexander City
Goodwater
Montgomery
Sterrett

Bessemer A District Terry Gann
Calera
Clanton
Dry Valley
Pelham
Woodland Hills

Bessemer B District Ken Humphries
Eoline
Hopewell
Green Pond
Tanniehill
West Blocton

Collinsville District Steven Spears
Boaz
Browntown
Collinsville
Cunningham Bridge
Fort Payne
Gadsden
Leesburg
Mentone

Anniston District Ben Howard
Anniston
Lincoln
Odenville
Silver Run
Trinity

Alabama Church Appointments for 2015-2017

Alexander City ...............David Browder
Aliceville ........................Ganus Cliftron Pate
Altoona..........................Terry Taylor
Anniston-........................Sylvester Smith
Arab/Guntersville Mission ....Ralph Schnelle
Atmore-Poarch .............. Jeanette Hadley
Bayou La Batre............... Walter Degeer
Bessemer-Hopewell .........Gary Linkous
Bessemer-Woodland Hills..Terry Gann
Birmingham-Alton ............. Daniel Stronge
Birmingham-Pinson ............Cephus Prophitt
Birmingham-Tarrant City.....Judy Lyles
Birmingham-East Lake       Gary Archie
Boaz..................................Wayne Craig
Brownsboro-Rock Cliff......Betty Branch
Calera-Harvest Chapel ......James Simpson
Carbon Hill........................John Billy Butler
Centreville-Eoline...............Kenneth Humphries
Citronelle ...........................Brenda Smith
Clanton...............................Jeff Logan
Collinsville-Harvest Center..Steven Spears
Cordova.............................Bobby Ray Patterson
Cottondale Community........Ronald Martin
Cunningham Bridge.............Danny Whitaker
Decatur...............................Dale Dilbeck
Dothan................................Morris Bates
Elba....................................Avena Dupree Lewis
Elkmont..............................James Oliver
Fayette-North Pointe..........Brent Smalley
Fort Payne..........................Annzella Abernathy
Gadsden-Living Waters ......Shane Pate
Goodwater-Joyful Praise......Jimmy Scales
Gordo-Brown’s Chapel........Thomas Shepherd
Gordo-Highway 82 ..............Damon Rose
Grant ...................................Leslie Curtis
Green Pond..........................William Noe
Grove Hill ............................Patsy Pritchett
Hackleburg...........................Clint Knowles
Haleville-Pathway.................James  Fell
Hamilton-Happy Hill.............Curtis Sutton
Hamilton-New Heights..........James Clanton
Hartselle ...............................Chris Bates
Hazel Green...........................Harold St.Clair
Henagar-Browntown..............Beecher Tanner
Huntsville-World Out-Reach...John Wessly
Huntsville-Bell Road................Wayne Christmas
Huntsville-Mastin Lake............Joshua Lynn
Jasper-Airport Road...............Leland Lowery
Jasper-Boldo..........................Lynn Hitt
Jasper-New Generation..........T. J. Armstrong
Leesburg ...............................Timothy Douglas
Lincoln....................................Kenneth Wilkins
Mentone..................................Whitney Smith
Mobile-Chickasaw...................Ernest Pigorsch
Montevallo-Dry Valley.............Steve Chance
Montgomery............................Jackie Cleveland
Moody-Trinity Worship............A. L. Henderson
Moulton ...................................E. L. Croyle
Mount Hope-Harris Chapel...... James Wallace
Mulga-Short Creek...................Odell Green
Munford-Silver Run...................Charles Boyd
Odenville....................................Donna Howard
Opp-Lighthouse Church(new field)...Frank Weber
Parrish.........................................Keith Prescott
Pelham.........................................Krameon Martin
Quinton-Twilleytown.....................Donald Stanton
Red Bay........................................Gerome Key
Robertsdale...................................James Caples
Sheffield-Cliff Haven......................Neal Wright
Somerville-Summerbrook...............Steve Barber
Sterrett...........................................Richie Ables
Tannehill-Mission ...........................Wilton Price
West Blocton..................................Wilton Price
Winfield-City Family Church............Dewayne Smith

International Offices Releases Local Church Property Use Guidelines

This month the Church of God of Prophecy International Offices released a new manual aimed at assisting local churches in establishing guidelines for the use of their properties. The Local Church Property Use Guidelines continues general policies, as well as forms that may be adapted for use by local churches. The manual is available to download through the church's website by cli cking here

Alabama Women's Conference

War Room

SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL AND ADVANCED STUDIES LAUNCHES NEW SERIES OF TRAININGS Click the image above to learn more. SOPAS "REBOOT" LAUNCHES FALL 2015 Through a strategic partnership with Multiplication Network Ministries (MNM), the Center for Biblical Leadership's School of Practical and Advanced Studies (SOPAS) will begin providing two brand new courses-Becoming A Church of Impact! and Planting Healthy Churches-in the fall of 2015. These two courses are the first of thirty new courses currently being developed for future offerings to nations, regions, and states. Some of the key benefits of these new train gins, include: Field Development Team A team of twenty-two field leaders from all over the world have joined forces with CBL to expand and develop this new curriculum for SOPAS. In this next phase of SOPAS the courses will be designed to equip and inform pastors, leaders, and members for effective ministry. Over 30 NEW Courses More than 30 new courses are being developed and taught in SOPAS. They offer practical and relevant equipping in six areas: Local Church Ministry Leadership Pentecostal Formation Spiritual Formation Bible/Theology/History Church of God of Prophecy Formation Global Instructional Team CBL has been working with General Presbyters and National/Regional/State Overseers to identify and train skilled instructors who will be a part of a global instructional team to teach the courses throughout the world. This weekend will be your opportunity to be introduced to several of our courses and be trained to be a trainer in the courses offered through our partnership with Multiplication Network Ministries. Other New Courses Other new courses will be ready in Fall 2015, including: How to Become a Better Preacher Evangelism Our Church: A Place Where Children and Families Flourish Youth Ministry: Discovering Their Value and Potential Salvation: Its Meaning and Application Sanctification: The Continual Pursuit of the Holy God The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit Preview Weekend The launch of the new SOPAS will begin with a special preview weekend for overseers and their guests, being held in November at the Camp Boothe Campground and featuring instruction from Dr. John Wagenveld, founder and president of Multiplication Network Ministries. During this preview weekend, those in attendance will not only have the opportunity to enjoy teaching from Dr. Wagenveld, but will also be trained to share the material with ministry in their area. Be watching future editions of Connections to learn more about the all new SOPAS and when it will be coming to your area!