L-R: Rev. Dean Morgan, Bishop Beacham, Tamara Amos, Bishop Greg Amos
On May 20th over four hundred and sixty delegates gathered at the conference camp grounds in Lake City, South Carolina for a historic quadrennial conference. This was the 113th gathering of the conference for its business of the Lord’s work. General Superintendent Doug Beacham presided over the conference session.
A highlight of the conference was the recognition and honoring of retiring conference superintendent Bishop Greg Amos. Along with his wife Tamara, Bishop Amos stood and received a heartfelt and lengthy time of applause from the delegates. Afterwards the delegates presented cards and gifts from the churches and ministers of the conference.
In his State of the Conference, Bishop Amos thanked the Lord for the significant increase in 2022 of spiritual blessings. The 178 churches (not counting four affiliate churches) reported 266 first time converts to Christ, 84 people who rededicated their lives to the Lord, 174 water baptisms, 79 reported sanctified, and 141 who experienced the baptism with the Holy Spirit. At the close of 2022 the conference reported a membership of 14,438 and 420 credentialed ministers.
As he reflected over the past twelve years, including the impact of the 2020 pandemic, Amos asked the delegates, “Is anything too hard for God?” He closed his report by focusing on “one word that changes everything! YET! I haven’t seen the manifestation of my healing, YET! My Church hasn’t rebounded from Covid, YET! We haven’t paid off our debt, YET! Some of our sons and daughters haven’t returned to the Lord, YET! We haven’t seen the breakthrough we’ve been praying for, YET!”
Front l-r: Allen Thompson, Phyllis Underwood, Superintendent Morris Smith, Jimmy Lambert Back l-r: Warren Matthews, Gene Henderson, Jason Cook, Tim Nail, Tom Polk
The conference began its business by voting to keep a three-term limit in the same office for elected officials by 368 to 71. In the voting for conference leadership, former Discipleship Ministries Director Morris Smith was elected as the new conference superintendent. Rev. Jimmy Lambert was elected as the assistant superintendent and Rev. Phyllis Underwood reelected as the Secretary/Treasurer. Rev. Allen Thompson was elected as the new Discipleship Ministries Director. The other members of the conference board were Jason Cook. Gene Henderson, Tim Nail, Warren Matthews, and Tom Polk.
Addressing the delegates, newly elected Bishop Morris Smith spoke of the importance of prayer and called for the conference to “Arise in Prayer” and trust God for what He will do to expand His kingdom through them.
Fifteen people received their ministers license during the session: Kathy Cox, Susan Harrell-McLeod, Steven Neal, Glenn Martin, Darin Joe Thompson, John Windham, Osman Argueta Roblero, Francisca Argueta, Francisco Nieto Barradas, Adolfo de Jesus Membreno, Hector Danile Rodriguez, Elvia Hernandez Garcia, Erica Vanessa Ochoa, Angel Ayala Leon, and Heydy Yamileth Hidalgo.
The following were ordained: Michael Justice Hunt, Daniel Seth Odom, and M. Shane Merrill.
Rev. H. Larry Jones presented the names and brief biography of the following who passed away since the previous annual conference: Mrs. Lynda Faye Germano, Rev. Jerold McKnight, Mrs. Magdalene “Maggie” Fogner, Rev. Mrs. Helon Hollis Phillips, Mrs. Dovie Hopkins Brown, Mrs. Ida Mae Jordan Baker, Mrs. Zulene Kelly Gandy, Mrs. Frances Norton Amos (mother of Bishop Greg Amos), Mrs. Alfreda Ann Spell Simmons, Mr. Samuel Thomas Woodson III, Rev. Venning Long, Rev. Dr. Mark Clay Evans, Rev. Jim “Jimmy” Matthew Porter, Mrs. Lula Mae Tunstall, Mrs. Cathy E. Knight, and Rev. Kenneth Frank Blease.
