Hugh's News & Commentary

It was my privilege to serve as the presiding officer for the HEARTLAND ANNUAL CONFERENCE Session, on Saturday, April 30, 2011.

The Conference was hosted at the Heartland Conference Retreat Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

When the Annual Session convened on Saturday we had a registration of 161 delegates in addition to visitors in attendance. By the time the session ended we had at least 200+ attendees present.

Ministerial Credentials were issued as follows:

Ordination (5) –

* REV. JASON VAUGHN
* REV. JIM ED GRANT
* REV. JOSE SALAS
* REV. STEVE BROWN
* REV. VIRGINIA HENDERSON

License (6) –

* REV. NESTOR GARCIA
* REV. GIOVANNI ALAMILLA
* REV. NORMA AVILA
* REV. KATHLEEN PEWENOFKIT
* REV. CALEB MCDOWELL
* REV. JOSE RUIZ

Local Church Minister’s License (7) –

* REV. CAMERON WYATT
* REV. BETH WYATT
* REV. GILBERTO CASALEGNO
* REV. RICKY DAVIS
* REV. STEVEN MUSICK
* REV. CASEY PATTERSON
* REV. BRENDA WEBB

It was an honor as the Presiding Officer to recognize the following Conference attendees:

* REV. JAMES & THELMA MCDOWELL, former Conference Superintendent
* REV. BOB ELY, former Conference Superintendent, West Oklahoma Conference & former President, Southwestern Christian University
* REV. BOBBY & MRS. STEWART, former Conference Superintendent, West Oklahoma Conference
* REV. DORRANCE MANNING, former Conference Superintendent, Arizona Conference
* REV. LYNN & MRS. ICE, former Conference Superintendent, Ozarks Conference
* REV. JAMES ZENGER, former Conference Superintendent, Kansas/Harvest Conference
* REV. BOBBY ‘JACK’ CLEM, former Conference Superintendent, Southern California/Golden West Conference
* REV. DON & JOY BURCHETT, former Conference Superintendent, Harvest Conference
* DR. HAROLD HUNTER, Director, Archives & Research Center, IPHC
* REV. CHARLENE WEST, former Director of Intercultural Ministries, IPHC
* REV. STEVE ELY, former Director of Youth Ministry, IPHC
* DR. ED HUCKEBY, President, Southwestern Christian University
* REV. TERRY LOWDER, former Assistant Director, EVUSA, IPHC
* REV. DAVID OXLEY, former Assistant Director, Stewardship Ministries, IPHC

Bishop Tunstall gave a masterful State of the Conference Report. It was very obvious to those of us in attendance that Bishop Tunstall is passionate about the vision and mission that God has called him to. His love for those he shepherds is evident.

Bishop Tunstall recognized ten [10] new church plants in different stages of development. He also awarded service pins as follows:

* 25 Year Pins – Rev. Brenda Clowers and Rev. Dewayne Klepper
* 50 Year Pins – Rev. James McDowell. In addition to a service pin, Bishop Tunstall presented Rev. McDowell with a crystal award

This Conference Session also marked the fiftieth [50] ministry anniversary of Bishop Tunstall. To commemorate the occasion, the Conference Executive Council planned a program honoring him that included remarks by the Assistant Conference Superintendent, Rev. Aldon Preston, and a pictorial slide presentation narrated by Rev. Terry Lowder. Rev. Lowder also made the presentation of a gift to Bishop and Mrs. Tunstall from the Conference. The gift included the following:

* Weekend in Philadelphia's Historic District
* Round trip airfare to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Two nights luxury accommodations at the 4 diamond Omni hotel overlooking Independence Park and walking distance to Independence Hall, Benjamin Franklin House, the Liberty Bell, and more
* Plus plenty of cash
* Beautiful floral arrangement for Mrs. Tunstall

Bishop Tunstall has served the IPHC in many leadership capacities over the course of the past fifty years. I believe that God is using this vast deposit and reservoir of experience and impartation to greatly benefit the Heartland Conference. The transformation is simply astounding!

May every benefit and gift that comes from God our Heavenly Father, be graced on Bishop Frank and Lu Tunstall. They are choice servants.

J. Talmadge Gardner | Executive Director, Discipleship Ministries Division & Corporate Treasurer | IPHC, Inc.

PO Box 12609 | Oklahoma City, OK 73157 | 405.787.7110 x 3325 or 3323 | 866.263.1623 | 405.787.3650 Fax

[Editor's Comment: I wish I could have been present for this special event when Bishop Frank and Lu Tunstall were honored for their 50 years of ministry in the IPHC.

I think I know just about all of the dignitaries that Bishop Gardner mentioned. What an impressive list of great men and women who have served the IPHC. We are grateful for their leadership and the impact they have made upon the lives of countless thousands of people.

When I grow up, I would like to write like Talmadge Gardner. He reminds me so much of his late father, the Rev. Dr. Jimmy Gardner, my dear friend who has gone on to be with the Lord.  Jimmy was a great pastor/counselor/preacher/friend whom I greatly admired and loved as my brother in Christ.]