The Alabama Messenger May/June 2019

The

ALABAMA

MESSENGER

May/June 2019 Volume 33/Number 3

ALABAMA KIDS MINISTRY presents

Kids Camp 2019

For more information visit www.adcag.org, under the events tab.

Ken Draughon DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT ds@adcag.org

ADC19 is in the books! It was an amazing District Council at Knollwood Church in Mobile with Missionary Larry Henderson opening the council at the Missions Banquet. Then, I was privileged to preach, “The King is Coming!” Tuesday morning, Pastor Mike Allard preached during our missions emphasis service. During the business session on Tuesday afternoon, I was re-elected as your superintendent and I want to thank you for your confidence. General Superintendent Doug Clay preached the last three services concluding with the Ordination service. We want to congratulate our 2019 Ordination Class:

Derek Kendel Draughon, Mandi Thrasher Perkins, Rusty Lynn Perkins, Marlene Linnea Craft, Wesley Steven Stanley, Andrea Opal Sprinkle, Edward Phillip Rayburn, Patricia Dawn Pierson, Angel Rodriguez and John Bradley Gaillard You have accomplished the highest honor the Assemblies of God bestows upon credentialed ministers. I am proud of you for your advancement in our fellowship.

I want to thank Pastor Joe and Angela Lee and their team for the awesome hospitality they displayed during our time in their house. Pastor Mark Moore and his worship team were wonderful.

During ADC19, I shared an opportunity for you and your church to become involved in Alabama’s Church Heath Network through becoming a member of one of our two Acts 2 Journey Cohorts. We will have one in the North Region and another in the South Region. If you think you might be interested email me for details at ds@adcag.org.

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

BEGINNING WITH MOSES … HE INTERPRETED TO THEM ALL THE SCRIPTURES On the afternoon of Resurrection Day, the risen Lord Jesus Christ joined two of his disciples who were walking down the road to Emmaus. Distraught over the crucifixion, they did not recognize Jesus. Christ soon turned their conversation to the Old Testament Scriptures, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). The word “interpreted” is translated “explained” in the NIV and “expounded” in the KVJ, both of which relate to the best translation, which is “interpreted.” The original word is a version of hermeneuo, meaning to interpret, explain, translate, give the meaning. As Jesus’ words opened the Scriptures to them, enabling them to understand how the Old Testament pointed forward to Messiah and was being fulfilled in Messiah, their hearts began burning within them. Then, when Christ broke and blessed the bread, their eyes were finally opened, and they knew it was Jesus!

After Jesus left them, those two disciples hurried back to Jerusalem to find the Eleven and other disciples.

They excitedly shared their story, and then Jesus appeared to that gathering as well. “He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures” “(Luke 24:44-45).

It is clear that, when Jesus did this same thing in His first two post-resurrection appearances, and when under the Spirit’s inspiration Luke carefully reported both of those moments in the Gospel, God was shining a brilliant spotlight on this truth: Jesus forever exalted knowing how to correctly understand the Scriptures as the primary, indispensable starting point for His Church. This is a focal point of Luke 24. The opening of the disciples’ hearts-minds-eyes depended on the opening of the Scriptures. In other words, until Jesus correctly interpreted and explained God’s Word to them, they could not see, understand, or believe. Everything depended on the Book being correctly understood and believed as it revealed Jesus of Nazareth for who He really was and what He really did, leading to obedient submission to Christ as Lord and God! From Resurrection Sunday until His ascension forty days later, Jesus spent his time with the disciples teaching them how to correctly read the Old Testament through Himself, His person and His work. In His final forty days on this Earth, Christ conducted a forty-day hermeneutics seminar! Many of these followers had been with Him for over three years. How much more do we continually need to grow in our ability to correctly interpret and understand God’s Word!

Luke 24 is a glorious chapter, bringing together the redemptive history of God from Genesis to Revelation.

Under the Holy Spirit’s guidance, Luke crafted this chapter as the explanation of the crucifixion, and as the bridge into the Book of Acts, the second volume of his two-volume work. There, in Acts 1-2 and beyond, the story continues without interruption. We move from the crucifixion, to resurrection, to ascension, and the outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost which proves that Jesus truly was Messiah and Lord. There at Pentecost the breath and fire of God’s Presence forever marked the followers of Jesus as the People of God, God’s image upon the Earth, God’s unique and final temple, the meeting place of God and humanity. There the Church was launched into sacrificial, supernatural Gospel ministry until Christ returns.

How important is it to have God-given principles of interpretation guiding our Bible reading, our study, our teaching and preaching? Well, according to Jesus Christ, it is the mission critical cornerstone of your service to God. Sound hermeneutics, with Christ as the lens and as the fulfillment through which all Scripture is understood, produces everything else: Understanding, seeing, believing, obeying, following Jesus into the Mission of God. I think I will agree with Jesus and continually learn more about understanding God’s Word. How about you?

vnorris@adcag.org (334) 279-7172 Ext. 4

CE DIRECTOR: VINT A. NORRIS

www.adcag.org

We are so excited about Kids Camp 2019! It is going to be another great year with awesome speakers, new lake activities, fun times with friends, and most of all we are expecting God to touch and change the lives of children. Send your applications in today to register!

MAY 3-4 SE Regionals - Evangel Church, Montgomery JUNE 6-8 National JBQ Finals - Tuscon, AZ SEPTEMBER 7 JBQ Match - Moffett Road A/G OCTOBER 12 JBQ Match - Evangel Church, Montgomery

May 18th Fountain of Life Church August 17th Weatherly Road A/G Follow us on facebook @ Alabama AG Children's Ministries, Alabama Senior Adult Minitries, & Alabama JBQ

September 28th Life Church, B'Ham

2019 Projects Mark Sasser - Peru Needed - $1,551.26 Ministry Resources Target - #920072-6

Jon McCluey - Colombia Needed - $2,875.98 Ministry Resources Target - #920073-4

Justin White - Romania Needed - $50,000.00 Dream Center Target - #020559-1

Sunday School Tithe January-March 2019

Yarbo A/G.................................. $641.20 The Crossing.............................. $200.00 Oak Grove A/G...........................$192.30 Temple A/G................................ $177.43 Harper's Joy A/G....................... $150.00 Kingwood A/G............................$150.00 Life Church of the A/G.............. $150.00 Montgomery First A/G............. $150.00 Faith Assembly of God............. $146.50 Florala First A/G....................... $120.00 Liberty A/G................................ $120.00 Moffett Road A/G...................... $120.00

Larry Henderson - Austria Needed - $22,456.00 Ladies Conference Target - #920047-8

Tim Jones - NXTGEN Needed - $9,376.84 Equipment/Supplies Target - #920066-8

Alabama Teen Challenge Needed - $3,492.05 Training Materials Target - #920074-4

BGMC Giving January-March 2019 Clearwater A/G........................ $4,175.00 Phenix City First A/G...............$2,200.00 Montgomery First A/G.............$2,142.41 New Home A/G......................... $1,870.00 Jackson First A/G.................... $1,363.29 Weatherly Road A/G................$1,350.00 Knollwood A/G......................... $1,300.59 Thompson Chapel A/G............. $1,281.16 Georgetown A/G....................... $1,235.81 Pleasant Grove First A/G........ $1,186.09

Alabama Youth Ministries ALABAMAYOUTHMINISTRIES.COM

DISTRICT YOUTH DIRECTOR: STEVEN

A. MASON

EMAIL: DYDSEC@ADCAG.ORG

JAN-MARCH 2019

YOUTH GROUP

OFFERINGS PINEDALE, CLANTON- $600 DOTHAN FIRST- $158 JACKSON FIRST- $150 MONTGOMERY FIRST- $150 MOFFETT RD, MOBILE- $100 EVANGEL, MONTGOMERY- $75 EL BETHEL, NEW BROCKTON- $70 SHELBY CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP$60 SUMITON FIRST- $60 TUSCALOOSA FIRST- $60

JAN-MARCH 2019

TOP TEN

BETHEL, ARITON-$7,974.00 MONTGOMERY FIRST- $5,225.69 PHENIX CITY FIRST- $4,200.00 LIFE CHURCH, RAINBOW CITY$3,810.00 DALEVILLE ASSEMBLY- $2,910.00 HAW HILL, BRUNDIDGE- $2,295.88 VINCENT REVIVAL CENTER$1,412.00

We are very excited about Alabama Youth Camp 2019! We have four anointed speakers lined up, along with many games, activities, and powerful worship services! You do not want to miss bringing your students to the most exciting week of their summer. Please see our website at www.alabamayouthministries.com or contact the AYM office for any questions you may have regarding online registration. We hope you can join us for an incredible time!

JACKSON FIRST- $1,183.02 FOLEY ASSEMBLY- $1040.00 CALVARY TEMPLE, ANNISTON$840.46

On the weekend of March 8th & 9th, approximately 1,600 students and leaders gathered in Orange Beach for Youth Convention. The weather was beautiful, the attitudes and hearts of our students were awesome, and the atmosphere of worship was electric.

Dawson Davis of Lomax Assembly, Clanton was presented with the Ralph W. Harris Award. Dawson caught the vision of missions and STL, and single-handedly raised $3,000 for Speed the Light.

The Campus Missionary of the Year Award was presented to Hannah Kelley of Gulf Shores High School and Island Church, Orange Beach. Hannah has shown exceptional ministry to her school, and we are very proud of her.

Our special guests, River Valley Worship, Robert Madu, Chris Estrada, Josh Wellborn, Gawvi and Brandon Styles excited and challenged our students with excellent preaching and anointed worship that brought our students into the presence of God. Thank you to all the churches, youth leaders, and staff who helped make Youth Convention 2019 an amazingly great success. We love our AYM family.

Our twentieth annual Speed the Light Grand Club Banquet was held on Wednesday March 22, at the RSA Activities Center in downtown Montgomery. The Lord was gracious to us, and blessed us with a wonderful banquet.

Awards and recognitions were presented to the following churches; First Place, Dothan First Assembly at $63,801.52, while second place went to Montgomery First, giving $59,160.06. Third Place giving of $36,000 went to Phenix City First while Jackson First Assembly was in fourth place at $29,625.47. In fifth place was Ozark First at $27,500, and rounding out our Diamond Award Churches was Vincent Revival Center, with a total giving of $25,000.

The Top Per Capita giving church was Jackson First Assembly, giving a total of $29,625.47 ($237 pp). The other top 4 per capita churches were Sumiton First Assembly, $8,242 ($183.16 pp); Dothan First Assembly $63,801.52 ($180.23 pp); Piney Grove, Samson, $3,000.00 ($157.89 pp); and Newton First at $15,480 ($148.85 pp).

The top five churches in increased giving from the previous year are Montgomery First with a $27,337.91 increase, Jackson First Assembly with a $14,682.97 increase. Third place goes to Vincent Revival Center with a $13,489.30 increase in giving. City Church of Mobile had an $11,538.56 increase and rounding out the top five churches is Hartselle First Assembly with increased giving of $10,700. In total, we had 64 churches who increased their giving this past year.

We also honored 23 students who individually gave over $1,000 to Speed the Light in 2018. We presented the Ralph W. Harris Award to the student who has made the most significant and sacrificial contribution to STL in the past year. Dawson Davis of Lomax Assembly, Clanton single-handedly gave $3,000 to Speed the Light. We are very proud of him and the sacrificial giving of all our Grand Club students who caught the vision of missions.

The Alabama District is honored to be recognized nationally as a Speed the Light District. We are happy to report that through the mercies of God and your faithfulness, we had an incredible year once again. Congratulations to our churches, who by your sacrificial giving, made the Alabama District 2nd in the nation with a total giving of $622,000. Â Special congratulations to Dothan First who placed 9th in the nation, and Montgomery First who placed 15th in the nation. We give all the glory to God for his rich blessings.

We’d like to give special thanks to our 94 Grand Club Churches - those who gave at least $1,000 to Speed the Light in 2018. Through the giving of our churches, we have not only assisted some of the very best missionaries in the world who represent Alabama, but we have helped many Assemblies of God national and international ministries spread the gospel around the world. THANK YOU!

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, 2019 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.

MARK 12:30

Guest Speaker

Wilfredo “Choco” De Jesús

District Men’s Director David Strahan

Early Bird Registration —Cost $125.00 per person

must be postmarked by August 23, 2019

Registration deposit due $50 per person

(Deposits are non-refundable)

Starting AUGUST 26—Cost $150.00 per person

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN! Lodges are First Come First Serve Registration deposit per man must be paid to hold Lodge rooms

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MAKE PLANS NOW TO ATTEND REGISTER ONLINE AT: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event? llr=6cdulgdab&oeidk=a07eg7mwuesf9774627

For more information visit: www.adcag.org, under the Events tab.

Living Your Faith Full Circle

Thank you to all those who are faithful in your support of our missionaries!

The Alabama District gave $9,323,993.17 (This includes STL, BGMC, AGWM, LFTL, and AIM)

Stateside Missions Trip Smoky Mountain Dream Center

MISSIONARIES Keith & Alicia Hall

TEAM LEADER Bobby Formby

DATES AUGUST 19-23, 2019

COST $350 per man FOR MORE INFORMATION

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

A 360Man is committed to living the Acts 2:42-47 principles, behaviors, and plans that God has given to each man regardless of background, vocation, life story, or calling.

Become a 360 MAN today!

Alabama Women’s Ministries Director: Cyndi Draughon

for every woman...

UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES: Charleston Missions Outreach June 18-23, 2019

FALL WOMEN’S RETREAT september 19-21, 2019 AT SPRINGVILLE CAMP

THURSDAY

-EVENING SERVICE FRIDAY

-WORKSHOPS -AFTERNOON FREE TIME -EVENING SERVICE SATURDAY

-BREAKFAST -PACK & HEAD HOME

student Registration

general registration $40 Deposit + Balance Due Upon Arrival

$40 Deposit + $40 Due Upon Arrival $80 Total Per Student STUDENT PRICING IS FOR AGES 14-18

$120 Total Per Person- Cabin $130 Total Per Person- Lodge

*MORE INFO TO COME

EVENT HOST

CYNDI DRAUGHON ALABAMA WOMEN’S DIRECTOR

GUEST SPEAKER GUEST SPEAKER

PHYLLIS SAWYER

RG G.O A C AD

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ENGAGE Fall Women’s Retreat September 19-21, 2019 with Guest Speakers Phyllis Sawyer & Nicole Richey.

SPECIAL THANK YOU LIFE RALLY TOUR

WITH SPECIAL SISTERHOOD & LEGACY EVENTS

NICOLE RICHEY

to work with Rev. Charles Taylor, Charleston First Assembly, and Rural Mission.

ORG AG. C D A LL@ SSE U R T

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72 -71 9 7 -2 334

Ladies, each section went above and beyond what I could have hoped for during the Life Rally and Girls Night Out tour. It’s one of the highlights of my year to be able to travel to your local area to spend time with you in the places you call home. I believe 2019 will be a year to break new records for Women’s Missions Giving. I would love to see EVERY LADY in the state give $100. With this, we can easily surpass $100,000! Will you make this challenge to the women of your church?

Alabama Girls Ministries Coordinator: Kristi Norris

her heart... her world... His purpose

GIRLS CAMP 2019

Please email knorris@adcag.org for more info.

Congratulations to the

Ordination Class of 2019

Marlene Linnea Craft

Derek Kendel Draughon

Mandi Thrasher Perkins

John Bradley Gaillard

Patricia Dawn Pierson

Angel Rodriguez

Rusty Lynn Perkins

Edward Phillip Rayburn

Andrea Opal Sprinkle

Wesley Steven Stanley

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) BIB 117 Prison Epistles

Level 2 Courses (Licensed) MIN 223 Introduction to Homiletics

Level 3 Courses (Ordained) MIN 325 Preaching in the Contemporary World

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

May 11 May 11 May 25

MIN 391 Advanced MI

(Black denotes North Campus – Mt Olive) (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 ALSOM is the official ministerial training school of the Alabama District Council of the Assemblies of God. ALSOM offers exactly those courses required for ministerial credentials with the Assemblies of God. ALSOM is also open to lay leaders who simply desire to deepen their knowledge of the Word of God through formal study. The textbooks and exams are the same offered by Global University (Berean level), but the fees for tuition and for textbooks are significantly less. ALSOM offers a highly affordable, accessible, and enjoyable educational resource for your spiritual enrichment and preparation for ministry. You may apply for enrollment and begin classes at any time during our school year. For more information and for enrollment forms please access the ALSOM page on the district website at www.adcag.org.

Southeastern University is a Christ-centered institution of higher learning. We are committed to providing a Christian college education designed to equip the next generation to go into the world as influential servant leaders in their careers and their communities.

Southeastern University, 1000 Longfellow Blvd., Lakeland, FL phone: 800.500.8760

AGTS EU

VANGEL NIVERSITY

ASSEMBLIES OF GOD THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

33801

REVIEWING ACCREDITATION CRITICALLY IMPORTANT, OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD

“Your ‘credits’ will not transfer. You used an unaccredited ‘school.’ They will not sa8sfy our Fellowship’s educa8onal requirements for ministerial creden8als. You should not have tried to take the easiest, quickest, cheapest route.” Sadly, many people trying to enter the ministry are hearing these very words today.

Because of the potenLal student loan debt load, some people prefer a non-accredited educaLonal preparaLon for ministry. When that is the case, the two insLtute level opLons our District recommends are Berean School of the Bible or the Alabama School of Ministry (ALSOM). The content of these two opLons is produced by our naLonal office, covers all of the courses required for ministerial credenLals, and provides a very low-cost alternaLve for ministry preparaLon. We are always working to improve the educaLonal experience for ALSOM students. If you must use a non-accredited, low cost alternaLve, we recommend that you consider these insLtute level opportuniLes. However, if you do desire a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in prepara8on for ministry, it is extremely important that you obtain your educa8on from a properly accredited ins8tu8on. There are many Internet sites and some church-based schools that call themselves colleges, seminaries, and universiLes, claim to have some kind of accreditaLon, claim to offer all levels of authenLc degrees, but in reality, all of their claims are false. The problem of bogus degree mills and accreditaLon mills conLnues to plague ChrisLan higher educaLon. If you sense a call into ministry and you desire a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, our Fellowship strongly recommends that your first choice for educaLon be one of our regionally accredited Assemblies of God universiLes. Fully accredited degrees are available from Global and other AG universiLes through inexpensive distance educa.on.

We recommend that parents and students pursuing educaLon in any field, especially the ministry, carefully research the accreditaLon status of prospecLve schools. Never simply trust what a website, church, or minister tells you! The website may be lying, and even well-meaning churches or ministers may be misinformed.

An unaccredited or improperly accredited insLtuLon has NO real accountability for their educaLonal product.

Their degrees are not recognized, and their credits will almost never transfer to legi.mately accredited ins.tu.ons.

When you see any website try to explain away their lack of accreditaLon, or claim they are avoiding government interference, or cite an unrecognized accrediLng agency, but sLll claim to prepare you for a lifeLme of ministry, you should NOT use that insLtuLon. They are lying. It is a con. LegiLmate insLtuLons will clearly describe their nature and status and will not claim to be something they are not.

Many degree mills create fraudulent accreditaLon mills that will then turn around and “accredit” the fraudulent “educaLonal” site! Because the website looks slick and legit, because they use spiritual and educaLonal language, because they offer the quickest, cheapest way to get a “degree,” many innocent people are deceived. Even local church-based schools of ministry someLmes do not use acceptable sources for their educaLonal component. Parents should be very wary of locally produced material and all non-AG distance “educaLon” offerings.

You should thoroughly invesLgate the accreditaLon status of any “degree-granLng” “school” you consider. You may access AG Higher EducaLon at h]p://colleges.ag.org. Names of the legiLmate accrediLng agencies and other important informaLon are available at the Council for Higher EducaLon AccreditaLon, h]p://www.chea.org, and at h]p://ope.ed.gov/accreditaLon and h]p://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html.

Finally, I will be glad to speak with you at any Lme to answer quesLons about educaLon, accreditaLon, or preparing for ministry. If aaer checking the accreditaLon of a school you are sLll in any way uncertain or confused, please call the District Office and ask for Dr. Sharp. This is a life-changing decision. We are here to help you choose wisely. – Michael D Sharp, D.Min., District Secretary-Treasurer, ALSOM Director

UNDERSTANDING THE BIBLE’S GRAND STORY – MESSIANIC and MISSIONAL

“The Bible is not a mere jumble of history, poetry, lessons in morality and theology, comfor:ng promises, guiding principles and commands; instead, it is fundamentally coherent. Every part of the Bible – each event, book, character, command, prophecy, and poem – must be understood in the context of the one story line.” That story, the Bible’s grand narra:ve, is about God’s mission to redeem humanity and crea:on through Jesus Christ and establish his Kingdom forever. The books below explain that narra:ve and how it controls our understanding of Scripture. They are excellent examples of how Christ’s forty-day hermeneu:cs seminar between his Resurrec:on and Ascension (Luke 24) must control all of our biblical interpreta:on. They all are excellent works, used across the evangelical world in churches, colleges, and seminaries.

How to Read the Bible Book by Book: A Guided Tour, Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002, 444 pages.

This excellent book is a sequel to the classic book on biblical interpreta:on How to Read the Bible for All It’s Worth. In How to Read the Bible Book by Book the authors first provide an overview of the Bible’s great overarching story. Then in each succeeding chapter, beginning with Genesis and going all the way through Revela:on, the authors examine a biblical book, placing it in its proper context within the biblical story. Looking backward and forward, each book’s connec:ons and con:nuity with the rest of Scripture is clearly explained. The reader learns how to read each passage, and each book as a whole, in proper canonical context. This is a very prac:cal book. It carefully walks the reader through every biblical book and passage in the light of the Bible’s grand story. The reader learns how every book of the Bible connects to the rest of the Bible and to the overall story of redemp:on the Bible is telling. Pastors and laity alike will benefit tremendously from this work. It is quickly becoming a classic in its own right.

The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story, Craig Bartholomew and Michael Goheen, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004, 252 pages.

This book is an engaging, easy-to-read introduc:on to reading the Bible as God’s great redemp:on story. Viewing Scripture as the historical drama of God’s redeeming, kingdom-establishing work, the authors divided their book into six acts: crea:on, fall, Israel, Christ, Church, and consumma:on. The authors show how every individual story in God’s unfolding drama fits the one great story. They highlight concepts that repeatedly appear, and the themes that wind their way throughout the Bible. This sheds light on obscure passages, showing us what they really mean, why they are important, and how they should be understood. It also demonstrates both the con:nuity within each testament, and the explicit, unbroken con:nuity between the testaments as God brings his one grand story to victorious comple:on.

This great read is packed with scholarship you hardly no:ce because it’s wri^en like a story! (Free resources for teaching this book are available online.)

The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand NarraMve, Christopher Wright, Downers

Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006, 581 pages.

This book is a unique and monumental work. It is required reading for many classes in missiology, biblical theology, and hermeneu:cs. Working primarily from the Old Testament, Wright has produced the most comprehensive work ever wri^en on God’s redemp:ve mission as the central theme of God’s Word.

His primary aim was to “argue for a missiological reading of biblical theology.” The book is divided into sec:ons examining the Bible and Mission, the God of Mission, the People of Mission, and the Arena of Mission. Wright moves from crea:on, through the old and new covenants, and into the consumma:on in proving the redemp:on of the na:ons to be the driving narra:ve of God’s Word. This impelling, anima:ng theme is at the core of God’s work in Israel and its con:nua:on in Christ and his Church. God’s will to be known as God by redeeming humanity and crea:on makes a missional-messianic hermeneu:c the essen:al core of biblical interpreta:on and Chris:an life. This book is a majes:c achievement and will be a standard work in missions, theology, and interpreta:on for decades. It is simply outstanding.

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

2019 Scholarship Recipients Congratulations to the following students from Alabama Assemblies of God churches! They have been awarded scholarships through the Alabama District Scholarship Program. The program assists students who will be attending Assemblies of God universities. Three of our universities are represented among this year’s recipients: Southeastern (SEU) in Lakeland, Florida; Southwestern (SAGU) in Waxahachie, Texas; and North Central (NCU) in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Student Mary Kate Ballew Brittney Calhoun Tori English Colton Frix Hayden Hopper Kelsey Hornsby Abigail Jernigan Hannah Mason Savannah Mims Hillary Mitchell Laney Owens Ethan Pettis Eryn Simmons Ashlyn Strahan Annika Wollner

SCHOLARSHIP Minister’s Dependent Church Ministry Church Ministry Superintendent’s Church Ministry Church Ministry Minister’s Dependent Superintendent’s Church Ministry Church Ministry Superintendent’s Superintendent’s Minister’s Dependent Superintendent’s Minister’s Dependent

SCHOOL SEU SAGU SAGU SEU SEU SEU SEU SEU SEU SAGU SEU SAGU SEU SEU SEU/NCU

Remembering those…

Rev. Esther Sweet Walker Esther Walker of Union Grove, AL was born on April 21, 1948, and entered the presence of the Lord on March 30, 2019, at the age of 70.

Sis. Walker was a licensed minister with the Assemblies of God. Deeply respected by CorrecKonal staff, Esther was the first female volunteer to be recognized and trained on the equivalent of State Chaplain. She was esteemed by and known as “Mom” to many inmates at Bullock correcKonal facility. During her service of 29 years approximately 15,000 inmates took educaKon courses due to her direct and posiKve encouragement. Esther faithfully served as Asst.

Chaplain alongside her husband in the Alabama Prison System.

She is survived by her husband, Dr. Stephen Walker, one brother, 2 sisters and their families, along with an untold number of spiritual children.

…who await us.

DATA CHANGES

ALABAMA DISTRICT COUNCIL OF THE ASSEMBLIES OF GOD

NEW MINISTERS/UPGRADE: CERTIFIED MINISTER HANNAH R. BAILEY SHAWN W. BARNETT KAITLIN L. ESTES MICHAEL S. HAMILTON SUMMER L. VAN OORT THANE W. PEEBLES B. SCOTT MILLER J. ANNE MILLER

LICENSED MINISTER CHESTER A. ATWELL II KATHERINE B. ATWELL MATTHEW E. BAKER CORINA BEXLEY TIFFANY M. EASLEY AUSTIN HENDERSON TSEHAYNESH C. HENDERSON ANITA HOLLIDAY JEFFREY D. LINHOLM BRIGGS M. ROBERTS V. HAYDEN SULLIVAN TIFFANY M. VINCENT

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

DISTRICT MISSIONS/ MEN’S DIRECTOR

Kenneth Draughon

David Strahan

District Superintendent

John A. Loper, Jr.

DISTRICT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Assistant Superintendent

Vint Norris

Michael D. Sharp

DISTRICT YOUTH MINISTRIES DIRECTOR

District Secretary-Treasurer

Steven Mason

GENERAL PRESBYTERS Kenneth Draughon Murray Kelley George Sawyer

DISTRICT WOMEN’S MINISTRIES DIRECTOR

Cynthia Draughon

PASTORAL CHANGES: PINEVIEW AG, MARION, AL DAN FINNEY, PASTOR MADISON AG, MADISON, AL DANIEL DEAN, PASTOR LUSK AG, GILBERTOWN, AL JOHNATHAN JOHNSON, PASTOR

For more information on upcoming events visit the Alabama District Council of the Assemblies of God website at: www.adcag.org

FIRST AG, OPP PATRICIA KELLEY, 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 ( Vacant ) 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 of the Assemblies of God 5919 Carmichael Road Montgomery, AL 36117-2507

Lambert Lake