Hugh's News & Commentary

Pastor Joel McGraw is retiring as Senior Pastor of Faith Chapel in Huntsville, AL, Sunday, January 9, 2011.

Joel will pass the “Shepherd’s Staff” to Pastor David Stephens, former Bishop of the Alpha Conference.

Saturday, January 8, 2011, will be a time for the church and other friends to gather and say “thanks” to the McGraws as Faith Chapel’s founding pastor, and for more than 50 years he has served as a senior pastor. His family has served with him. They will be present.

Janelle Barbee McGraw is the wind beneath Joel's wings. I know she is the most talented pianist in the known world. She plays chords that Beethoven never heard. When Joel married Jannelle, he married up. Her support as a pastor's wife has been a tremendous asset to Joel and his ministry. They are a team, and what a talented team they are.

You are invited to come and/or send a “Roast or Toast!”

Joel & Janelle McGraw

Retirement “Roast’n Toast” Reception

Saturday, January 8, 2 p. m. until 4 p. m.

          at

Faith Chapel IPHC

(in the Family Life Center, west side of main building)

3913 Pulaski Pike N. W.
Huntsville, Al. 35810

You may send your appreciation letters to Christie Eason:
christie.eason@faith-chapel.com

256-852-1606

[Editor's comment: I have known Joel Sampson McGraw since we were in junior high school. I think I met him at the youth camp at River Springs. Joel hails from the Brownville Community in Conecuh County, near Evergreen, AL. He grew up on a farm, and learned how to milk cows, feed the chickens and slop the hogs. He knows how to plow a straight row, and knows a great deal about farming. He has even picked cotton, a tough job for tall people like Joel.

I remember visiting in Joel's home when his father, John McGraw, was alive. He had us all to kneel in prayer before we ate. His mother, Nita McGraw, was the best cook in that part of the country, and years later, when I became the pastor of their church, I was privileged to eat many a meal at her home.

Early on in Joel's young life, he discovered a flare for writing. I think it is a gift from God, and Joel's mind functions well in the newspaper media, as well as radio. He wrote stories in high school for the Evergreen Courant newspaper, and had news stories published in the Associated Press. His friendship with the editor and owner of this newspaper, Bob Boseman, and the relationship they developed were used by God to encourage Joel to develop his God-given abilities to write.

Joel is a gifted preacher and speaker. I remember his radio broadcasts on the local radio station in Huntsville, AL. He seemingly did that broadcast with such ease, and it was of such nature that people all over the Tennessee Valley rallied and tuned in to his this story teller tell the greatest story of all--the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

I was privileged to pastor his home church when I graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary in May 1963. Joel was pastoring the Flomaton P. H. Church, and I was at the Brownville P. H. Church. I had taken every course offered in evangelism under Dr. Robert E. Coleman, and in world missions underr Dr. J. T. Seamands. Joel and I got together and planned a round-robin missionary convention that included as I recall the Greenville P. H. Church. It was a great success as we shared the missionaries between the three churches. Roy Wood was the field director of World Missions at that time, and he was instrumental in getting a significant number of missionaries to participate. I have been told that this was the first full scale Missions Convention in a local church or churches in the IPHC. It was a great success, and God blessed these three churches immeasurably.

I remember when Joel was called of God to move to Huntsville to plant a new church. By this time, I was on active duty in the Air Force and stationed in Anchorage, Alaska, at Elmendorf AFB. In an effort to encourage Joel, I would call him late at night to save money, and often awakened him at 3 o'clock in the morning. I somehow forgot about the time difference. In order to sweeten the call, I would send him a $100 in the mail later. So, I have had a small part in the planting of Faith Chapel in Huntsville.

I have always admired Joel McGraw and the ministry God has given him. His longevity in Huntsville is a living testimony to his calling, commitment and covenant he made with the good people of this north Alabama City.

It is my prayer that Joel McGraw's retirement years from the pastorate will give him ample time to write the books that are in his head and heart. I enjoy reading everything he writes.

I salute Joel Sampson McGraw as a true and faithful son of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church.