In Loving Memory Sis,
Lucille "NANNY"
Graham
Order of Service OPENING WORSHIP - CHOIR PROCESSIONAL SONG WELCOME ADDRESS OPENING PRAYER SCRIPTURE READING THE BACKGROUND THE AUTHORITY EXALTATION THE CREED BIOGRAPHY OF BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM BIOGRAPHY OF OVERCOMING WORLD PRAISE CENTER THE CONSECRATION SERVICE – BISHOPS AND MINISTERS PRESENTATION OF BISHOP GRAHAM’S VESTMENTS OFFERING TO SUPPORT THE NEW BISHOP AND HIS WORK THE COMMUNION SERVICE – BISHOPS ADDRESS – BISHOP MARK GRAHAM BENEDICTION RECESSIONAL SONG – CHOIR PHOTOGRAPHS RECEPTION AND LIGHT REFRESHMENTS
The Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
Guest of Honor
APOSTLE DR.
Earl Johnson
DR.
BISHOP DR.
David Azenabor
BISHOP DR.
Virgil Kincaid BISHOP .
Samuel Abbot
Ricky Randell
In January 2001, Pastor Mark was driving home to then Nocona, Texas from Wichita Falls and he heard the voice of the Lord say, “Those that hunger and thirst for righteousness, shall be filled.” In answer to the call, Pastor Mark and Linda Graham founded Overcoming Word Praise Center. In April of 2001, services were held at Booker T. Washington Alumni Building with a total of six people. After one and a half years at the alumni facility, Overcoming Word moved to a new location at 405 Galveston. As God Added to the Body, several ministries were born. These included: Children’s ministry; Youth Ministry; Ushers; Greeters; Hospitality and many more. The Church continued to prosper, and the number of disciples increased. Soon, Overcoming Word had outgrown the Galveston building as people were packed in the building for Sunday and Wednesday services. Outside of the normal seating arrangement, people were sitting in the hallway, and even a door to a closet was removed to provide additional seating. We soon moved our Sunday service to the Multi-Purpose Events Center to accommodate the influx of people. Since 2004, the church moved from building to building as the ministry expanded. Currently, Overcoming Word operating out of 29,000+ square foot facility, sitting on 6 acres of real estate at 1801 Airport Drive. The Church has established a strong church that is evangelistic, community minded, missions driven, and still a classic Pentecostal church that was deemed by a study from our university as the most multi-racial and multi-diverse church in our entire community. Overcoming Word has always drawn every race. It is not something that is done on purpose, but an anointing and gifting that organically happens wherever Pastors Mark and Linda Graham minister.
Biography of the Grahams
BISHOP ELECT DR. MARK GRAHAM AND DR. LINDA GRAHAM He was called to preach and filled with the baptism of the Holy Ghost at the age of 11, and she was saved, filled with the Holy Ghost and serving in her father’s church since a little girl is how the story of these two people begin. Meeting at a revival and falling in love is the best way to describe what happened. Pastor Mark married Pastor Linda in 1989, and in June 3rd of 1991 they sold everything they owned and bought a 24ft travel trailer and began to travel from church to church holding revivals full time. That was their life for 5 years preaching as much as 320 nights in one year and traveling as much as 42,000 miles in one 3-month period. Within that 5-year adventure they also spent 1 year in Ardmore working in their home church, Full Gospel Lighthouse, while still traveling long distances every night to preach revivals. In 1996 they pioneered their first church in Nocona, TX, the town Pastor Mark was raised in. In 2001, because of the Boot Shop closing and the town began to empty out, God spoke to them to move the ministry 49 miles to the city of Wichita Falls, and start it afresh. They started with a total of 6 people which included Pastors Mark, Pastor Linda, and their son Nathan and today that number has grown to include partners from all over the world. Pastor Mark is the Bishop of Nigeria, Liberia, and Cameroon for the Pentecostal Church of God. With the growing number of spiritual sons and daughters all over the world, our Pastors developed Overcoming Word Churches International in conjunction with the PCG. Overcoming Word now has churches, pastors, and representatives in Nigeria, Liberia, Cameroon, Kenya, Uganda, Pakistan, and India all the while supporting other missionaries in Latin American also. Through the avenue of multimedia, God has opened a huge door for Pastor Mark to minister on some of the world’s largest television networks in Honduras and in Pakistan. On any given night, tens of thousands receive healings and come to know Jesus as Lord. Whether it is through Overcoming Word, Ladies in Christ, Missions, Music, or Children’s Ministry; Pastors Mark & Linda still carry the same purpose, to do the will of God for their lives. Bishop-Elect Graham is the proud Father to Chan, Nathan, Chris, Lexi, and Jeremiah Graham and is considered their pride and joy. The oldest son Nathan married his lovely bride Kariana, and now they are blessed with a beautiful granddaughter, Melody, who has filled their life to overflowing.
CONSECRATION OF BISHOP-ELECT
Dr. Mark Graham
PRESIDING BISHOP: Honored guest, Officers of Overcoming Word Praise Center International, Bishops, Ministers, Pastors, and Church members and friends, we are here today in the presence of the Almighty God to consecrate Bishop-Elect Mark Graham. ADJUDICATORS: We present this candidate to be consecrated to the office of the Bishop of Overcoming Word Praise Center International and Bishop in the Pentecostal Church of God. PRESIDING BISHOP: Present the Bishop-Elect to the people saying: “Those who have authority to do so have chosen Bishop Elect Mark Graham as a man of Godly life and sound learning, to be a Bishop in the Pentecostal Church of God. It is therefore your will that he should be consecrated to this office.” The people will say: It is our will. BISHOP Will you uphold him in his ministry? The people will say: We will. BISHOP I call upon the representatives of the Pentecostal Church of God to pledge that the ministry will strongly support their new Bishop. BISHOP Do you, the representatives of the Pentecostal Church of God pledge on your own account and on behalf of the members and officers of the Pentecostal Church of God to support your new Bishop, willingly and in gracious service, in prayer, in finance, and in faithfully carrying out the work of the ministry both in his presence and also when he is absent, being engaged in the duties laid upon him as a Bishop in the Pentecostal Church of God and Overcoming Word Praise Center International.
THE MINISTRY REPRESENTATIVES We pledge on our own account on behalf of the Pentecostal Church of God to support Bishop-Elect Mark Graham as he carries out the duty of the office of Bishop in the Pentecostal Church of God and Overcoming word Praise Center International, in prayer, in finance, and in faithfully carrying out the work of the ministry as directed by him. BISHOP Bishop-Elect is the part of the Pentecostal churches, Holy universal and Apostolic Church, worshipping the One true God: Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. They profess faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God and savior of mankind and in the Holy Spirit. They profess the faith uniquely revealed in the Holy Scriptures and set forth in the creed, which faith the church is called upon to proclaim afresh in each generation, led by the Holy Spirit, they have borne witness to Christian faith in the midst of suffering. In the declaration you are about to make, will you affirm your loyalty to this inheritance of faith, as your inspiration and guidance under God, in bringing the grace and truth of Christ to this generation and making Him known to those in your care? BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM I do so affirm and accordingly declare my belief in the faith which is revealed in the Holy Scripture and set forth in the universal creed which has been witnessed in midst of suffering. I will uphold that faith in public worship, in prayer, and in ministration of the sacraments. BISHOP Therefore Bishop-elect Mark Graham it is necessary for you to demonstrate a servanthood as our Lord Jesus did to his disciples in the Gospel according to John Chapter 13.
CONSECRATION OF BISHOP-ELECT CONT. BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM Why would I wash their feet? BISHOP It is the will of our Lord Jesus that you wash their feet to fulfil your servanthood in mission. BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM Then I will wash their feet. BISHOP You have demonstrated your servanthood before the people of God, I will also wash your feet to prepare you for your mission, shepherding the flock of Jesus Christ. BISHOP The Bishop is called to lead in serving and caring for the people of God. As Bishop, he carries a special responsibility to maintain and further the unity of the Church, to uphold its discipline and to guide its faith. He is to promote its mission throughout the world. It is his duty to watch over and pray for all those committed to the up-building of the church and to guide them after the example of the Apostle, speaking in the name of God and interpreting the Gospel of Christ. He is to baptize and confirm, to preside over Holy Communions and to lead in offering of praise and worship. He is to be merciful, but with firmness and to minister discipline, but with mercy. He is to have a special care for the outcast and the needy; and to those who turn to God, he is to declare the forgiveness of sins. He must display a wide understanding of the broader issues of the nation and command the respect and support of the ecumenical and other faith communities. BISHOP Bishop-Elect Mark Graham, in order that we may know your mind and purpose, and that you may be strengthened in your resolve to fulfil your ministry you must take the declaration we now put to you.
BISHOP CONT. Do you believe, so far as you know your heart, that God has called you to the office and work of a Bishop in His church? BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM I believe that God has called me. BISHOP Do you accept the Holy scriptures as revealing all things necessary for eternal salvation through faith in Jesus Christ? BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM I do so accept them. BISHOP Do you believe the doctrine of the Christian faith as the Church has received it and, in your ministry, will you expand and teach them? BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM I believe it and will do so. BISHOP Will you accept the discipline of Overcoming Word Praise Center and will you faithfully carry out the tasks laid upon you in accordance with the vision of unity and obedience to Christ? BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM By the help of God, I will. BISHOP Will you be diligent in prayer, in reading the Holy Scripture, and in all studies that will deepen your faith and make you fit to uphold the truth of the Gospel against error? BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM By the help of God, I will. BISHOP Will you strive to fashion your life and that of your household according to the way of Christ?
CONSECRATION OF BISHOP-ELECT CONT. BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM By the help of God, I will.
Leader: God the Holy Spirit. People: Have mercy on us.
BISHOP Will you promote unity, peace, and love among all Christian people and especially among those you serve?
Leader: From all evil and mischief, from pride, vanity and hypocrisy, from envy, hatred and malice, and from all evil intent People: Good God, deliver us.
BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM By the help of God, I will.
Leader: From sloth, worldliness, and love of money: from hardness of heart and contempt for your words and laws. People: Good Lord, deliver us.
BISHOP Will you then be a faithful witness for Christ, to those among whom you live with and lead your people to obey our Savior’s command; to make disciples of all nations. BISHOP-ELECT MARK GRAHAM By the help of God, I will. BISHOP Almighty God, who has given you the will to undertake all these things, give you the strength to perform them so that He may complete the work which He has begun in you through Jesus Christ Our Lord.
Rev: From sin of body and mind; from the deceits of the world, the flesh, and the evil, from error and false doctrine. People: Good Lord, deliver us. Leader: In all times of sorrow, in all times of joy, in the hour of death and the day of judgement. People: Good Lord, deliver us. Leader: Govern and direct your Holy church; fill it with love and truth and grant it that unity which is your will. People: Hear us Good Lord.
Invite Bishop-Elect Mark Graham to be consecrated as a Bishop and the representatives of his ministry to sign the declaration they have just made.
Leader: Give us boldness to preach the Gospel in the entire world, and to make disciples of all nations. People: Hear us Good Lord.
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I command Bishop-Elect Mark Graham to your prayers. Do not fail to uphold him always as he undertakes the task laid upon him. Let us all stand and join in prayer for the bishop-Elect for the ministry of the whole church.
Leader: Enlighten Your minister with knowledge and understanding that by his teaching and his life that he may proclaim Your word. People: Hear us Good Lord.
Rev: (Leads the people) Leader: God the Father. People: Have mercy on us. Leader: God the Son. People: Have mercy on us.
BISHOP Leader: Bless your Bishop-Elect Mark Graham now to be Bishop, that he may serve your church, community and country and reveal Your glory in the world. People: Hear us Good Lord.
CONSECRATION OF BISHOP-ELECT CONT. Leader: Give Your people grace to hear and receive Your word and bring forth the fruit of the Holy spirit. People: Hear us Good Lord. Leader: Strengthen those who stand, comfort, and help the fainthearted, raise up the fallen and finally beat down Satan under out feet. People: Hear us Good Lord. Leader: Give us repentance; forgive our sins of negligence and ignorance, and our deliberate sins; and grant us the grace of the Holy Spirit to amend our lives according to Your Holy word. People: Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal, have mercy on us. Leader: Lord you are merciful to forgive our sins. You hear those who pray in the name of Your Son. Grant that what we have asked in faith that we may obtain according to Your will, through Jesus Christ our Lord. People: Amen. PRESIDING BISHOP All pastors, I ask to kneel for prayer of ordination. I ask the ordained church leaders, Archbishops, Bishops, and ministers to draw near. Let us pray. We praise and glorify You, almighty Father, because You have formed throughout the world the holy people for your own possession, royal priesthood, a universal church. We praise and glorify you because you have given us your only Son, Jesus Christ, to be Apostle and high priest for our faith and the shepherd of our souls. We praise and glorify you that by his death and that having ascended into heaven, He has given gifts abundantly to your people, making some apostles, some prophet, some evangelist, some pastors and teachers; to equip them for the work of the ministry and build up His body.
PRESIDING BISHOP CONT. And now we give thanks that you have called these your servants, whom we have inaugurated in Your name, to share this ministry entrusted to Your church. Amen. (The Presiding Bishop will lay their hands with oil on the candidate being Ordained and the ministries stretch forth their hands towards them.) PRESIDING BISHOP Send down your Holy Spirit upon your servant for their office and work of your church. Amen. PRESENTATION OF BISHOP’S VESTMENTS OFFERING to support the New Bishop and his assignments from God. THE COMMUNION SERVICE Bishops ADDRESS Bishop Mark Graham Benediction Presiding Bishop Almighty Father fills your servant with the grace and power which you gave to your apostles, which they may lead those committed to their charge in proclaiming the Gospel of salvation. Through him increases your church. Renew its ministry and unite its members in the Holy fellowship of truth and love. Enable him as a true shepherd to feed and to protect your flock; make him wise as a teacher and steadfast as a guardian of its faith and sacraments.
CONSECRATION OF BISHOP-ELECT CONT. PRESIDING BISHOP CONT. Guide and direct him in presiding in his worship for Your people. Give him humility, that he may use his authority to heal not to hurt; to buildup and not destroy. Defend him from all evil, that as a ruler over his household and as an ambassador for Christ, that he may stand before you blameless, and finally, with all your servants, enter your eternal joy. Accept our prayers, most merciful Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with You and Your Holy Spirit, belong glory and honor, worship and praise, now and forever. Amen.
THANK YOU On behalf of Overcoming Word Praise Center International, we say thank you to all of you who have attended this consecration service and wish you all well in all that you do in the name of Jesus Christ. We Rejoice with all of you who have taken your time out to join and celebrate with us for the consecration and ordination service for our new Bishop. May the good Lord bless you and grant you traveling mercies as you travel back to your perspective homes Recessional Song – Choir Photographs Reception and Light Refreshments
CONGRATULATIONS
Bishop Dr. Mark Graham
Congratulations Bishop Mark Graham! #BISHOP
Congrats Pastor Mark, we are very proud of you and proud to call you our pastor! -The Whites!
