The Alabama Messenger July 2021 by Alabama District Council of the Assemblies of God

KENNETH W. DRAUGHON

NETWORK SUPERINTENDENT ds@adcag.org

There is Power in Connec ons It has always been extremely important in God’s kingdom to be connected. Someone said, “I feel like a phone call—that’s been disconnected?” In Romans 12:5, “...Christ makes us one body and individuals who are connected.” We belong together in this tribe we call the Assemblies of God. In Deuteronomy 25:18, the Israelites were warned of what happened to the stragglers coming out of Egypt. “They a acked you when you were exhausted and weary, and they struck down those who were straggling behind” (vs. 18). The enemy looks for those who are worn out to the point they disconnect and others who decide not to stay in step with those they are supposed to be journeying with. The enemy will set you up to disconnect from the fellowship you are a part of o en without you knowing what he is doing. God is the God of CONNECTION! God has created divine connec ons for our lives. There is power in connec on! The devil fears divine connec ons! His ul mate aim is to cut you o from God. He tries to split marriages, split friendships, divide churches, divide denomina ons, and isolate people. Although our culture is more connected than ever before through social media, people are more isolated, disconnected, and lonelier than ever. God NEVER wired us to be ALONE or DISCONNECTED! One of the fundamental purposes of your church is to help alleviate this sense of disconnec on experienced in our culture. Everyone needs a tribe! Over 400 years ago, John Donne penned a poem: “No man is an island, en re of itself; every man is a piece of the con nent, a part of the main.” We are divinely connected by God, and we need to prac ce partnership in our fellowship. My desire is to see a greater connec ons in this Alabama AG family. This can only happen if it is inten onal. We must have a rela onal network! In our annual Fall Network (District) Leadership Tour, we are designing it to be a special blessing to you and your leadership team. We will have three regional conferences, each hos ng ve sec ons. Our Tour Speaker will be Assistant General Superintendent Rick DuBose. We will begin at 9:30 AM, and the day will cover sec onal business along with ministry downloads for your en re team. Pastor DuBose will share in the morning session, and a er lunch, we will o er ministry enrichment breakout sessions concluding with a special session by Brother DuBose. The Southwest Region (Demopolis, Mobile, Baldwin, Andalusia, and Monroeville sec ons) will meet at First AG, Atmore on September 27. The Southeast Region (Dothan, Enterprise, Phenix City, Montgomery, and Sylacauga) will meet at Evangel Church in Montgomery on September 28. The Northern Region (Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Cullman, Anniston, and Tennessee Valley) will meet at Life Church of Cullman on September 30.

We are believing God for a tremendous outpouring of his Spirit during these regional conferences. We are expec ng every par cipant to experience his presence and be encouraged by the fellowship. The Bible says one shall chase a thousand and two shall chase ten thousand (Deuteronomy 32:20). God has called us into a family, and we must cooperate to accomplish the purposes of God. It is temp ng to separate and go solo, but it is a sure route to insigni cance because we all need the coopera on of our God-given family members to reach heights of greatness. We need to realize that God’s favor and blessings are a “body thing” and not a “solo thing.” We look forward to seeing you at your Regional Conference.

MICHAEL D. SHARP, D.MIN.

NETWORK SECRETARY-TREASURER msharp@adcag.org

Do Not Despise the Season of Su ering: Victory Will Come “3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who

comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the su erings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salva on; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you pa ent endurance of the same su erings we su er. 7 And our hope for you is rm, because we know that just as you share in our su erings, so also you share in our comfort.” - 2 Corinthians 1:3-7

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The idea that Chris ans need never go through hard mes, su ering, or sickness is never taught in Scripture. God’s word is very honest. Throughout the Bible God makes it clear to us that his children will indeed some mes endure di culty, pain, sorrow, sickness, and su ering. The teaching that says we need never su er if we just have enough faith, live without sin, and say the right posi ve confession is a modern false teaching. It is a doctrine of devils. God tells us throughout Scripture that we will some mes su er, but God is compassionate and faithful, he will be with us in su ering, and there are reasons and results from our su ering. First, Paul calls God the “Father of compassion.” Compassion: This is an o repeated descrip on of God in Scripture. The word translated compassion re ects a variety of things, including pity and tender mercy. It is repeatedly paired with another word that means bowels, hence the rendering “bowels of compassion.” Because our diges ve system is o en very upset when we are emo onally disturbed the ancients thought our emo ons were actually produced in our stomach and intes nes. This intense emo on can be caused by our own heartache or su erings, and it can be caused by what others are going through. Indeed, the Holy Spirit enables believers to “su er with” other people by carefully considering what they are going through and deeply empathizing with them un l we experience their su ering. “Com-passion” means to “su er with.” When we have experienced a par cular kind of trauma or tragedy, we are be er able to understand what others are experiencing in the same trial. Therefore, there are mes when God does not immediately deliver us from su ering because he has a be er plan: He will supernaturally enable us to endure our su ering so that we can strengthen others in the future. And, when we have never encountered what someone else is su ering, the Holy Spirit can s ll enable us to experience their heartache, fear, loss, or su ering. God can help us to “su er with” them. This is where our expression of love to them, our intercession for them, our ministry to them becomes supernaturally empowered by the Holy Spirit to communicate the Father’s love, Christ’s grace, and the Spirit’s power into their lives. So, friend do not despise the season of su ering as if it is never God’s will. God will teach you many things about yourself, himself, and others in seasons of su ering. From those experiences God will enable you to minister powerfully to others in their trials. When you see them su er remember your su ering, see yourself and your loved ones in their situa on, enter deeply into their su ering, and the Spirit will produce God’s compassion and comfort in you and through you. Resurrec on life, the life of the Age to Come, will ow into you and through you and into that su ering soul. God’s hand extended may come with delivering power or with power to endure but it will surely touch you and that su ering one. Whatever God chooses, at the end of the day, life and victory will come, to the glory of the Father through the Son.

Alabama Youth Ministries www.alabamayouthministries.com Email: dydsec@adcag.org

Steven A. Mason District Youth Director

334-279-7172 x3

Top Speed the Light Giving

Top Youth Group Offerings

January-May

Vincent Revival Center

$22,590.61

Pinedale Assembly, Clanton

$600.00

Phenix City First Assembly

$14,800.00

Montgomery First Assembly

$250.00

New Life, Westover

$14,020.00

Crossroads Assembly, Albertville

$200.00

Montgomery First Assembly

$10,517.75

Evangel Church, Montgomery

$125.00

Lake City, Guntersville

$9,095.41

Dothan First Assembly

$104.00

Florence First Assembly

$6,242.00

Tuscaloosa First Assembly

$80.00

Anchors Church, Oneonta

$5,800.43

Robertsdale First Assembly

$75.00

Fellowship Church, Oneonta

$5,000.00

Lake City Assembly, Guntersville

$50.00

Clearwater Assembly, Wagarville

$5,000.00

El Bethel Assembly, New Brockton

$30.00

Appleton Assembly, Brewton

$4,768.44

Hanceville Assembly

$20.00

* U P C O M I N G * E V E N T S * August 2-6 // National Fine Arts Festival-Orlando August 21 // G5 August 26 –27 // Youth Rep Cabinet Seminar September 12 // Prayer Zone Partner Sunday September 22 // See You At The Pole October 9 // Called Conference October 15-17 // PK Retreat October 17 // Speed The Light Sunday October 29-30 // AYM Girls Conference November 11-13 // Youth Leaders Summit

DAVID STRAHAN

Date

Time

11/08/2021 11/09/2021 11/11/2021 11/12/2021 11/15/2021 11/16/2021 11/18/2021 11/19/2021

7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM

MISSIONS

GOLF TOURNAMENT

Grill Competition

(LFTL, sponsorship for Teen challenge, and missions trips)

LFTL Wheels of Faith Motorcycle Ride

ALL NEW

ALABAMA MEN'S MINISTRIES

STRONG MAN COMPETITION INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

10 AM

Ball Fields at SCCC Awards for each category Waivers are required to participate

DIRECTOR:

CYNDI DRAUGHON

FAITHFULNESS Through this season we’ve all been walking through, there are di cul es we could choose to focus on. Things are not as ‘easy’ as they once were. There are hardships many have endured. Yet in spite of many being pressed on every side, I have seen God remain FAITHFUL! He’s been faithful to us personally. He’s been faithful to the Women of Alabama, and our district as a whole. By you choosing to remain faithful to the mission and heart of this ministry, we are con nuing to be able to bless missionary and ministry families. Women of Alabama, you are God’s hands extended to many in need. Over the last few weeks, we have blessed a missionary family who returned home for furlough, a pastor’s family who lost their spouse, and a missionary family who had a great need. I didn’t have to hesitate, because of your FAITHFULNESS. Thank you!

Download your Engage registration form from our website: www.adcag.org Cost Per Person: $120 (Cabin) $130 (Lodge) Student Registration: $80

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Please email trussell@adcag.org for more info.

PRESENTS

ENGAGE RETREAT September 16-18. 2021 SPRINGVILLE CAMP & CONFERENCE CENTER GUEST SPEAKERS:

BETH STEVENS

MARTHA TENNISON 8

(334) 279-7172 Ext. 4

vnorris@adcag.org

CE DIRECTOR | VINT A. NORRIS

www.adcag.org

Congratulations to Montgomery First's JBQ team Sacred Fire for placing 23rd in the nation at this year's National JBQ Championship!!

2021 TOP TEN BGMC GIVING JANUARY-MAY

Fountain of Life Church.................... $19,316.48 Praise Family Church........................ $12,200.00 Orchard A/G.......................................... $7,580.79 Georgetown A/G................................. $5,618.35 First A/G, Montgomery..................... $5,138.68 First A/G, Phenix City..........................$4,875.00 CenterPointe A/G............................... $4,263.88 First A/G, Elba........................................ $3,741.12 First A/G, Eufaula................................. $3,337.58 First A/G, Butler..................................... $3,331,70

2021 TOP TEN SUNDAY SCHOOL TITHE JANUARY-MAY

Hobson A/G................................................. $295.00 Empire A/G................................................... $250.00 Harper's Joy A/G....................................... $250.00 Kingwood A/G............................................ $250.00 First A/G, Montgomery........................... $250.00 The Crossing................................................ $250.00 Faith A/G........................................................ $222.15 Rock Springs A/G...................................... $200.00 Holloway Tabernacle A/G....................$164.98 Weeks Memorial........................................ $159.00

Encouragement 1 Thess. 5:11 So encourage each other to build each other up, just as you are already doing. So many today are discouraged by the rampant sin in our land, na onal disunity, the economic stress, the lack of fervency for God, and so much more. It would be easy to get caught up in all the malaise and life draining nega ve thinking. Yes, life is a challenge today, be we also have the wonderful promises of God and a future that has been established by God's great love. I believe we need encouragement more today than ever, and we need to make a new concerted e ort to be encouragers. To encourage is to give strength and courage to a faltering faith or a depressed heart. Let me share a few things to do to help you become an encourager. 1. Turn on your spiritual radar. We walk right pass so many on a daily basis that need encouragement. Ask the Lord to help you see the needs of others around you, and to be willing to reach out. 2. Look past the nega ves and see the need. We tend to no ce the bad in others, the faults or weaknesses. Determine to see their poten al, to see them as God sees them. 3. Plan and prepare to encourage. Keep a li le cash aside for someone in need. Don't be so rushed you can't stop and pray with someone. Keep a Bible handy, perhaps one you can leave with someone. 4. Ask for God's wisdom, discernment and direc on. You need God's direc on to know how someone needs to be encouraged. Some just need a hug or to be told you care, some need prayer, some may need nancial or physical help, and some may need a listening ear. When you see someone always be open to God's Spirit direc ng you to encourage in ways you may not have thought of. 5. Take me daily to listen for God's encouragement list. Besides those you may encounter during the day, spend some me with God and let him place the names of people in your heart that need encouragement. Many mes I have just sat in God's presence wai ng for the Lord to lead me. God will give me a name for me to pray for or send a card to, or an encouragement email. So o en they respond with, "that card came just at the right me". 6. Realize encouragement is Spiritual maintenance for the Body of Christ. As we are encouraged, built up and strengthened we help the church be all she can be. Just a few words of encouragement can recharge a believer's ba eries and they are o again to minister. I know the words, "Pastor that was a great message", or "I just want you to know I appreciate you" has been a blessing to you. As the Scripture implies, when we are red, depressed, discouraged, and weak....encouragement build us up and places us on the front lines once more to serve with power and e ec veness.

Acts 13:15 "Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak."

BOOK REVIEWS: Reading the Bible Like Jesus Windows into the Bible: Cultural and Historical Insights from the Bible for Modern Readers, Marc Turnage, Logion Press: 2016, 472 pages. Marc Turnage, former director of the Center for Holy Land Studies, an Assemblies of God center in Israel, has led tours of the Holy Land for over 20 years. He earned his master’s and doctorate at Israeli universities and has taught at numerous universities and graduate schools. In this book Turnage uses a lifetime of scholarly and practical experience to open windows across time, space, history, and culture to reveal the world of Jesus’ day. Writing in a simple, engaging manner, he immerses us in the everyday culture of first-century Palestine, its families, food, work, religion, politics, and worldview. In doing so we lay aside 2,000 years of distance and misunderstanding and discover how Jesus and his contemporaries would have understood his life and teaching. Turnage’s work brings out deep texture, details, and meaning that you probably have never heard before. He skillfully uses this knowledge to bring new depth of insight into many biblical passages, both the events and the teaching. If we are to clearly understand the Bible we must have - must have - the knowledge and insight that the work of scholars like Marc Turnage offer us. They have done all the heavy lifting and they offer to us the fruit of their labor. It is their scholarly tools alone that can open for us these windows into the Bible.

Misreading Scripture with Western Eyes: Removing Cultural Blinders to Better Understand the Bible, E. Randolph Richards and Brandon J. O’Brien, IVP Books: 2012, 240 pages. These two authors, Richards and O’Brien, bring to this work long experience in global mission, cross-cultural ministry, and scholarly research. They explore how Christians in the West (North America and Europe) have long misread many passages of Scripture through the lenses of our Western cultures. They examine how our Western cultural preconceptions on key issues differ radically from biblical cultures, Western preconceptions on issues such as social mores, ethnicity, language, individualism, honor/shame, relationships, virtue, and vice. The authors explore how the culture(s) of Jesus’ understood the issue, how that impacts the biblical passage, and how our radically different preconceived ideas cause us to misunderstand that Bible passage. These misunderstandings have often been passed down in the Western church for hundreds of years even among many teachers. Throughout the book the authors offer ways that we can remove our cultural blinders and see the text with ancient eyes. This is the only way that we can truly hear God’s words, the only way we can clearly understand what God said and have any hope of correctly applying God’s word today. This is a powerful work that every minister and lay teacher should have. The Cross and the Prodigal: Luke 15 Through the Eyes of Middle Eastern Peasants, Kenneth Bailey, IVP Books: 2005, 151 pages. In this classic work Kenneth Bailey applies all (and more) of the principles mentioned in the two reviews above to explain the original context and meaning of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. For centuries Muslims used this story to argue that Jesus himself is telling us the Father’s direct forgiveness denies the need for a mediator and sacrifice. Bailey delves deeply into the culture and context of this 2,000 year old parable to discover its meaning and implications for the original hearers. He brings to this task the “historical expertise of a scholar, the poetic imagination of a storyteller,” over 60 years of practical experience as a missionaryeducator in the Middle East, and the knowledge of the biblical languages, Arabic, Syriac, Coptic, and Rabbinic literature. Bailey writes simply, clearly, in an engaging manner. This book is a powerful revelation of what lies hidden in Scripture, hidden from those of us who refuse to hear what the great teachers of the Church share with us of God’s glorious truth. The Cross and the Prodigal should be in the hands of every pastor and person who teaches from Luke 15. It is a brilliant example of how much we have missed, how we can misread Scripture with American eyes if we refuse the opened windows into the Bible offered to us by great teachers.

Alabama School of Ministry Course Listing Fall 2021-Spring 2022 Level 1 Courses (Certified) Class Date

Spring 2022 January February

THE 142 A/G History, Missions, and Governance BIB 114 Christ in the Synoptic Gospels

March

THE 114 Introduction to Pentecostal Doctrine

April

BIB 212 New Testament Survey

May

June/July

BIB 214 Old Testament Survey All Courses Open for Make-up

Level 2 Courses (Licensed) Please Follow Your Track Original Track New Track Began ALSOM prior to Began ALSOM August August 2020 2020 or after

Level 3 Courses (Ordained)

THE 211 MIN 123 THE 311 Intro to Theology: The Local Church in Prayer and Worship A Pentecostal Perspective Evangelism BIB 212 BIB 115 BIB 318 New Testament Acts: The Work of the Holy The Pentateuch Survey Spirit BIB 214 BIB 117 BIB 313 Old Testament Prison Epistles The Corinthian Survey Correspondence BIB 215 Romans: Justification by Faith

BIB 215 Romans: Justification by Faith

MIN 223 MIN 223 Introduction to Homiletics Introduction to Homiletics All Courses Open for Make-up

All Courses Open for Make-up

BIB 322 The Poetic Books MIN 325 Preaching in the Contemporary World All Courses Open for Make-up

Fall 2021 August

BIB 121 Introduction to Hermeneutics

THE 245 Eschatology

MIN 327 Church Administration, Finance and Law

September

THE 211 Intro to Theology: A Pentecostal Perspective MIN 181 Relationships and Ethics in Ministry

MIN 251 Effective Leadership

MIN 381 Pastoral Ministry

MIN 281 Conflict Management for Church Leaders

MIN 171 A Spirit Empowered Church: An Acts 2 Ministry Model All Courses Open for Make-up

MIN 261 Introduction to AG Missions All Courses Open for Make-up

All Courses Open for Make-up

MIN 191 Beginning Ministerial Internships

MIN 291 Intermediate Ministerial Internships

MIN 391 Advanced Ministerial Internships

October

November

December

Open for Enrollment Each Month

You may contact the office of the ALSOM Director and District Secretary-Treasurer, Dr. Michael D. Sharp for more information at 334-279-7172 #2, or jharris@adcag.org.

SPRINGVILLE CAMP & CONFERENCE CENTER UPDATE It’s Great to be Back! Summer is in full swing and we are so glad to be able to have camps again this year. Camps began here a er the move from Camp Ambassador in 1992. These facili es have never seen an empty summer before last year. We know that what happens at camp changes the world. It is so good to see students coming back to camp and all the energy they bring. We know God will be faithful and do great things in their lives. As we con nue to come out of the pandemic, we have found it di cult to get fully sta ed again. We are so very thankful to Ray and Beverly Halford and Ron, Jenny and Julie Reiser for coming and volunteering a week of their me to help us. Long days in the kitchen or on a mower are not easy around here and they jumped right in and stayed with us. They were a God send! Please con nue to pray for the camp as we nish out summer and proceed into fall. Our retreat bookings are looking good and we need those to get back on track. A er an over $870,000 loss of revenue last year, we need our retreats to come back strong to keep us on pace to recover. Thank you in advance for keeping the sta and facili es of SCCC in your prayers. Many Blessings, Rev. Kevin Pierson Director

Deceased: N/A

Charles E Wright (L) Mark Munter (O) Jerry Bonner (O) Alicia Bonner (O)

Pastoral Changes:

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Coleman Assembly of God – Donald Logan Ricke s

New/Upgraded Creden als: Jennifer Gibson (C)

Transferred in: