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I recently encountered an Alabama pastor and his wife in a department store.  This pastor has served in a (numerically speaking) small church for several years.  He faithfully drives a distance to preach to a handful of people.  During our conversation he excitedly told me about a new family that had started attending church.  He already baptized one the children from the family.  I became excited from his excitement.  He was in a church where one family coming made a big difference.  I told him, “Thank you for faithfully serving that church.  You…

Campmeeting is coming soon.  What is new?  New venue - Riverchase Community Church.  New format - One day. What is the same? Fellowship, singing, outreach, Bible study, inspiring worship, and powerful preaching.   Coming back this year is Joseph's Coat Offering.  This offering was a tradition for campmeeting for many years.  Everyone enjoyed seeing the pastors or congregational representatives bring up the offering from their church.  This offering supports the many ministries of the General Assembly of the Church of God in Alabama from youth…

On this day God made peace with everyone in the world.  Every offence, every injustice, every sin, every wrong, every conflict was settled.  Not only did God forgive but that forgiveness was paid for on the cross with the blood of Jesus.  Jesus paid the debt for everyone, once and for all time.  Reconciliation is possible because the debt for any offence is already paid. Every personal offence in your life and in my life has been settled.  If you carry an offence, you are denying the cross.  If you hold…

We are getting ready for summer at Camp Chula Vista! Are you joining us this year? If you or someone you know are interested in serving as a counselor at CCV this summer, please begin by completing the online application. Applicants must be 21 years old to serve at Junior and Senior High camps, 18 years old to serve at Primary and Intermediate camps, or 16 years old to serve as a junior counselor at Primary and Intermediate camps. Applicants over 18 must pass a…

Congratulations to Magdiel Martinez, Jose Morales, Justin Morrow, Theresa Green for being ordained as ministers by The Church of God in Alabama. Each one of these individuals completed a three year course called Leadership Focus leading to their ordination. Valerie Higgins, Fred Molden, Pablo Ibarro, Angie (Maria) Rodriguez, Carolyn Jones were licensed as ministers by the Church of God in Alabama. They are starting their 3 year journey through Leadership Focus leading to their ordination in the Church of God.

What is news?  Is news what we hear on TV or read in the newspaper? I imagine most people know about the Super Bowl Sunday night because that event has been on the “news.”  Everyone knows about the balloon, and now two more objects, shot down over the United States or Canada because every news channel is covering it.    But have you heard about a revival in Wilmore, KY at Asbury University?  Have you heard that this revival is spreading to other places?  Now that is good news! Have you…

On January 2 in a football game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals, Damar Hamlin tackled Tee Higgins.  Then he stood up, stumbled, and feel backwards.  Trainers and medical staff rushed to him not knowing what was happening.  Everyone could see that this injury was not a normal injury but was life threatening. As everyone watched and waited the medical personal worked on Damar as a unity of concern enveloped everyone watching.  Players from both teams knelt on the field to pray and even announcers prayed.  For a…

Calling all ministers!  Our annual minister’s meeting is March 11 – 9 AM – 2 PM at Riverchase Community Church.  We need you to at this meeting because we will be approving pastors, approving churches, and voting on ministers to be licensed and ordained.  Karl Vaters, author of “The Grasshopper Myth “and “Small Church Essentials” will be speaking to us in two sessions on “What’s Working in Churches that are Thriving’ and “Three Ways a Small Church can be an Effective Church.”  You do not want to miss this…

Father, as I close this last year’s chapter of my life I thank you for the blessing of your presence in every moment of every day. When I was troubled or frightened or anxious or afraid you did not abandon me. You gave me confidence and strength to walk into and through the storm.  In the normal, regular, every day moments you were walking with me even when I was not aware of your presence.  When I was joyful or happy or peaceful you rejoiced with me.  You…

I received a smart watch for Christmas.  Why do they call it a smart watch?  It is truly amazing and smart.  It will do everything. It measures my heart rate, counts my steps, tells me the weather, tells me when my phone is ringing, tells me when I get a message, alerts me to appointments, it has GPS and can trace my steps and dozens of other tasks I do not know about.  Oh, and it tells me the time.   I wonder now if…