Preachers usually take time to pray over our sermons because we want to make certain we are hearing the Word of God accurately. We want to clearly convey that Word to our listeners. So imagine if in your prayerful preparation the Holy Spirit tells you to stand up and call women in your congregation “cows.”…
We have all read terrifying stories about the persecution of Christians. Recently I’ve seen articles about attacks on Christians in Nigeria, China and the Middle East. Although most of these stories are based on real events, some have been making the rounds for years. I’ve seen the same handful of stories about persecution in China…
It was my privilege to be with the Tennessee Valley Conference on August 10 and participate in their 2019 Annual Conference. Compassion Church in Dickson, Tennessee, served as the host. Pastor Jamie Grisham and his team provided quality service and hospitality. Bishop Manuel Pate presented an exceptional State of the Conference Report with a strong…
I recently watched a television commercial about the neglect and abuse of dogs in the United States. Pictures of needy dogs flashed across the screen. The pets looked malnourished and had been harmed or abandoned, and a celebrity spokesperson encouraged viewers to donate to local shelters or to adopt the pets. After watching this, I…
It was my privilege to serve as the presiding officer for the West Coast Hispanic Conference on Saturday, August 10, 2019. The conference convened at 9 a.m. with a ‘Concert of Prayer’ in the beautiful and historic Templo ‘Belen’ Church in Los Angeles, California. Templo ‘Belen’ was built in 1906 and is currently pastored by…
As of June of this year, there were 36,300 homeless people living in the streets of Los Angeles. The causes include mental illness and substance abuse. According to an article in the New York Times, city officials in Los Angeles say the primary cause of homelessness is the lack of affordable housing. That complaint is…
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…
The International Pentecostal Holiness Foundation (IPHF) is seeking a skilled philanthropic leader with a demonstrated passion for the stewardship of God’s gifts and service to God’s people. The Foundation’s next executive director will serve as “relationship-builder in chief” of the IPHF as it seeks to realize a bold new vision and strategic direction in support…
For nearly 25 years, my wife and I have served as pastors of Church of Living Water, in Fresno, California. When we first started attending as associate pastors, we found that there were several families in the church that had adopted children or were foster parents. We valued and appreciated their work but thought little…
Approximately 150 students walked across the stage on May 4, 2019, at the John W. Swails Center with 132 earning a bachelor’s degree and another 18 earning their associate degrees. Co-valedictorians Jack Fitzpatrick and Kylah-Maxwell Brown addressed the graduating class. Fitzpatrick began by sharing how God intervened through a chance meeting with the late Bob…
