The Alabama Messenger July/August 2019

ALABAMAMESSENGER STRENGTH MEN’S ENCOUNTER

THE

July/August 2019 Volume 33/Number 4

September 12-14, 2019 See pages 8-9 for more information

EVENT HOST

DAVID STRAHAN

GUEST SPEAKER

CHOCO DE JESUS

WORSHIP BY

GREG WOODALL

FALL WOMEN’S RETREAT SEPTEMBER 19-21, 2019 See page 10 for more information.

EVENT HOST

CYNDI DRAUGHON

ALABAMA WOMEN’S DIRECTOR

GUEST SPEAKER

PHYLLIS SAWYER

GUEST SPEAKER

Nicole Richey

Ken Draughon

ALABAMA DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT

WE ARE AT

war

The kingdom of Satan has unleashed a coordinated assault against spiritual leaders. We know the church (bride of Christ) is under assault from the devil. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8 ESV).

Hell’s ambassadors are on the prowl. The church is their target. The devil wants to destroy the church because she is the bride of Christ and he hates the church because he hates the Bridegroom.

If the church is the target—its leaders are the BULL’S EYE! Every pastor and pastor’s family are being targeted. Look around and see the assault against pastors and their families. We are at war!

There have been causalities.

Ephesians 6:11 reminds us to remember who you are fighting. You’re not fighting flesh and blood, the people hurting you, their sting—you are not fighting them. You are fighting rulers and authorities and cosmic powers over this present darkness. You are fighting the forces of evil in heavenly places.

We are at war and we need to wear the weapons of war. We have been given armor—the defensive and offensive weaponry to win in this war. Let me challenge you to step into the arena of intercession and begin to use the weapons that God offers to place into your hands to reverse what the devil is trying to do.

Since there is an all-out assault from the enemy against spiritual leaders. Satan knows what we must be reminded of today: “I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” (Mark 14:27, NKJV). For that reason, I believe unless we learn to provide our spiritual leaders with a protective shield of prayer, our churches and ministries will never fully change the culture we have been assigned to impact for the Gospel.

The Apostle Paul said, “Brothers, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:25 ESV). One of the greatest gifts a church can give their pastor—their leaders—is PRAYER. “It is at a fearful expense that ministers are ever allowed to enter the pulpit without being preceded, accompanied, and followed by the earnest prayers of the churches. It is no marvel that the pulpit is so powerless, and ministers so often disheartened when there are so few to hold up their hands....

When the churches cease to pray for ministers, ministers will no longer be a blessing to the churches” (Gardiner Spring,1785–1873).

The Apostle Paul said, “...that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand...” (Ephesians 6:13-14, ESV). Stand where you been stood!

COPY THIS and give it your church!

ds@adcag.org

MICHAEL D. SHARP, D.MIN. DISTRICT SECRETARY-TREASURER msharp@adcag.org

CAN THE BIBLE BE HARD TO UNDERSTAND? “Bear in mind that our Lord’s pa2ence means salva2on, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with

the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his le@ers, speaking in them of these ma@ers. His le@ers contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruc2on.” (2 Peter 3:15-16)

God’s Word is meant to be a light that illuminates our minds with the knowledge of God, giving us wisdom, guidance, and much more. We should always take great care that we’re reading God’s Word well. The idea that all of God’s Word is equally easy understand, that anyone can do this without any training or mentoring, has caused great damage in the Body of Christ. Such aKtudes have produced many aberrant teachings and behaviors from New Testament Nmes through today.

Peter warned all churches that some untrained, unstable teachers were distorNng Paul’s leOers. A New Testament leOer is the easiest kind of literature in the enNre Bible to read. Peter wrote his warning to people who were Paul’s contemporaries, living in the same Nme and culture, speaking the same language. And yet, “ignorant” teachers were misunderstanding Paul. Here, “ignorant” means without knowledge from instrucNon. These people had not been taught how to read and understand Paul’s words. Therefore, they were “unstable”, blown about by every wind of teaching (Ephesians 4). Being untrained, they “distorted” God’s Word, misinterpreNng it, teaching error. “DestrucNon” for the teachers and hearers would result.

Under the Holy Spirit’s inspira2on, Peter declares that some por2ons of Scripture, including some of Paul’s le@ers are “hard to understand.” Without proper training there is a great danger of distorNng the Bible when one teaches and preaches.

All of this was true when Paul wrote leOers to contemporary readers. How much more is it true of more difficult parts of Scripture, and of we who are separated by thousands of miles, years, and linguisNc and cultural differences from Peter and Paul. Far more than the untrained teachers of Peter’s day, I need help in understanding and teaching God’s holy Word. I need help from pastors and teachers who themselves are well trained, so that I will read the Bible well and will not in my ignorance distort them and teach error. I need the best learning aids that I can access. I need to work hard at this all of my life.

At the end of his life, Paul told Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Paul told Timothy to work hard doing this, lifelong, unNl he met God. Paul’s primary focus in his own ministry, Timothy’s ministry, everyone’s ministry, is on study, prayer, learning, and labor in preaching and teaching God’s Word! Not fads or gimmicks, not hype or emoNon, not music or events or leadership, but the preaching and teaching of God’s Word in the Spirit’s Power! Everything else is subsidiary, secondary, either a help to, or a result of, having correctly handled the Word of God when I studied it, preached it, taught it!

Working hard as a brotherhood of teachers to carefully study Scripture was a defining mark of apostolic ministry. Luke took the Nme to record high praise for the Jews in Berea for their response to ChrisNan preaching: They were more “noble” because they were not only eager to hear the gospel, but they examined the Scriptures daily to verify the truth of what Paul’s team was teaching! (Acts 17:11) Do not simply accept what a preacher or teacher says! From qualified teachers learn how to read the Bible well.

Carefully examine the Bible to see if what any speaker says is true. Is the speaker’s interpretaNon true to that passage, that book, the whole Bible? If not, then sib carefully anything he says. Keep the good, reject the rest.

He may be an ignorant and unstable teacher, misunderstanding God’s Word to his own destrucNon. You should not receive his errors. Learn to correctly handle the Word of Truth, including those porNons hard to understand, and walk in the Light of Life. It is a lifelong labor of love.

(334) 279-7172 Ext. 4

CE DIRECTOR: VINT A. NORRIS

vnorris@adcag.org www.adcag.org

Upcoming Events Deep Sea Outing - July 18-20

BGMC Pheasant Hunt - Oct 11

Alabama Invasion - Oct 4-6

BGMC Fire Bibles - Nov-Dec

For more info, please contact Kristi Norris @ knorris@adcag.org or call (334) 279-7172 Ext. 4

Sunday School Tithe January-May 2019

BGMC Giving January-May 2019

Butler First A/G......................... $750.00 Yarbo A/G...................................$641.20 The Summit Church, B'ham..... $616.00 Lomax A/G................................. $500.00 Faith A/G....................................$363.10 Fountain of Life Church............$310.00 Life Church of the A/G.............. $300.00 Temple A/G................................ $281.43 Cornerstone A/G, Jasper.......... $250.00 The Crossing.............................. $250.00 Harper's Joy A/G....................... $250.00 Kingwood A/G............................$250.00 Montgomery First A/G..............$250.00

Phenix City First A/G........ $6,304.00 Montgomery First A/G...... $5,153.72 Bethel A/G, Ariton............. $5,000.00 Jackson First A/G.............. $4,684.72 Clearwater A/G.................. $4,175.00 Robertsdale A/G................. $2,299.78 Thompson Chapel A/G.......$2,106.22 Pinedale A/G.......................$2,000.00 New Home A/G................... $1,870.00 Georgetown A/G.................$1,772.81

The Retreat 2019 We had a great time at The Retreat 2019 for our senior adults. We had over 130 people in attendance. Justin Fennell came and brought comic relief, & we received great ministry from Former Attorney General, John Ashcroft. Through his unique song ministry, God ministered and refreshed our seniors. We had a great time from the fishing tournament hosted by Mickey Cochran, to bingo, to the shooting range, to relaxing, & more! Make plans to join us next year for The Retreat 2020. Our speaker will be Assistant General Superintendent, Alton Garrison.

Congratulations to our JBQ winners for the 2018-2019 season: Sacred Fire (Montgomery first AG) 1st Place Jesus League (Montgomery First AG) 2nd Place

2019 Kids Camp was AMAZING this year! God’s presence was so real. Thank you everyone for your prayers and support! The following are our Kids Camp Stats for 2019: Total Camp Attendance........................ 2,516 Salvations................................................ 265 Rededication.......................................... 775 Baptism in the Holy Spirit.................... 294 Holy Spirit Refillings............................. 273 Healed..................................................... 268 Called into Ministry.............................. 359

A special congratulations goes to our 2018 BGMC Children's Awards Winners, Sophie Creamer & Kinsley Montgomery. Both girls did an outstanding job giving to BGMC and shining the light of Jesus!

RR Pow Pow Our Alabama Royal Rangers enjoyed a wonderful POW WOW this past month! God blessed & the boys that attended were touched by the Lord. Each night they had 4050 boys in the altar seeking God & his will for their lives.

Congratulations to Evers Capps for receiving the E3 Award! No other royal ranger in Alabama history has ever received this award.

We have had several KidMin training sessions throughout the state this year. Children’s Pastors/Leaders sign up for one of these training days in your section.

There is no charge for these sessions.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2019 HALL OF FAITH INDUCTEES Stan and Christine Broadus were chosen for our Ministerial Hall of Faith Award, & Benny and Beverly Lindsey were chosen for our Laity Hall of Faith Award.

Congratulations to these choice servants of God!

ALABAMA DISTRICT MISSIONS & MEN’S MINISTRIES DISTRICT DIRECTOR

DAVID STRAHAN

email: dstrahan@adcag.org

us & world missions

church planting & development

men’s ministry

lftl

MEN’S ENCOUNTER September 12-14 @ Springville Camp

Guest Speaker

Choco De Jesús

Men’s Director

David Strahan

REGISTRATION $50 deposit per person + balance due at camp check-in Early Registration by August 19th $125 per person After August 19th $150 per person

Lodges are First Come First Serve…We Can NOT Guarantee your room type Registration Deposits are Transferable, BUT NOT REFUNDABLE

To REGISTER ONLINE:

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=6cdulgdab&oeidk=a07eg7mwuesf9774627

SCCC SKEET SHOOT Friday, September 13, 2019

Wheels of Faith LFTL Benefit Motorcycle Ride Friday, September 13

COST: REGISTRATION INFORMATION

$5.00 per round If you bring your own gun and ammo

Tournament to be held Friday, September 13, 2019 9:00 am-12:00 pm

$10.00 per round If we furnish gun and ammo

$5.00 PER PERSON $15.OO FOR A TEAM

REGISTRATION DEADLINE Monday, August 19, 2019

Schedule: 9:00 am-11:00 am morning session 1:30 pm-3:30 pm afternoon session

Billy Smith—WOF State President & Captain Contact # 334-322-3705 $25.00 per rider to raise funds for LFTL Fire Bibles Early Registration Post Marked by August 19, 2019

13th Annual

MISSIONS Golf Tournament (LFTL, Sponsorship for Teen Challenge, and Panama Missions Trip)

Grill Gompetition

RTJ GOLF TRAIL AT SILVER LAKES

Thursday, September 12, 2019

1 SunBelt Parkway, Glencoe, AL 35905 Located in Northeast Alabama, between Anniston and Gadsden, Silver Lakes is set on rolling terrain with stunning views of the surrounding Appalachian foothills. Silver Lakes also boasts 36 holes of newly renovated Champion ultra dwarf putting surfaces, arguably the best on the Trail.

Head Cook:_____________________________________ Team Name:___________________________ Church:_______________________________________________________________________________ Contact Number:___________________________Email:________________________________________ Category Entries:

INFORMATION: 4 MAN SCRAMBLE

September 13, 2019

(Bring your own team, or you will be assigned to one.)

8:00 AM SHOTGUN START (Sign in before 8:00 a.m.)

$75 PER PERSON $300 PER TEAM (Includes cart, green fees, range balls, lunch, and prizes.)

HOLE SPONSORSHIP $500.00 To sponsor a hole, all proceeds go to MISSIONS!

________ Brisket

________ Chicken

________ Ribs

——Prizes for each category will be Awarded—— ——Four Man Teams—— ——Sites open at Daybreak for setup——Judging begins at 5:30 PM—— Teams must Register by August 19th to receive Free t-shirts. 4-shirts per team.

Extra shirts are available to purchase for $15 each.

Grill Competitors are able to come up on Wednesday night at an extra cost of $10 per man # of Men coming on Wednesday night $__________

LUNCH & AWARDS CEREMONY (Ceremony will be held immediately following the tournament.)

______ Boston Butt

For more information, please contact Jeff Scurlock at 251-363-8652.

Please mail registration forms to Alabama District Council, ATTN: Men’s Department 5919 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36117

REGISTER online at: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=6cdulgdab&oeidk=a07eg7mwuesf9774627

For Registration Information: Please call 334-279-7172 ext. 5 or email ssowers@adcag.org

adcag.org

334-279-7172 ext. 5

ssowers@adcag.org

To REGISTER online go to: h"p://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=6cdulgdab&oeidk=a07eg7mwuesf9774627

All Men’s Encounter Information including registration forms, waivers, posters

and flyers can be downloaded at: www.adcag.org under the Men’s Encounter Events page.

For more information, contact the Men’s Department at 334-279-7172 ext. 5

Men’s Stateside Missions Trip Smoky Mountain Dream Center

August 18-23, 2019

LIMITED SPACE!! ONLY 20 SPOTS AVAILABLE

MISSIONARIES Keith & Alicia Hall

Please send all payments to the Alabama District Office ATTN: Men’s Ministries

5919 Carmichael Road, Montgomery, AL 36117

TEAM LEADER Bobby Formby

COST $350 per man

DEPOSIT $100 by July 1st to reserve spot

BALANCE DUE August 1st

FOR MORE INFORMATION Please call 334-279-7172 ext 5 or email ssowers@adcag.org

The Acts 2 Journey has changed the future of churches that have chosen to participate in the cohorts. Over 65% of those that took the journey reversed from declining and plateauing to growing as a healthy church again. Let’s make Alabama AG churches healthy and reach those that need to find Jesus. Plan to be a part of our journey to being a Healthy Church network—join a cohort.

Please email info@adcag.org to learn more about this opportunity for you and the leadership team of your church.

South Campus

North Campus

September 6-7, 2019

November 1-2, 2019

December 6-7, 2019

February 7-8, 2020

February 28-29, 2020

May 1-2, 2020

June 5-6, 2020

July 31-August 1, 2020

Remaining ALSOM 2019 Class Schedule Class Date

Level 1 Courses (Certified)

Level 2 Courses (Licensed)

Level 3 Courses (Ordained)

August 10 August 10 August 17

BIB 121 Introduction to Hermeneutics

THE 245 Eschatology

MIN 327 Church Administration, Finance and Law

September 7 September 7 September 7

MIN 123 The Local Church in Evangelism

MIN 251 Effective Leadership

MIN 381 Pastoral Ministry

October 5 October 5 October 12

MIN 181 Relationships and Ethics in Ministry

MIN 281 Conflict Management for Church Leaders

November 2 November 2 November 9

MIN 171 A Spirit Empowered Church

MIN 261 Introduction to AG Missions

No Class Period for Ministerial Internships (MI)

MIN 191 Beginning MI

MIN 291 Intermediate MI

(Black denotes North Campus – Horizon)

MIN 391 Advanced MI

(Blue denotes Southeast Campus – Newton)

(Red denotes Southwest Campus – Evergreen) You may contact the office of the ALSOM Director and District Secretary-Treasurer, Dr. Michael D. Sharp, for more information at 334-279-7172 # 8, or msharp@adcag.org.

A Registration Form may be found on the ALSOM page at www.adcag.org We have a new location for our ALSOM North Campus - Horizon Church (Assemblies of God) in Vestavia. We express our deepest appreciation to Pastor Jerry Lankford and Evangel Mt Olive for hosting our North Campus for 7 years. Pastor Jerry has retired and under new Pastor Jonathan Lankford the church is beginning some remodeling. Many thanks to Pastor Joe Comer and Horizon Church for hosting our new ALSOM North Campus. Horizon Church is very easy to access, located about 1.4 miles from I65 at...Horizon Church, 2345 Columbiana Rd, Birmingham, AL 35216.

BOOK REVIEW-MIRACLES! “WE HAVE HERE PERHAPS THE BEST BOOK EVER WRITTEN ON MIRACLES IN THIS OR ANY AGE.” Ben Witherington III, Asbury Seminary Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts, 2 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2011, 1,172 pages.

Craig Keener is a Pentecostal and a graduate of AGTS who earned a PhD at Duke University is a premier New Testament scholar. He has wriMen over 200 arNcles and 25 books, including highly regarded commentaries on MaMhew, John, Acts, and GalaNans.

Miracles grew from a footnote in Acts to what scholars are calling the best, most comprehensive book on miracles ever wriMen. Miracles covers the enNre spectrum of issues associated with claims of supernatural miracles, from those in Scripture to the present day. Keener deals with all of the philosophical objecNons to the possibility of miracles, as well as with the problems of false claims, psychosomaNc illnesses, alternaNve explanaNons, and miracles in other religions. His research and documentaNon meet the highest scholarly standards, but his wriNng is warm and easy to read.

The author states his two-part thesis early on. That thesis is that eyewitnesses do offer miracle claims beginning in the gospels and conNnuing to the present day, and although supernatural claims are not suitable explanaNons in every case, they should be fully considered as possible explanaNons. Keener begins by examining the ancient evidence for miracles, first with Jesus and his early followers, then among Jewish and pagan sources. He compares these, demonstraNng some similariNes but many differences, and revealing that the ancients were oWen skepNcal, not gullible, about miraculous claims.

Keener next deals with the anN-supernatural arguments and bias so pervasive in the West since David Hume and the advent of raNonalism. The author provides an extensive explanaNon of anN-supernaturalism’s development and its effect on Western culture, including religion. He carefully explores the many weaknesses of the Humean arguments, and shows them to be based on inadequate data, personal experience, and materialisNcally biased presupposiNons. Hume’s racism and raNonalism’s ethnocentric worldview are examined and are proven completely inadequate for engaging today’s mulNcultural global context.

In Part 3 Keener surveys the vast amount of tesNmony to miracles from anNquity to the present day. His methodology is to seek reliable verificaNon, carefully idenNfy false claims, differenNate organic and psychosomaNc diseases, and consider alternaNve explanaNons. The survey spans the enNre historical and geographical expanse of ChrisNanity, examining miracle reports from all faith tradiNons and from non-ChrisNan religions. The author addresses the decline in frequency of miracles once the Church is established in a region.

Throughout his wriNng Keener interacts with primary sources, tesNmonies, and verificaNons, as well as objecNons or alternaNve explanaNons. One chapter organizes even more accounts according to the kinds of miracles claimed. These amazing stories glorify God page a?er page. A final secNon gives detailed answers to objecNons offered by unbelievers, and then provides further examples of medically verified miracles from Western contexts. Keener includes his own eyewitness accounts and those of trustworthy family and friends.

The author deals with theological problems related to miracles, such as the “prosperity” or “hyper-faith” false teachings. He clearly affirms God’s sovereign right to grant or withhold miracles, regardless of the “faith” or “confession” of the one praying or in need. Numerous examples of unbelieving or non-ChrisNan people receiving miracles are also included. Keener consistently writes from a solid biblical, historical, and theological base. AWer 768 pages of amazing research, substanNated throughout with copious documentaNon, Keener concludes with over 400 pages of appendices, bibliography, and indices. Subjects treated there include spirit possession and exorcism in anNquity and today, and miraculous dreams and visions.

Miracles is regarded by historians and missiologists as the best book on miraculous phenomena ever wriQen. It’s scholarly acumen, documentaNon, and orthodoxy guarantees its powerful impact on Western ChrisNanity for many years.

Keener has done the enNre ChrisNan Church a monumental service. Pentecostal ministers should have this amazing book in their library.

Michael D. Sharp, D.Min. District Secretary-Treasurer

ALABAMA DISTRICT COUNCIL OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

DISTRICT OFFICERS

Kenneth Draughon

Vint Norris

District Superintendent

District Christian Education Director

John A. Loper, Jr.

Steven Mason

Assistant Superintendent

District Youth Ministries Director

Michael D. Sharp District Secretary-Treasurer

David Strahan District Missions/Men’s Director

GENERAL PRESBYTERS Cynthia Draughon

Kenneth Draughon Murray Kelley George Sawyer

District Women’s Ministries Director

DATA CHANGES NEW MINISTERS/UPGRADE

TRANSFERRED IN

NEW CHURCHES

LICENSED MINISTER

TIMOTHY J. CRAVENS (O) ATHENS, AL

HOPE CHURCH, AUBURN RYAN BACHMAN, PASTOR

CHRISTINA J. ROGERS

ORDAINED MINISTER MATTHEW A. KLIMIS TIFFANY VINCENT

PASTORAL CHANGES RIVER OF LIFE, DEMOPOLIS, AL JEFF WALTERS, PASTOR

Sectional Committee Members Section Andalusia Anniston Baldwin Co Birmingham Cullman Demopolis Dothan Enterprise Mobile Monroeville Montgomery Phenix City Sylacauga Tennessee Valley Tuscaloosa

Presbyter George L Arnett Marty Phillips Michael Lynn David Wooten Michael Joyner Scottie Fulcher Eddie Littlefield James F Smith Sr. Jerry Jenkins Jeff Scurlock Randy Reid Barry Danner Keith Jones David Kelley Charles Lenn

In Loving Memory…

Assistant Presbyter Lane Simmons Joe Simmons Ferron Smith Clark White Steven Moore Kevin Lewis Thomas Harrison Dwight Johnson David Edwards Russ McDonald Greg Kelley Tony Willis Michael Waldrop Nick Martinez Chad Payne

Secretary Ray Bundy Jeremie Harrison Judd Sessions Tommy Conner Jack Thorn Jeff Walters Tommy Giddens Scott Crooms John White Chuck Morris Jim Ingram Boyd Cochran Seth Jones Jason Parnell Darryl Ballew

Alabama District Council Alabama District Council ofof the Assemblies of God the Assemblies of God 5919 Carmichael Road 5919 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 36117-2507 Montgomery, AL 36117-2507

Lambert Lake