Shirley G. Spencer, executive editor of IPHC Experience will retire in early 2010, according to the February 2010 issue of IPHC Experience.
Shirley G. Spencer has served the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (and its publishing house, LifeSprings Resources) since January 1975. For 17 years, she was executive editor of the International Pentecostal Holiness ADVOCATE. She served as the executive editor of IssacharFile for 7 years and IPHC Experience for over 6 years.
Shirley was a member of the General Board of Administrator for the International Pentecostal Holiness Church until July 2009 and is licensed as a minister in the Heartland Conference.
She served for 20 years as executive editor of One Accord Resources, Sunday school curriculum produced by a coalition of Pentecostal/Charismatic fellowships in the United States. She has authored numerous articles and booklets, as well as several leaders’ guides based on texts recommended for study in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church.
Mrs. Spencer has served for 29 years as secretary-treasurer of the International Pentecostal Press Association. In 1999, she was elected chairperson of the Pentecostal-Charismatic Curriculum Commission (PCCC). The PCCC prepares the outlines for the adult Sunday school curriculum published by five major Pentecostal publishing houses: LifeSprings Resources (IPHC), Gospel Publishing House (AG), Pathway Press COG), Messenger Publishing House (PCOG), and White Wing Press (COGOP).
Shirley and her husband Dewayne have been married over 52 years. Their daughter, Tanya Grigsby, and two grandchildren, Joshua (17) and Hannah (10) are their greatest treasures.
[Editor's tribute to Shirley Spencer. I have known Shirley Spencer for more than 30 years. She is a household name in the IPHC. I have found in her a resourceful and talented friend who has encouraged me in my writing, and over the years has helped me with editing many articles. Moreover, she is a genuine Christian lady with all the graces and attributes of care, compassion, love, loyalty, honesty, and integrity in all she does. She has had the great privilege of knowing and interacting with leaders from many other denominations and organizations. I can only imagine the countless thousands of deadlines she has had to meet in the myriad of publications for which she was responsible.
I couldn't have asked for a better friend to publish the news I have often generated for Chaplains Ministries, IPHC, special occasions in the church calendar year for IPHC Experience, lead stories about honoring church leaders, the dedication of churches and a college facility, and much more.
She is not only a talented writer and editor, she is gifted in art. She enjoys drawing faces of people, and that is an interest of mine, too.
I like her attitude and positive statements with regard to her successor, J. Lee Grady, who will succeed her as editor of IPHC Experience in March 2010.
Shirley wrote, "I am pleased with the selection of Lee Grady as editor of Experience. He has been a prophetic voice to the body of Christ for many years through Charisma magazine, books he has authored, and other ministries he has spearheaded. Now he focuses that spiritual insight and editorial skill on telling the IPHC story through Experience" (February 2010 Experience, p. 5).
We will greatly miss Shirley, but hope to see her from time to time in the future along with her devoted husband Dewayne.
I stand at attention and salute Shirley Spencer as I write this story for Hugh's News.