I am saddened to report the passing of one of our great Tennessee Deacons. Brother Hubert Alexander went home to be with The Lord at about 4:30 a.m. this morning..
Brother Alexander's son, Pastor Vernon Alexander serves as Senior Pastor of our Union City Church in West Tennessee. Please join me in prayer for this precious family during this difficult time.
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Sunday, October 14, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Stewardship Ministries Transition
The Stewardship Ministries/Ministerial Services Director will no longer be an appointed position, nor a stand alone department effective September 1, 2012. However, stewardship will continue at all levels in the Church of God of Prophecy. The General Presbyters will fervently be modeling, promoting, and teaching stewardship. The Caribbean General Presbyter has already made stewardship one of the core values in his area.
The Center for Biblical Leadership team will be teaching stewardship to pastors and leaders in the forty nine scheduled Schools of Practical Arts and Science.
Much seed has been sown in stewardship over the last fifteen years. This seed fell on good ground and will produce a many-fold return.
The 403(b) Retirement Plan will continue as well. The American Funds are outpacing the market and are proven sound investments for long term perspectives such as retirement funds. Our Agent of Record is Kelly Miller. She is a properly credentialed financial consultant with years of experience in guiding people through good and bad financial times. Kelly can be reached at 800.477.2344 or 770.319.1700. Her email address is kmiller@resourcehorizons.com.
Kelly has always proven to be very helpful. She has participated in numerous General Assemblies by making her expertise available at the Stewardship Ministries Booth. I encourage you to make use of her skills and knowledge. There is no separate charge for her services.
The 403(b) Retirement Plan is a win, win situation—no Income or Social Security Tax on the minister’s contribution. Taxes on withdrawals taken after age 59 ½ can be offset as housing allowance. American Funds are out-performing the market. Retirement has its own challenges, but being prepared financially eases the transition. It is a scriptural principle to save during the fat years for the lean years.
Direct your 403(b) operational questions to Chief Accountant, Paulette Wilbanks at 423.559.5113. Paulette is knowledgeable on tax issues as well.
Stewardship questions should be directed to the Financial Director, Bishop Paul Holt.
This has been a fulfilling, blessed fifteen years for Milton and me. We are very grateful for the opportunity to have moved from the business world to ministry, where our work has eternal significance.
Jan Couch
Stewardship Ministries/Ministerial Services Director
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The Center for Biblical Leadership team will be teaching stewardship to pastors and leaders in the forty nine scheduled Schools of Practical Arts and Science.
Much seed has been sown in stewardship over the last fifteen years. This seed fell on good ground and will produce a many-fold return.
The 403(b) Retirement Plan will continue as well. The American Funds are outpacing the market and are proven sound investments for long term perspectives such as retirement funds. Our Agent of Record is Kelly Miller. She is a properly credentialed financial consultant with years of experience in guiding people through good and bad financial times. Kelly can be reached at 800.477.2344 or 770.319.1700. Her email address is kmiller@resourcehorizons.com.
Kelly has always proven to be very helpful. She has participated in numerous General Assemblies by making her expertise available at the Stewardship Ministries Booth. I encourage you to make use of her skills and knowledge. There is no separate charge for her services.
The 403(b) Retirement Plan is a win, win situation—no Income or Social Security Tax on the minister’s contribution. Taxes on withdrawals taken after age 59 ½ can be offset as housing allowance. American Funds are out-performing the market. Retirement has its own challenges, but being prepared financially eases the transition. It is a scriptural principle to save during the fat years for the lean years.
Direct your 403(b) operational questions to Chief Accountant, Paulette Wilbanks at 423.559.5113. Paulette is knowledgeable on tax issues as well.
Stewardship questions should be directed to the Financial Director, Bishop Paul Holt.
This has been a fulfilling, blessed fifteen years for Milton and me. We are very grateful for the opportunity to have moved from the business world to ministry, where our work has eternal significance.
Jan Couch
Stewardship Ministries/Ministerial Services Director
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Transition of International Stewardship Ministries
Stewardship Ministries Transition
The Stewardship Ministries/Ministerial Services Director will no longer be an appointed position, nor a stand alone department effective September 1, 2012. However, stewardship will continue at all levels in the Church of God of Prophecy. The General Presbyters will fervently be modeling, promoting, and teaching stewardship. The Caribbean General Presbyter has already made stewardship one of the core values in his area.
The Center for Biblical Leadership team will be teaching stewardship to pastors and leaders in the forty nine scheduled Schools of Practical Arts and Science.
Much seed has been sown in stewardship over the last fifteen years. This seed fell on good ground and will produce a many-fold return.
The 403(b) Retirement Plan will continue as well. The American Funds are outpacing the market and are proven sound investments for long term perspectives such as retirement funds. Our Agent of Record is Kelly Miller. She is a properly credentialed financial consultant with years of experience in guiding people through good and bad financial times. Kelly can be reached at 800.477.2344 or 770.319.1700. Her email address is kmiller@resourcehorizons.com.
Kelly has always proven to be very helpful. She has participated in numerous General Assemblies by making her expertise available at the Stewardship Ministries Booth. I encourage you to make use of her skills and knowledge. There is no separate charge for her services.
The 403(b) Retirement Plan is a win, win situation—no Income or Social Security Tax on the minister’s contribution. Taxes on withdrawals taken after age 59 ½ can be offset as housing allowance. American Funds are out-performing the market. Retirement has its own challenges, but being prepared financially eases the transition. It is a scriptural principle to save during the fat years for the lean years.
Direct your 403(b) operational questions to Chief Accountant, Paulette Wilbanks at 423.559.5113. Paulette is knowledgeable on tax issues as well.
Stewardship questions should be directed to the Financial Director, Bishop Paul Holt.
This has been a fulfilling, blessed fifteen years for Milton and me. We are very grateful for the opportunity to have moved from the business world to ministry, where our work has eternal significance.
Jan Couch
Stewardship Ministries/Ministerial Services Director
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
The Stewardship Ministries/Ministerial Services Director will no longer be an appointed position, nor a stand alone department effective September 1, 2012. However, stewardship will continue at all levels in the Church of God of Prophecy. The General Presbyters will fervently be modeling, promoting, and teaching stewardship. The Caribbean General Presbyter has already made stewardship one of the core values in his area.
The Center for Biblical Leadership team will be teaching stewardship to pastors and leaders in the forty nine scheduled Schools of Practical Arts and Science.
Much seed has been sown in stewardship over the last fifteen years. This seed fell on good ground and will produce a many-fold return.
The 403(b) Retirement Plan will continue as well. The American Funds are outpacing the market and are proven sound investments for long term perspectives such as retirement funds. Our Agent of Record is Kelly Miller. She is a properly credentialed financial consultant with years of experience in guiding people through good and bad financial times. Kelly can be reached at 800.477.2344 or 770.319.1700. Her email address is kmiller@resourcehorizons.com.
Kelly has always proven to be very helpful. She has participated in numerous General Assemblies by making her expertise available at the Stewardship Ministries Booth. I encourage you to make use of her skills and knowledge. There is no separate charge for her services.
The 403(b) Retirement Plan is a win, win situation—no Income or Social Security Tax on the minister’s contribution. Taxes on withdrawals taken after age 59 ½ can be offset as housing allowance. American Funds are out-performing the market. Retirement has its own challenges, but being prepared financially eases the transition. It is a scriptural principle to save during the fat years for the lean years.
Direct your 403(b) operational questions to Chief Accountant, Paulette Wilbanks at 423.559.5113. Paulette is knowledgeable on tax issues as well.
Stewardship questions should be directed to the Financial Director, Bishop Paul Holt.
This has been a fulfilling, blessed fifteen years for Milton and me. We are very grateful for the opportunity to have moved from the business world to ministry, where our work has eternal significance.
Jan Couch
Stewardship Ministries/Ministerial Services Director
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Sorting and Organizing Data
Now that you have gathered data from your local church/state or regional records, it is important to sort and organize the data. For those of you who are familiar with Microsoft Excel, this is very simple, as is Apple Numbers or any other spreadsheet program. If you are not familiar with these, regular paper spreadsheets are available from your local office supply store. If you are going to benchmark several areas, I would recommend you obtain a spreadsheet with enough columns to properly organize your data.
The process is the same, whether paper or electronic for this next step. Here is an example for your benefit:
Begin by entering the information you collected in the appropriate place:
Example: For the year 2000, enter the total tithe in the column with that heading, do the same for Offerings, etc. (Don't worry about doing anything else until you have entered all of your data).
Finally, as you can see, this is ONLY a method of ORGANIZING your data. Future posts will cover how to determine averages. I hope this is helpful. God bless
The process is the same, whether paper or electronic for this next step. Here is an example for your benefit:
| Year | Tithe | Offerings | Sunday School | Morning | Church | Baptisms | Conversions |
| Attendance | Worship | Membership | |||||
| Attendance | |||||||
| 2000 | |||||||
| 2001 | |||||||
| 2002 | |||||||
| 2003 | |||||||
| 2004 | |||||||
| 2005 | |||||||
| 2006 | |||||||
| 2007 | |||||||
| 2008 | |||||||
| 2009 | |||||||
| 2010 | |||||||
| 2011 |
Begin by entering the information you collected in the appropriate place:
Example: For the year 2000, enter the total tithe in the column with that heading, do the same for Offerings, etc. (Don't worry about doing anything else until you have entered all of your data).
Finally, as you can see, this is ONLY a method of ORGANIZING your data. Future posts will cover how to determine averages. I hope this is helpful. God bless
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Gather Information
WHAT IS OUR HISTORY
I will readily admit that there are some who do not see the importance of this step, but I personally believe it to be vital to success. Too often, we have such a desire to look forward that we don't realize the need to look back. I like to say, "it's okay to look back, but don't stare." Ask a few questions that will help you determine and find the proper place to gather your data from.
- Church minutes are an excellent source to turn to in this step. When did the local church start? Where was the first congregation meeting? Were there any special circumstances surrounding the plant of the church. Who were the charter members?
- Long-time members of the local church are an invaluable asset. Quite often, they will be able to tell you how and why the local church was established in your city. Was it the result of a church split? Unfortunately this has been the starting point of many local congregations, and in my personal opinion, is NOT the best way. Too often the seed of discontent and discord are sown into the DNA of the local church. Most of the time, the local church was started because someone had a burden for a particular city or town, or there was a genuine push to expand the church into unreached areas. To this day, we still celebrate when the Church of God of Prophecy has reached a new nation of the world by highlighting it in our biennial International Assemblies. Long-time church members should be interviewed, and it would be a great idea to make a video recording of their memories. This is a great tool for celebrating later.
- State/National records. Make an appointment to meet with your state/national overseer to see if there is something in the records that might help you in your quest.
God bless!
Friday, August 3, 2012
Senior Saints at the Assembly
As I sit thinking over the past few weeks, it dawns on me that my time has gone by so quickly. It seems like we anxiously awaited the International Assembly in Louisville, then suddenly it was on us.
I was there a total of ten days, participating in International Presbyter meetings leading up to the assembly and then taking in every session once the assembly officially started.
While these assemblies are important for our overall planning and to conduct business, they also afford us the opportunity to see folks we haven't seen in years, some we see everyday, and what heaven may look like...all nations, tribes and tongues gather in worship.
These pictures are of Sister Lilley of the Crown of Life Church in the Memphis area. She has been a member of our church longer than I have been alive. As I spoke with Sister Lilley and her son Gary, I sensed there is so much for me to learn about the work of the Lord.
Today, I thank God for the Senior Saints who have made this such a special movement of God...while some may complain, criticize and make fun of the earlier generations, we must never forget we are here because of their efforts to raise funds, to pray and to carry the message to the next city. I do so appreciate those who have gone before us.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I was there a total of ten days, participating in International Presbyter meetings leading up to the assembly and then taking in every session once the assembly officially started.
While these assemblies are important for our overall planning and to conduct business, they also afford us the opportunity to see folks we haven't seen in years, some we see everyday, and what heaven may look like...all nations, tribes and tongues gather in worship.
These pictures are of Sister Lilley of the Crown of Life Church in the Memphis area. She has been a member of our church longer than I have been alive. As I spoke with Sister Lilley and her son Gary, I sensed there is so much for me to learn about the work of the Lord.
Today, I thank God for the Senior Saints who have made this such a special movement of God...while some may complain, criticize and make fun of the earlier generations, we must never forget we are here because of their efforts to raise funds, to pray and to carry the message to the next city. I do so appreciate those who have gone before us.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Where do I start?
Almost 30-years-ago I was appointed to serve at my firsts pastoral assignment. I had been mentored by a wonderful Senior Pastor, Bishop William L. Gaddis, who is still serving at that same local church. It was a very small church that had gone through a church split and if looking at it with the natural eye, one might have little hope for it's success. However, the Lord intervened and we witnessed His hand at work for the next four years.
When I arrived there, I really didn't know where to start, but soon learned that the prayer closet was the best place. When we spend time in prayer, it doesn't change God, but it DOES change us. As we begin the process of walking through the CORE VALUES of the Church of God of Prophecy, I encourage you to set aside a certain time each day to commune with the Lord. Remember, the minister who does not talk with God cannot expect to walk with Him.
Next we will start through the process of completing a SWOT (pronounced the same as SWAT) analysis to gauge the health of your church. I hope you will check back regularly as we walk through the process.
When I arrived there, I really didn't know where to start, but soon learned that the prayer closet was the best place. When we spend time in prayer, it doesn't change God, but it DOES change us. As we begin the process of walking through the CORE VALUES of the Church of God of Prophecy, I encourage you to set aside a certain time each day to commune with the Lord. Remember, the minister who does not talk with God cannot expect to walk with Him.
Next we will start through the process of completing a SWOT (pronounced the same as SWAT) analysis to gauge the health of your church. I hope you will check back regularly as we walk through the process.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Participate in Poll
With the rollout of my COGOP Vision 2020 blog, I invite you to participate in a poll on the direction of your local church. This poll is for everyone who would like to participate, however, I especially encourage pastors and local church leaders to participate.
May God bless you, please continue to check back
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
May God bless you, please continue to check back
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
SWOT Analysis
As we approach the strategic planning for the State of Tennessee, you will hear the SWOT analysis referred to often. This is a very simple concept that helps your local church analyze:
Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Check back as teaching series will be added by video streaming and with powerpoint presentation. We will make everything available for download and by computer disk.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Launch of 2020 Vision
Now that I have sat face-to-face with the pastors of the Church of God of Prophecy in Tennessee, I am anxiously looking forward to sharing a number of resources with each of the churches in Tennessee and beyond.
The first thing that must be done is to gather the leaders of your local church into a time of prayer. We MUST touch heaven and we MUST hear from heaven in each of our local churches. This is our first, and in my opinion, our most important of our CORE values. In fact, you cannot even be converted until you respond to the call of the Holy Spirit. in theological circles, this is called prevenient grace...or simply put, "you must be drawn by the Holy Spirit and be convicted of your sinful condition," before you will even call on the Father for salvation.
After individual prayer, we must connect with God's people and begin to prqy corporately. Remember II Chronicles 7:14
The first thing that must be done is to gather the leaders of your local church into a time of prayer. We MUST touch heaven and we MUST hear from heaven in each of our local churches. This is our first, and in my opinion, our most important of our CORE values. In fact, you cannot even be converted until you respond to the call of the Holy Spirit. in theological circles, this is called prevenient grace...or simply put, "you must be drawn by the Holy Spirit and be convicted of your sinful condition," before you will even call on the Father for salvation.
After individual prayer, we must connect with God's people and begin to prqy corporately. Remember II Chronicles 7:14
Poll
With the complete presentation of the 20/20 Vision plan at the International Assembly in Louisville, Kentucky, regular updates will be posted on this blog for our churches and ministers putting the plan in place.
To the right of this post there is a post asking a simple question. "Is your church headed in the right direction?" This poll will be open until August 12, 2012, and will help to collect your thoughts.
I invite you to check back regularly.
To the right of this post there is a post asking a simple question. "Is your church headed in the right direction?" This poll will be open until August 12, 2012, and will help to collect your thoughts.
I invite you to check back regularly.
Why am I here?
Do you realize that God has a purpose for your life? Yes, you! God loves you so much that He planned from the foundations of the world for you to live and for you to have purpose. Everyday you interact with people. Some of those people are family members, close friends and, yes, even complete strangers. One of the greatest lessons you will learn is that God has a plan for them too.
We do not exist in a vacuum, and as the old saying reminds us, "no man is an island unto himself." Because of that, we have community. In the Christian faith, this community is demonstrated by the visible church, gathering together and working with one another to see the coming of God's Kingdom. Does it not make good sense that this community also has a purpose?
This purpose was given in the final words of Christ to the church before His ascension. Recorded in Matthew 28, some have termed this the "great commission."
It is my considered opinion that we should look at it this way; "His Last Command is Our First Concern." Yes, this is what we are about, and like anything else in life, the better organized this community called "the church" is, the great our impact will be.
There are multiple points to this great "commission" that I would like to point out here:
1. Go
2. Teach
3. Baptize
In subsequent posts, I will share with you the vision that has been planted in the hearts of the leadership of the Church of God of Prophecy, and how we see these core values find their way into the everyday life of the churches. I invite you to join me in this journey.
Welcome
It is my joy to welcome you to the Vision 2020 blog. It is my sincere desire to create a blog with tips and other instructional materials to assist pastors and local churches develop their mission and visions statements and core values.
I invite you to check back on a regular basis for updates and hopefully find information to assist you in the building up of the Kingdom of God and your place in it.
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