Pastor Matt Adams Last Sunday at Christian Life Worship Center in Athens, Georgia was a day filled with excitement, hope, and the presence of the Holy Spirit. An atmosphere of peace and tranquility permeated the hearts of the people.
It was a good day—the day which the Lord made, and we did rejoice and praised His holy Name.
We began the day with a continental breakfast as the Men's Ministries and Women's Ministries joined together to feed everyone who attended. The food was excellent and plenty of it. We wanted to welcome our new pastor and his family with good food and genuine fellowship. Our pastor, Matt Adams, his wife, Rachael, and two daughters, Lydia and Hannah were present. There son, Ben, is a police officer and was on duty in another city in Georgia.
How pleased we were to welcome back home Christopher and Jeanie Revells, and their 10 beautiful children including their three-month baby daughter, Sophia. Chris and Matt Adams have been friends since childhood.
Arlette Revells was our devotional speaker following our breakfast. She is a superb motivational speaker who gets your attention and keeps her audience on the edge of their chairs in rapt attention. Her message gave us new insights about Jonah, the reluctant missionary. She is launching a new radio ministry with two or three-minute vignettes.
Air Force Chaplain, Major Chad Bellamy was present in the morning worship. His wife, Jeri and their three children were coming but one of the children, Asher, I understand had strep throat and none of them were able to be present save Chad. Chad and Matt Adams were roommates at Emmanuel College.
We had a good crowd. The choir did a good job. There was a good spirit.
Pastor Matt Adams is a singing pastor and that is good. He flows with the Spirit, and His message was right on. He preached about what God can and will do. We had communion prior to his preaching and it went well.
One family that had recently stopped coming were back. When I talked to the father he assured me they were not gone but are with us.
Matt Adams is a gifted speaker, and is very observant. He is the assistant superintendent of Franklin County Schools and with his special advanced classes and programs in leadership, management, etc. will serve him well. The Holy Spirit will use all of that to cause him to be an effective pastor/teacher/evangelist.
His wife and two daughters joined him at the altar praying with those who came for prayer.
All is well. I am pleased.
There was a peace, a spirit of peace in the worship service. It reminded me of the Veil of the Temple being torn from top to bottom signifying the openness to God without going through the high priest. I think of a relationship of peace that is perpendicular in our relationship to God, and horizontal in our relationship to others.
The Apostle Paul writes about this peace in conjunction with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and in our case, i. e., our local church congregation it has implications about our church being resurrected. Let me quote the verse which is one of my favorite benedictions in the Bible:
Hebrews 13:20-21
20 May the God of peace, Who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
NIV
One more Scripture on peace:
Ephesians 2:14-18
14 For He Himself is our peace, Who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
NIV
Pastor Matt Adams was anointed to preach and minister, and was given the unction of the Holy Spirit to speak the right words, for the right occasion, for the right people. He emphasized what God can and will do. He said the best is yet to come.
His text came from Haggai 2:6-9: 6 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 8'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 9'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty." NIV
Two words stood out: glory and peace. He used a second Scripture which is recorded in Psalm 127:1: "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain" (NIV).
He emphasized five points. Reminds me of David's five stones:
Christian Life Worship Center is located in Athens, Georgia. The address is 125 Kathwood Drive. The zip code is 30607. Directions: US 129 the Jefferson highway. The church is 1 mile North of the Athens Bypass or perimeter at Exit 14. Turn right onto Kathwood Drive. Our church is on the left.
It was a good day—the day which the Lord made, and we did rejoice and praised His holy Name.
We began the day with a continental breakfast as the Men's Ministries and Women's Ministries joined together to feed everyone who attended. The food was excellent and plenty of it. We wanted to welcome our new pastor and his family with good food and genuine fellowship. Our pastor, Matt Adams, his wife, Rachael, and two daughters, Lydia and Hannah were present. There son, Ben, is a police officer and was on duty in another city in Georgia.
How pleased we were to welcome back home Christopher and Jeanie Revells, and their 10 beautiful children including their three-month baby daughter, Sophia. Chris and Matt Adams have been friends since childhood.
Arlette Revells was our devotional speaker following our breakfast. She is a superb motivational speaker who gets your attention and keeps her audience on the edge of their chairs in rapt attention. Her message gave us new insights about Jonah, the reluctant missionary. She is launching a new radio ministry with two or three-minute vignettes.
Air Force Chaplain, Major Chad Bellamy was present in the morning worship. His wife, Jeri and their three children were coming but one of the children, Asher, I understand had strep throat and none of them were able to be present save Chad. Chad and Matt Adams were roommates at Emmanuel College.
We had a good crowd. The choir did a good job. There was a good spirit.
Pastor Matt Adams is a singing pastor and that is good. He flows with the Spirit, and His message was right on. He preached about what God can and will do. We had communion prior to his preaching and it went well.
One family that had recently stopped coming were back. When I talked to the father he assured me they were not gone but are with us.
Matt Adams is a gifted speaker, and is very observant. He is the assistant superintendent of Franklin County Schools and with his special advanced classes and programs in leadership, management, etc. will serve him well. The Holy Spirit will use all of that to cause him to be an effective pastor/teacher/evangelist.
His wife and two daughters joined him at the altar praying with those who came for prayer.
All is well. I am pleased.
There was a peace, a spirit of peace in the worship service. It reminded me of the Veil of the Temple being torn from top to bottom signifying the openness to God without going through the high priest. I think of a relationship of peace that is perpendicular in our relationship to God, and horizontal in our relationship to others.
The Apostle Paul writes about this peace in conjunction with the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and in our case, i. e., our local church congregation it has implications about our church being resurrected. Let me quote the verse which is one of my favorite benedictions in the Bible:
Hebrews 13:20-21
20 May the God of peace, Who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
NIV
One more Scripture on peace:
Ephesians 2:14-18
14 For He Himself is our peace, Who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by abolishing in His flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
NIV
Pastor Matt Adams was anointed to preach and minister, and was given the unction of the Holy Spirit to speak the right words, for the right occasion, for the right people. He emphasized what God can and will do. He said the best is yet to come.
His text came from Haggai 2:6-9: 6 "This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. 7 I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD Almighty. 8'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the LORD Almighty. 9'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the LORD Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the LORD Almighty." NIV
Two words stood out: glory and peace. He used a second Scripture which is recorded in Psalm 127:1: "Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain" (NIV).
He emphasized five points. Reminds me of David's five stones:
- Come and stay unified
- Be strong
- Find your place of ministry
- Seek the Holy Spirit for your gift
- Be courageous . . . don't fear
The best is yet to come. He led us in singing, "I'd rather have Jesus." Greg Morgan was at the piano and Arlette Revells the keyboard. Greg immediately picked up on the song and in the key Matt was singing in, and Arlette followed on the keyboard.
Now is the time to join with us in our new beginning as a local church. If you are looking for a good Pentecostal Holiness Church where you will be welcomed, loved and accepted I would encourage you to give us an opportunity to love you and assist you in finding your place of ministry and service.
Christian Life Worship Center is located in Athens, Georgia. The address is 125 Kathwood Drive. The zip code is 30607. Directions: US 129 the Jefferson highway. The church is 1 mile North of the Athens Bypass or perimeter at Exit 14. Turn right onto Kathwood Drive. Our church is on the left.