I have noticed that Melvine is taking advantage of going to bed when she feels tired. Most of the time she has stuck it out by sitting in her recliner and getting Greg or me to help her push her La z boy chair back so she can have her feet up high. She can sleep in that position; however, I think she is more comfortable and sleeps much better in her own bed. Most of us do that.

Keeping up with Melvine's medicines, taking her vital signs, recording them in my computer is a task I have to stay current on and it takes diligent work to do it.

I have a scale for administering insulin. It is according to the count of her blood sugar.

I have been asked by my cardiologist to weigh daily. I have a good scale. Instead of losing weight, I am gaining weight. 

On Monday, I will see my cardiologist to get the report of recent tests and blood work.

Melvine is in bed and is asleep. She rests well now, and sleeps through the night with one time having to get up and go to the bathroom.

As I am writing, I can hear thunder and see some lightning. We need rain.

God has always provided the rain when we need it. For that we praise Him.

David Sparks has sent me a humor book. It has 441 pages. The title of the book is The Ultimate to Good Clean Humor. It is authored by Bernard Brunssting. 

David Sparks is the senior pastor of Flat Rock Pentecostal Holiness Church in Mount Airy, NC. He has been the pastor there for many years. I have been to his church several times and preached to his great congregation. David laced the book with $5 bills to use as book markers. He said he gave them to me to take Melvine out to a nice restaurant. I am grateful to David for this book as well as the five dollar bills. Now, I will not run out of material for the jokes I share in Lighten Up With Laughter. 

May God bless David Sparks and his church.

Thank you all for allowing me to come into your home, office, or place of business on a daily basis.

It is a real joy to write and put together Hugh's News for you.

I have taken the time to translate the lyrics from the sheet music in this video for you to be able to see and sing.

What the Lord Has done for me
Words and music by Rebecca J. Peck
Arranged by Logan Peck & Rebecca J. Peck

Rebecca Peck was 2019 Professional Songwriter of the Year at the AGM Awards held in Nashville, TN, on April 16, 2019.

Lyrics translated from the sheet music and song by Hugh H. Morgan

I cannot tell you 
   how God formed the mountains
    or placed the stars in the sky.

I cannot tell you 
   how He paints a rainbow
Or makes the sparrow fly.

I cannot tell you 
   how He tends the lilies 
   with hands that holds the seas.
But I can tell you 
What the Lord has done for me.

He cleansed my heart from sin,
And put His peace within,
And gave me life anew.

He healed my broken heart
    that was torn apart
And gave me heaven too.

I cannot tell you all of the joy
That is waiting throughout eternity.

Ladies sing this part
I cannot tell you how
   the God of Heaven was in a manager bed.

Men sing this part
I cannot tell how blind eyes were opened
   and multitudes were fed.

All voices sing this part
I cannot you why He'd love a sinner
   and died upon a tree.
But I can tell you what the Lord has done for me.

He cleansed my heart from sin, 
Put His peace within,
And gave me life anew.

He healed my broken heart 
   that was torn apart,
And gave me Heaven too.

I cannot tell you all the joy
   That’s waiting throughout eternity
But I can tell you what the Lord has done for me.

Repeat again this last stanza and chorus:

I cannot tell you all the joy
   That’s waiting throughout eternity
But I can tell you what the Lord has done for me.

And now let me share with you a hyperlink so you can hear the singers sing this great new song that should ignite a fire of renewal and revival in all our churches, and spread across America and the countries of the world.

Click here to see the sheet music and heard this song sung so beautifully.

A majority of our active duty and retired military chaplains are presently on a retreat/training conference in Colorado, Springs, Colorado. Some of our chaplains are in strategic assignments where they are not able to attend because of the needs of the military.

Melvine, Greg, and I were invited to attend. We regrettably had to turn down the gracious invitation due to Melvine's illness. We still believe in miracles and that God can turn things around for Melvine and me.

We are grateful for the excellent leadership of Chaplain (Colonel) Jerry L. Jones, US Army retired, our highly esteemed director/endorser of Chaplains Ministries, IPHC as well as those who serve on our Chaplains Ministries Council.

Today, Thursday, 1 August will conclude the retreat/training conference. I pray that the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon each chaplain and spouse and that they experience a refreshing of their spirits and a renewal of their calling to serve God and Country as military chaplains.

Army Chaplains Corps: Serving 'God and Country' for 244 years with 25,000 chaplains

By Randy Murray, Fort Stewart Public Affairs
(updated from original) 

FORT STEWART, GA -- Barely six weeks after the Continental Congress established the Army and the first branch of the Army, the infantry, a second branch was established upon orders by General George Washington, according to Chaplain (Col.) Gary Moore, Fort Stewart's installation chaplain.

The Army Chaplains Corps was established July 29, 1775 and for 244 years, approximately 25,000 Army Chaplains have served more than 25 million Soldiers and family Members, living up to the motto on its branch insignia, "Pro Deo et Patria," which means, "For God and Country."

"George Washington said, 'We need chaplains,'" said Chap. Moore, who hails from the mountain country of eastern Tennessee. "Washington was concerned about both the morale and morals of the Soldiers and believed the Army should provide paid religious leaders to meet Soldiers' spiritual needs."

Chap. Moore noted that Army chaplains have served in more than 270 major wars with seven chaplains receiving the Medal of Honor and 27 receiving the Distinguished Service Cross.

He emphasized, however, that since July 1929, Army chaplains are not trained as combat Soldiers.

"We don't even train on weapons now," he said. "According to FM 27-10, The Law of Land Warfare, chaplains come under Category IV of the Geneva Convention. If captured, we're supposed to be treated as detainees. That way, we can be allowed to minister to the spiritual needs of prisoners of war."

Chap. Moore admits this treatment is not always observed by the enemy, but said an enemy's failure to follow the rules of the Geneva Convention has never deterred American forces from doing what's right.

He went on to explain how the mission of the Army Chaplains Corps supplements the Army's overall mission by providing spiritual leadership for the Army Family.

"All leaders care for Soldiers," Chap. Moore said. "Chaplains are leaders too, with a mission to support the commander and serve the Soldier."

General George C. Marshall once said, "The Soldier's heart, the Soldier's spirit and the Soldier's soul are everything. Unless the Soldier's soul sustains him, he cannot be relied on and will fail himself, his commander (and) his country in the end."

According to the Army Chaplaincy Strategic Plan, the three-fold mission of the Army Chaplains Corps helps the Soldier with matters of the heart, spirit and especially the soul: 1) Provide religious support to America's Army across the full spectrum of operation. 2) Assist the commander in ensuring the right of free exercise of religion. 3) Provide spiritual, moral and ethical leadership to the Army.

Chap. Moore said Army Religious Affairs Sepcialists, now a separate military occupation specialty (56M), will celebrate their 110th birthday, Dec. 28.

Although many chaplains probably had someone assigned or attached to them to help with administrative and logistic issues, Chap. Moore said the Army didn't establish an official enlisted assistant to chaplains until 1909 with General Orders No. 253.

Despite being part of the chaplaincy, he emphasized the chaplain assistant is a "Soldier first and last."

"(Religious Affairs Specialists) train with and use weapons to provide security for the chaplain," he said. "Though they're not ordained, they are a full-fledged part of the unit ministry team, providing context for the worship area - whether it's for a wedding, funeral, memorial or worship service. They also take up the offering money and list every penny given on an offering control sheet, which is always deposited the day of or day after it's collected."

Because the chaplain assistant is a Soldier first, their combat record is impressive. Chap. Moore mentioned volunteer chaplain assistant Calvin Titus, who earned the Medal of Honor in 1902 for his heroism during the Boxer Rebellion in China.

See and hear Chaplain Solhjem's anniversary message here.

[Editor's Comment: Chaplain Thomas Solhjem is an ordained minister of the Gospel of the Assemblies of God, the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world. We are very proud of him and the fact we believe God has placed him in this strategic position as the Chief of Army Chaplains for such a time as this.]

Opinion piece from Mike Berry posted Jul 29, 2019

Although military chaplains are forbidden from carrying arms, they have long been one of our nation's most formidable weapons. But spurious legal attacks against chaplains are a vivid reminder that, as we celebrate the chaplain corps' 244th birthday, we must remain vigilant in defending religious freedom within our armed forces.   

In the summer of 1775, one of the first acts of the fledgling Continental Congress was to establish the U.S. Army and its first branch, the infantry. Shortly thereafter, on July 29, 1775, the Congress established the Army's second branch, the chaplain corps, whose official motto is "Pro Deo et Patria," meaning "For God and Country." 

For the past 244 years, tens of thousands of military chaplains across three service branches (the Navy provides chaplains for the Marine Corps) have ensured that our troops enjoy the free exercise of religion as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution. The question is whether the chaplain corps will be able to continue doing so in year 245, and beyond?

In recent years, First Liberty Institute has defended chaplains threatened with disciplinary action and even court-martial simply for staying true to their religious beliefs while also complying with military regulations.  These legal attacks persist despite laudable efforts by President Donald Trump, the Attorney General, and Congress to protect religious liberty in the military. 

While First Liberty has successfully defended several chaplains against these attacks, it is not enough to simply fight and win in the legal arena. The courtroom is the last line of defense for religious liberty; to truly protect it we must restore a culture of respect for the role of faith in society at large and within the military. One of the ways we can ensure our chaplains and other service members retain robust constitutional rights is by understanding why religious freedom in the military is important.   

Our government has long recognized that "if we expect our Armed Forces to be physically prepared, we must also expect them to be ideologically prepared."

Moreover, our government acknowledges that religious freedom for service members "provides an essential way for strengthening their fundamental beliefs in democracy and, therefore, strengthening their effectiveness as an instrument of our democratic form of government."

For two and a half centuries, chaplains have served to strengthen our military's effectiveness. In military-speak, this makes chaplains a "force multiplier." Few understood the concept better than George Washington.

Washington made known his convictions on the importance of religion within the military early in his career while serving as a young Colonel during the French & Indian War. Throughout that time, he repeatedly requested religious support for his troops, often to no avail. In fact, records show Washington made at least six separate pleas for chaplains. Each plea was rebuffed. It should come as no surprise that upon his ascendancy to the rank of general, one of Washington's first orders was that chaplains would perform "divine services" for his troops.
​
America's second Commander-in-Chief, John Adams, was no less insistent on promoting religious freedom in the military. Known as "The Father of the American Navy," Adams' presidency saw the U.S. Navy grow from its humble origins into a formidable fighting force capable of defending the fledgling nation's vast coastline. Under his presidency, Adams instructed his Secretary of the Navy on the importance of establishing a chaplaincy.  

Congress responded favorably to President Adams' desire by establishing and providing for naval chaplains, and re-issuing the naval regulations it established during the Revolutionary War, requiring that "Divine Service" be performed twice each day aboard all naval vessels, and that a sermon be preached each Sunday.

Since the earliest days of our republic, military chaplains have been an essential part of our fighting forces. Two of America's founders, both of whom were far too acquainted with war, understood the importance of chaplains and the free exercise of religious liberty in the military. 

Perhaps it is time we follow their example.

[Mike Berry, a former active duty Judge Advocate in the U.S. Marine Corps, serves as Director of Military Affairs for First Liberty Institute, a legal organization dedicated to defending religious freedom.] 

One of the finest, well-established Camp Meetings is the Beech Springs Camp Meeting now called Spirit Life Ministries Camp Meeting. I apologize for missing the first night for the camp meeting when my friend Terry Fowler, former superintendent of the South Carolina preached.  

They always have a great choir with gifted singers and musicians. They have special music too that adds to the worship experience.

​The Cure

The Author: Tony Evans

In His Presence: 1 John 1:9

“The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel”(Mark 1:15).

Sin is more than just a problem in our lives. Many of our troubles are the consequences of sin. Sin always carries a consequence. Some of us may be suffering consequences for many years. Aren’t you tired of living with these consequences? God has a cure—repentance.

Repentance is God’s way of restoring harmony and removing the impregnable wall that goes up when we’ve lost our close fellowship with Him. Repentance is the decision to turn from sin in order for God to bring an end to the judgment He has wrought on us. Repentance repairs relationships.

The Greek word metanoia means a change of mind. It is often translated as repentance. It involves a change of heart, a new way of looking at life. Only one aspect of metanoia is repentance. It is much more like a rebirth. Metanoia involves a realization or new way of looking at ourselves. Like David who said: “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13), we need to wake up to the fact that we have sinned against God and God alone. We have offended God.

True repentance involves regret. We should feel sorrow over our sin, not just sorrow over the fact that we got caught. “Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom” (James 4:8-9). We need to be broken-hearted before God about our sins.

One Minute Please

Have you gotten sick over your sins yet?

Watch Online Videos of Dr. Tony Evans and The Urban Alternative at LightSource.com
and
Listen to Dr. Tony Evans Online Broadcasts at OnePlace.com.

​Another Counselor

Author: Anne Graham Lotz

"I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of Truth" (John 14:16-17, NIV).

Jesus described the Holy Spirit as “Another.” The Greek word actually means “another who is exactly the same.” So although the Holy Spirit is a distinct person, He is exactly the same as Jesus, but without the physical body. He has been described as Jesus without skin. Or, like an FBI agent, He is Jesus undercover.

We know that Jesus is in heaven. As the first martyr, Stephen, was being stoned to death, he looked up and saw heaven open and Jesus standing at God’s right hand, preparing to welcome him home! (Acts 7:56)

But that doesn’t mean Jesus has left us to stumble through the darkness of the future on our own. He promised His disciples that when He went to heaven, He would ask His Father to send down to earth “Another.” One Who would have His same mind, will, emotions, and intellect. Jesus called Him the Counselor (John 14:16), because He is readily available to give us wisdom for our decisions, direction for our future, insight into our problems, and management for our responsibilities.

Blessings,

Anne Graham Lotz

Copyright © 2014 Anne Graham Lotz (AnGeL Ministries) Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved www.annegrahamlotz.org.

​Fighting for Our Children in a Transgender Age

Why we must help them understand God's good design

Author: Nancy Pearcy
   
From a young age, Brandon showed symptoms of gender dysphoria—a feeling of distress with one’s biological sex. Before he was even walking, his babysitter said, “He’s too good to be a boy,” meaning he was gentle, quiet and compliant—traits stereotypically linked to girls.

In preschool, Brandon invariably played with the little girls. By elementary school, he was coming to his parents weeping and saying, “I feel the way girls do, I’m interested in things girls are. God should have made me a girl.”

By age 14, he was searching the internet for information on sex change surgery.

It is now considered “standard practice” to treat gender-dysphoric children with puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgery. But is it really a good idea to turn children into lifelong medical patients? We are talking about powerful drugs with negative side effects, not to mention surgeries that amputate healthy body parts. 

Moreover, these invasive procedures do not actually change a person’s sex. Doctors tell us that “every cell has a sex”—and no treatment can alter every cell in our bodies.

How did Brandon’s parents respond to his gender distress? They assured him it is perfectly acceptable for a boy to be sensitive, emotional and relational. That does not mean he is “really” a girl. God may have gifted him for one of the caring professions, like psychology or health care. Boys can and should be merciful and “servants of all,” as our Lord taught (Mark 9:35). The greatest man who ever lived, Jesus, described Himself as “gentle and humble in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

Of course, God also delights in making girls who do not fit the cultural stereotypes—girls who are athletic and competitive. God does not divide His spiritual gifts by gender but gives them to both women and men according to His purposes (1 Corinthians 12:1-11).

“We need to fight for our children—in our homes, our churches, the schools and the political realm. We need to help them find their God-given identity in a culture that tells them there are no signposts.”

Eventually, Brandon chose to base his identity on his God-given biology. The biological correspondence between male and female is not some evolutionary accident. It is part of the original design that God pronounced “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Our sexual nature is part of the created order that is “declaring the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1). Each of us is called to “glorify God in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20). 

Modern society prides itself on being scientific, yet it has embraced a transgender ideology that denies the facts of science—disconnecting gender from biology. A BBC documentary says that at the heart of the transgender debate is the idea that your mind “can be at war” with your body. And in that war, it’s the mind that wins.

But why accept such a demeaning view of the body? 

Even secular people are starting to recognize that transgender ideology expresses “body hatred.”

Yet therapists often fast-track children into transitioning without asking questions about why they came to feel so alienated from their bodies. In states and cities that have conversion therapy bans, it is actually illegal to help a child explore underlying issues related to sexual orientation or gender identity. And it will become illegal across all the states if Congress passes the deceptively named Equality Act (pending in the Senate). 

That’s why it’s up to us. Brandon’s parents fought for him. And we need to fight for our children—in our homes, our churches, the schools and the political realm. We need to help them find their God-given identity in a culture that tells them there are no signposts—that even their biological sex gives them no clue about who they are.

We will be most effective in communicating Biblical truth by using positive language, urging people to live in tune with God’s original design. The Biblical ethic treats the human body as a good gift from God. It teaches us to honor our body, to respect our biological identity, to live in harmony with God’s purpose. Our bodies have the dignity of being temples of God’s own  Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19).  

We can take our cues from our forebears in history. The early church faced philosophies like Gnosticism that denounced the body as “the prison house of the soul.” Gnosticism taught that the physical world is evil because it was created by a low-level deity—an evil god. 

In this context, Christianity was revolutionary. It teaches that the world was created by the Most High God, who is good, and therefore it is intrinsically good. The fall into sin does not negate its inherent goodness—just as we can look at a work of art that is damaged and still see its original beauty. 

Christianity’s greatest scandal, historically, was its claim that this same God had entered into the material realm, taking on a physical body—“the Word became flesh” (John 1:14). The incarnation of Christ is the ultimate affirmation of the dignity of the human body. 

And at the end of history, God is not going to scrap the material universe as though He made a mistake the first time. He is going to redeem it and restore it, creating “a new heaven and a new earth” (Revelation 21:1). The Bible affirms the resurrection of the body (1 Corinthians 15:52-54). 

This positive Gospel narrative can reach hurting young people. We can only be healthy, and we can only thrive as humans, when we base our identity on who God created and redeemed us to be. And that redemption is found only in a saving relationship with Jesus Christ, the One through whom “all things were made” (John 1:3). 

©2019 Nancy Pearcey

[Nancy Pearcey is professor of apologetics and scholar-in-residence at Houston Baptist University. She is the author of several books, including Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity and Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions About Life and Sexuality.

Header: Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, explains during a press conference that the ultimate goal of the Equality Act is to destroy religious freedom as we know it.]

John 3:16-21  The greatest message in all the world

16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
KJV

The clerk of the church board continually to purchase a chandelier for the church. 

Finally, the pastor took him aside to ask him why he always blocked his proposal.

The clerk told him, "Pastor, I have three reasons I am against this proposal. First  of all, I don't know how to spell it for the minutes. In the second place, we don't have anyone in the church who can play one of those things. And third, what we really need is a light fixture for the sanctuary."

It was a real treat for Melvine to feel well enough to go to our church, Christian Life Worship Center, in Athens, Georgia, to be a part of the Bible study and prayer group. For a number of years Melvine was their leader. This group is growing every week.

Greg loves to attend and be a part of the Bible study and prayer time. After the session, they go out to eat together at different restaurants. They choose the one and they all go to it. Today, they chose Outbacks. 

I stayed home and read, and worked on our bills.

Greg bought me a small order of baby back ribs and French onion soup. 

Our pastor, Retired Army Chaplain Terry Kesling and his wife, Pam, are now in Colorado Springs, Colorado for the IPHC Chaplains and Spouses Retreat/Training Conference. They are all there who registered. Pastor Terry Kesling called me on his cell phone and put it on Speaker Phone. They all shouted at me to let me know they love Melvine and me, and let us know they are missing us. What a lovely gesture. Melvine went to bed when she got home and was fast asleep. 

However, they prayed with me for Melvine, Greg, and me. Chaplain (Colonel) Jerry L. Jones, the director/endorser of Chaplains Ministries, led in the prayer and it was powerful. I received it on behalf of Melvine and Greg. We wish we could be there with them.

They will be there together through Thursday. Let us pray that this retreat/training conference will be the best ever.

The IPHC is blessed to have some of the finest military chaplains in the Armed Forces of the United States. They are highly educated and trained to minister to some of American's finest youth who are serving on active duty in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps.

​Remember our chaplains this week as they have a time of worship, training, and time together in Colorado Springs.

Please Click Here to see a video you will never forget and one that will bring you hope for the miracle God wants you to experience in your life. The speaker is Lee Strobel and his message is entitled, "The Case for Miracles."

I want to say thanks to Wesley Russ, former superintendent of the Mid-Atlantic Conference, for sending me this attachment of Lee Strobel speaking convincingly with joy in his voice, a friendly and engaging smile on his face, a confidence and assurance that God is real and He performs miracles today. His topic is "The Case for Miracles." Lee Strobel is an outstanding communicator. His message will deeply touch your heart and life as you stay with him to the end of his message. I must admit I had never heard of him. If you are like me, you will be so glad you have now heard of him.

I understand something of the sovereignty of God and I often mention it in my writing and speaking. We must always remember God is God and He has the final Word, for He sees the big picture, sees and knows what we cannot presently know. What a wonderful God we serve and trust.

This man with the message God has given him is just what I have needed and knew not where to find it. But, God has used my friend, Wesley Russ, once again to help me as a pilgrim walking through this world that is not my ultimate home to see once again God's love, mercy, and healing power to do miracles.

I have seen miracles in my life and ministry that often happened when I least expected them to occur.

It is my prayer that Lee Strobel will inform and encourage you to trust in God Who performs miracles today. Lee Strobel's message is urgently needed. I am confident it will bless thousands of people who read Hugh's News.

If this message touches your life, why not share it with a friend, relative, neighbor, or an associate. Use the forward we have designed for you at the top of this newsletter. If you forward Hugh's News to others, using your email address the recipient may inadvertently delete your subscription to Hugh's News. It has happened and I want to protect your subscription to Hugh's News.

Dr. Vinson Synan is our highly esteemed Church Historian. He not only knows how to research historical documents and give them life, he has made his own history for about 70 years.

This new book by a prolific writer and the recognized church historian for the IPHC is one you will want to purchase and show your family and friends when they visit your home. 

I have received my copy of Dr. Vinson Synan's book and he autographed it for me. Vinson shares a wealth of information about his early life in Virginia, and what that was like. His father was a pastor and had a large family. His dad played piano and led the singing in the worship services. Vinson met all of the leaders of the church, and writes about Bishop Dan T. Muse, the first bishop of the West. 

He writes about what it was like to move from Virginia to Memphis, TN. Those who live in Memphis will thrill to what he wrote. Me mentions Burney Proctor a man I have met.  Vinson and his twin brother Vernon attended one of the top high schools in the nation. There is no doubt about it, this move of our church headquarters to Memphis was ordained of God for that time in our church history.

You will thrill to the story of Vinson's father, Bishop J. A. Synan's relationship with Oral Roberts. 

Oh there is so much to read. I want you to purchase the book and read it for yourself. The price is $17.99 and can be ordered from LifeSprings or on Amazon. When ordering it mention Kathy Beacham's name, she is a sister of our Presiding Bishop Doug Beacham, and was in charge of getting Vinson Synan's book published. 

Here is the telephone for LifeSprings Resources: (706) 245-7272. Call today. ​

Where He Leads Me: The Vinson Synan Story 

It is a personal pleasure to promote Dr. Vinson Synan's latest book in Hugh's News.

You will be glad you bought it.

​IPHC Churches Experience Growth

Author: Janese Bennett

As the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC) seeks to accomplish the goals of Arise 2033, churches are catching the vision, implementing new strategies, experiencing growth, and impacting their communities.

Pastor Navil Vaughan in Westville, Oklahoma, grew up as a pastor’s kid in the Westville P.H. Church and assumed the pastorate in 2008. Although regular attendance hovered around 140 in a town of 1,500, he felt God wanted to do something more.

When the church celebrated its centennial in 2016, it received a prophetic word about changing its name. After much prayer, the congregation took the bold move to rename the 100-year-old church to Westville Impact Church. According to Pastor Vaughan, the new name helped bring a renewed focus and identity to the church.

During this time, the church also began to experience a powerful move of God. A wife of one of the church leaders received instantaneous healing from a rare, life-threatening disease. This powerful testimony catapulted the church into a revival with miraculous healings and transformed lives. Another young lady received salvation and deliverance from drug addiction. She is now leading Hope for Today, a support group for people who are recovering from addiction.

Baby Dedication at Compassion – Hartwell, Georgia

With a rekindled passion, the church began to embrace its new identity and impact its community which sits in one of the poorest counties in the state. Whether through providing meals for local school children in the summer or cleaning city streets, the church is constantly looking for ways to share Christ’s love. As Pastor Vaughan puts it, “When we lift Him up, He draws people.”

In January 2019 Impact Church launched a second campus in neighboring Stilwell, Oklahoma. On Easter Sunday, 141 people were in attendance in Stilwell, and 250 in Westville. Pastor Vaughn attributes this growth to prayer, being intentional, and staying open to the Holy Spirit.

Impact Church now partners with Evangelism USA’s Church Multiplication and Revitalization Ministry led by Josh Hannah. With a strong emphasis on three “waves” during Easter, Fall, and Christmas, the multiplication strategies encourage churches to develop an annual content calendar which focuses on recruiting volunteers, appointing leaders, increasing finances, and improving the guest connection rate. According to Pastor Josh, we often ask God to bring people supernaturally, but we must also do our part to be ready to receive new guests.

Utilizing these principles, Compassion Church – Hartwell (formerly Hartwell P.H. Church) increased its average attendance by 200% since 2017. Pastor Rick Womack attributes this growth to a streamlined vision and focused ministry team. He says, “We want to be a welcoming place. We want everyone to know ‘There is room at the table.’” As a bi-vocational pastor, Rick feels his part-time job helps keep him in touch with broken humanity and his local community.

Pastor Bill Rose of The First Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina, says, “The Church Revitalization Model has made us more attractional and made it easier for us to connect guests. We have been able to build better teams and increase the assimilation or connection rate.”

The First Church has also focused on increasing its footprint in the community by partnering with local social workers and the federal McKinney Vento Homeless Assistance program, which helps provide education for homeless children. Through this partnership, the church provides after-school reading assistance for at-risk children and hosts bi-annual breakfasts to connect with social workers and listen to the needs of the community.

As this relationship developed, Pastor Rose discovered that over 70 children in the county were sleeping on the floor. In response to this need, The First Church launched “Sweet Dreams”, a program to provide beds for children in Wayne County. In the first year, they received enough donations to provide a bed for every child, and Sweet Dreams continues to provide beds as the need arises.

In the summer of 2018, River of Life in Oklahoma City transitioned to Compassion – OKC and has experienced a 40% increase in average attendance. According to Pastor Jeff Patterson, the Church Multiplication connections ministry and the “waves” or evangelistic emphases have been key to the church’s growth. Families who have recently moved into the area are attending service, and the church family has a renewed passion for the lost and their community.
​
Christmas at Compassion – OKC

In a rural Oklahoma town, Pastor Sean McKinney has a renewed expectancy for a move of God. In 2008, Pastor McKinney felt God calling him back to his hometown of Stratford, Oklahoma, to pastor the Stratford P. H. Church. For nine years, he poured into the life of the church and community “doing what we knew to do,” but he felt he had hit a brick wall and was looking for a change.

When Pastor McKinney was introduced to the Church Multiplication model, things began to change. As the church implemented the multiplication principles, new people started attending church, and new believers were baptized. Compassion – Stratford is now holding two services on Sunday and averaging 250 in attendance.

Pastor McKinney shares his excitement, “We have more people involved than we ever have. We feel we are developing a blueprint for something that can be multiplied in other places, in other counties.” Compassion – Stratford wants to focus on planting churches in other rural areas and raising up leaders to reach the goals of Arise 2033.

As the IPHC moves forward to have a presence in 75% of the counties in the U.S., to plant churches among immigrant populations, and to focus on house churches in major cities, we must be open to new ideas and the power of the Holy Spirit.

For more information about Arise 2033 or the Church Multiplication model, contact Evangelism USA at (405) 792-7146 or evusainfo@iphc.org.

​God Can Put the Pieces Back Together

Author: Tony Evans

Nearly 40% of first marriages will end in divorce, according to a survey by the National Healthy Marriage Resource Center. This is because marriage has become less meaningful for many in our culture.

There are lots of reasons for this, from the decline in moral values, to the depiction of marriage and family in entertainment and the media. The Biblical view of marriage is under attack as "outdated," and there's a growing agenda to "redefine" marriage.  No matter how society defines marriage, nothing will work like the original plan God gave us in His Word.

The courts and society make breakups easier to swallow by calling them "no fault" divorces, yet I now that God can put the pieces back together again. He can heal homes and families.

No matter what the problem may be in your marriage or family, never count God out . . . because He has a plan and purpose for everything. 

God created Adam and Eve, man and woman, to enjoy a beautiful relationship while completing their purpose in life.

Scripture Readings: Genesis 2:20-24; Ruth 1:16-17; John 13:34-35

Watch Online Videos of Dr. Tony Evans and The Urban Alternative at LightSource.com
and
Listen to Dr. Tony Evans Online Broadcasts at OnePlace.com.

Here's a new song that has the potential of igniting a forest fire of spiritual renewal and revival that can sweep our nation with Holy Ghost pungent conviction that will result in repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It will produce a joy that will fill the hearts of our youth and older folks a like. 

Click here on this hyperlink to see the music, lyrics, and hear the song.

Here is a song you can purchase the sheet music from Peck Music Publishers and get your church choir or worship team to sing it on Sunday. They can in turn teach the congregation this dynamic song that will put fire in the soul, and stir the spirit within every heart.

I know a music minister by the name of Charles Terry, who is on staff at the Empire Pentecostal Holiness Church in Cochran, Georgia, who can pick this song up and make it into a powerful theme song at his church. His pastor is Brian Williams who is a powerful preacher of the Gospel. I know because Brian used to be my pastor at Christian Life Worship Center in Athens, Georgia. This will have to be their decision after they hear it.

I mention Charles Terry, but I am confident you have a man or a woman in your local church who is leading your singing who can do the same thing. Music is universal, and there is nothing like good singing sung by born again, Spirit-anointed people.

Lonnie Rex used to do this with great Gospel songs he taught us at General Conferences. He gave us the sheet music, and the church musicians took those songs back to their churches and sang them. What a difference it made in all of our churches from coast to coast and from north to south as we were singing the same anointed songs that we all loved to sing.

We had cassettes in our cars to listen and sing them over and over again as we traveled the highways back to our homes. Today, we have CD's.

Write me and let me know what you think. 

My email address is: hugh@hughsnews.com

Numbers 6:22-27

22 The Lord said to Moses, 23 "Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 

24 "'"The Lord bless you
and keep you; 
25 the Lord make His face shine upon you
and be gracious to you; 
26 the Lord turn His face toward you
and give you peace." '  

27 "So they will put My Name on the Israelites, and I will bless them." 
NIV

Today’s Parenting Tip:

Treat a difficult child the way you would your boss at work. 

Praise his achievements, ignore his tantrums and resist the urge to sit him down and explain to him how his brain is not yet fully developed.

Melvine and Hugh's appointment with their family doctor was scheduled for Monday afternoon. 

The cleaning ladies had to come to the Morgan home earlier on Monday to complete their deep cleaning so Greg could drive his mother and father to an appointment with Dr. Alice Edwards, their family physician.

It was a beautiful Monday with the sun shining and a cool breeze sweeping across the northeastern part of Georgia.

He prepared printed copies of their prescribed medications and those that needed to be refilled. Keeping up with Melvine's and Hugh's Medications is no small task. In addition, Hugh keeps a record of the vital signs for Melvine and Hugh. In addition, he keeps a record of Hugh's weight daily. Hugh gives himself an insulin injection daily, and Melvine gets two injections.

Melvine had been losing weight. Today, she had gained 7 pounds. Her AIC was 7.7. Overall Melvine is doing well, and there was no change in Melvine's medications.

Instead of losing weight, Hugh is gaining weight. Dr. Edwards increased his insulin. 

Hugh will have to come back in one month.

Hugh is scheduled to see his cardiologist on Monday, August 5, at 11:15 a.m. He hopes to get the results of the blood and heart tests. Today, Monday, July 29, Hugh had chest pains in his heart as he was reading. He took a nitro pill and the pain immediately stopped.

Melvine wanted to eat a late lunch and early supper at the Cracker Barrel. Melvine ordered a vegetable plate, and Greg and I ordered the Monday special of pork chops and vegetables. It was good.

Time is running out, and I must say goodnight.

Thank all of you who have given this month to help me make July a good month for our income.

May God bless you all who have given to make July a successful month in giving.

Have a blessed day and week.

Your friend in all seasons,

Hugh H. Morgan