Special Edition
w/ Hugh Holmes Morgan
Who is Pastor David McDonald?
The Rev. Dr. David McDonald is the son of Bishop and Mrs. Gordon McDonald, General Superintendent, The Pentecostal Holiness Church in Canada. David has a Master’s degree from Southwestern Christian University, and a Doctorate from George Fox University. He and John Voelz are the two senior pastors of Westwinds Community Church in Jackson, Michigan.
His story appeared in Time magazine, June 1, 2009. The front cover has a photo of Michelle Obama, with the caption . . . “The Meaning of Michelle” by Nancy Gibbs and Michael Scherer.
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Pastor David McDonald encourages Tweeting at his church in Jackson, Michigan
The Rev. Mr. O. N. Todd, Jr. celebrated his 92nd birthday on Friday, August 14, 2009
New names or terminology we must now learn about the leadership of the IPHC
Melvine and I are flying to Springfield, MO, and driving to Branson, MO, on Thursday, August 20
Will you receive the Benediction?
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Lighten up with Laughter
Church Bulletin Bloopers
The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict.
Ladies, don’t forget the rummage sale. It’s a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don’t forget your husbands.”
Don’t let worry kill you off – let the Church help.
Miss Catherine Mason sang “I will not pass this way again,” to the obvious pleasure of the congregation.
[Editor’s note: Submitted by Lonnie Rex, Spring, TX.]
Pastor David McDonald encourages Tweeting at his church in Jackson, Michigan
I am not of the generation that does texting, face book, and twittering. I have not found any reason to utilize micro blogging tools for my ministry.
However, I am not necessarily opposed to it, other than to say, “That is not my cup of tea.” If it works effectively for others and helps them receive and utilize the Word of God, I will applaud those who use this method of communication.
Pastors John Voelz and McDonald had a desire to make the church experience more creative for their congregation, so they attended a tweeting conference outside Nashville. They spent two weeks teaching their congregation how to use the micro blogging site, which challenges users to be profound in 140 characters or less. They increased the band-width in the auditorium and urged everyone to bring his or her laptop, iPhone or Blackberry to the training sessions.
Just as they expected, there was plenty of blather flashing across the video screens, a la “Nice shirt J Vo.” But there was heartfelt stuff, too. “I have a hard time recognizing God in the middle of everything.” “The more I press in to Him, the more He presses me out to be useful.” “Sometimes healing is painful.”
We should all agree that there is a time and place for technology. It may not be for every congregation for Sunday morning worship services. However, a small but growing number of churches around the country are following David McDonald’s and John Voelz’s lead and are encouraging worshipers to integrate text messaging into their relationship with God.
Some young folks think that twittering is kind of dumb. At first, Katrina Cordova, 22, thought it was distracting, if not impossible, to text and pray simultaneously. But, Twitter’s haiku-like banter has led her to meet lots of people in the 900-member congregation. “Feeling like I really belong to a church helps me in my relationship with God,” she said.
If worship is about creating community, Twitter is an undeniably useful tool.
At Westwinds, people can ask questions about the sermon that the pastors will answer later on or that other congregants may offer insights about in real time. Some use Twitter to take notes, rather than scribbling on programs that are easily misplaced. Often tweets are pastor directed, with McDonald preaching while Voelz taps out, “In what way to you feel the Spirit of God moving within you?” Discuss.
I am almost confident that Twittering congregations are still in a minority, however, McDonald and Voelz say that they get at least five or more e-mails a week from strangers inquiring how to launch Twitter in their churches.
Some of the questions are:
How did you rig the screen resolution so people could read the tweets?
How did members react?
And, not surprising at all, was this question: Got any tips to persuade church leadership this is way cool?
[Editor’s Note: Whatever we can do to get listeners involved in the message is certainly worth a try. I have for many years taken notes on sermons. They helps me to stay engaged in the message, stay awake, and often God speaks in my heart things that are not necessarily being said by the preacher that is instantly birthed by the Spirit and registered on my mind. It’s a good thing to write those nuggets down, or I will lose them. I am not necessarily against using a laptop or a Blackberry in worship services, but I have never had a Blackberry.
I probably wouldn’t not have a computer today had it not been for B. E. Underwood when he was Executive Director, World Missions Ministries, IPHC. He was like a bulldog insisting that I purchase a computer. I thought typewriters were the best thing going and were reliable. How wrong I was. I am grateful to Brother Underwood for introducing me to computers. I have never had a formal lesson. All I know, and it is relatively minuscule, is what I have learned by trial and error, and a lot of failures. You are getting Hugh’s News today because of a forward thinking leader who had an influence on me. If Queen Esther read this, his darling widow, I want to say, Melvine and I love you and your family. It was nice to see and speak with you at General Conference in Greensboro, NC.]
The Rev. Mr. O. N. Todd, Jr. celebrated his 92nd birthday on Friday, August 14, 2009
The family of the Rev. Mr. O. N. Todd, Jr gathered with him to celebrate his 92nd birthday on Friday, August 14, 2009. He enjoyed the chocolate cake and ice cream and the special milk shake that was brought by Harold and Marie Kelley and family. Brother Todd is enjoying his stay at Golden Living Center-Riverchase and would love to hear from all his friends.
Well, how can you contact O. N. Todd? That is a good question. It’s the question I had, too, when I got the news from Olney, his oldest son. O. N. and Lois Todd had two sons, Olney and Roy Samuel, both All-American boys.
Here is the data you need, and I hope you will write O. N. Todd:
Golden Living Center-Riverchase
Suite 171
2500 River Haven Dr
Birmingham, Al 35224-1226
In his last communications to me on Tuesday morning, Olney wrote: “Dad is in pretty good spirits and reasonable health.”
[Editor’s Note: O. N. Todd, Jr. was my pastor while I was a teenager and in my early twenties. In fact, he baptized me in the coldest water that I can ever remember in Six Mile Creek on Sunday afternoon in July. He dunked me all the way under. It must have taken.
O. N. Todd was the senior pastor, First Pentecostal Holiness Church in Birmingham, AL, for some 24 years. Then, he and Lois, his wife, went to the mission field and worked and ministered in Asia for two years for the Missions Department of the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Then, when they came back to Birmingham, he started a church in the home of George and Faith McDuff Barr, which later became the Lord’s Chapel in Gardendale. He pastored that church for 24 years. When he went to a retirement home in Vestavia, he conducted Sunday services for the residents for several years. They all called him Pastor Todd. What a remarkable man! Harold and I talked about how blessed we were to have had him for our pastor, and O. N.’s mother, Irene Todd, to teach us the Bible. She was teaching at 92. She encouraged me to get a good education. I am grateful for her godly advice.
I talked with Harold Kelley tonight. He was of great help in remembering the number of years O. N. served our church in Birmingham, etc. He and Marie often go to see Brother Todd. He said that O. N.’s mind is as sharp as ever, remembers everybody and events of the past. His body is aging and he is in a wheelchair. These old bodies are wearing out for sure. But when you know Jesus you will always be youthful. He died when He was only 33 years of age. I call Him the Youthful Christ.
I know he is the greatest baritone singer the world has ever known, and what a preacher. He has been my mentor through the years and Melvine and I, along with Greg and Stephanie need to travel to Birmingham to see him again. The last time we saw him was at the Camp Meeting over the mountain from Birmingham, near Pelham and Oak Mountain Park. His mind is sharp as always, and his memory is incredible. I hope I can be like that. Let us never forget those who were and are our spiritual parents. May God continue to bless and strengthen O. N. Todd.
New names or terminology we must now learn about the leadership of the IPHC
It seems that General Conferences have a way of messing with our minds and forcing us to learn new terminology. The 26th General Conference of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church was no exception. In fact, I think there were more changes at this conference that I can remember, and I have been attending these conferences for many years.
New Term Previous Term
Bylaws Committee Combination of Polity and Finance Committees
Chief Financial Officer General Secretary-Treasurer
Communications Services Publications
Corporate Secretary None
Corporate Treasurer None
Council of Bishops General Executive Board
Delegate Certification Committee Credentials Committee
Discipleship Ministries Church Education Ministries
Division Council Subsidiary Board
Executive Committee of the Council of Bishops Resident Executives
General Ministries Cabinet General Board of Administration
Global Ministry Center Resource Development Center
Melvine and I are flying to Springfield, MO, and driving to Branson, MO, on Thursday, August 20, 2009
It’s that time of the year when the NAE (National Association of Evangelicals) Chaplains Commission has our annual training conference for chaplain candidates and new chaplains in the military and Veterans Affairs.
Our theme this year is “Moral Courage.” We are blessed indeed to have Chaplain, Major General Cecil Richardson, Chief of Air Force Chaplains Service to be our principal speaker. He is an ordained minister of the Assemblies of God, and is a great speaker and preacher. In addition, we will have Retired Army Chaplain (Colonel) Herman Keizer, Christian Reformed Church in North America, and Retired Army Chaplain (Colonel) John Schumacher on staff for the teaching. Yours truly will lead a breakout group for those who are VA hospital chaplains.
I hope to get an appointment with Jim Bakker, founder of PTL and Heritage USA on Friday, August 21. I wrote him for five years when he was in federal prisons. In his book, I Was Wrong, he quotes me two or three times. Prior to his release from prison by the federal judge, I sent him this Scripture recorded in Proverbs 21:1, “The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: He turneth it whithersoever He will” (KJV). I felt led to tell him in my letter that the federal judge’s heart was in the Hand of the Lord, and very soon he will release you from prison. Within just a few days after he got my letter, he wrote that the judge released him. What a happy day that was. I have never met Jim Bakker in person. I would like to meet him and talk with him.
I am privileged to serve as the Vice Chairman, NAE Chaplains Commission, and John Schumacher, my good friend from Chaplain School Days at Fort Slocum, NY, in 1962, on David’s Island, off the shore from New Rochelle, NY, is our Chairman. He is an ordained minister as well as the endorser for Grace Brethren Churches. He is a gifted singer, and we all love his singing and excellent spirit. In addition, he is a gifted preacher.
Will you receive the Benediction?
With all that is happening in our world today, it is a wonderful thing to be reminded that Jesus Christ is still Lord and is in charge of running this universe, everything from galaxies to governments:
Ephesians 1:20-23
20 All this energy issues from Christ: God raised Him from death and set Him on a throne in deep heaven, 21 in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from His rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. 22 He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the Church. 23 The Church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the Church. The Church is Christ's body, in which He speaks and acts, by which He fills everything with His presence.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)
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Your friend in all seasons,
Hugh Holmes Morgan
The Reverend Dr. Hugh H. Morgan
Chaplain, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF, Retired
Director of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC
Vice Chairman, NAE Commission on Chaplains
Chairman, Endorsers Conference for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy
Ex Officio Member, National Conference on Ministry to the Armed Forces Executive Committee
CEO, Founder, President, Editor of Hugh's News & Commentary
President, Hugh Holmes Morgan Education Scholarship Fund, Inc.
Pastor Emeritus, Christian Life Worship Center (formerly Tarkenton Memorial Church in Athens, GA)
Member, Board of Trustees, Holmes Bible College
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