District Convention 2007 Eastern KY

The Church of God Eastern KY District Convention Report
February 23-24, 2007
The Church of God
12 E. Broadway
Winchester, KY
This years convention was a great time in the Lord, and certainly was an encouragement to all. There were fifty in attendance over the course of the two days. Friday night service was held “Camp-meeting style” with the idea of having an “evangelistic” feel. God was moving from the start of the service as folks from around the district as well as around the region gathered in and prepared to enjoy the good spirit and feast upon the Word of God.
As service began, we were blessed with Scripture reading and prayer led by Brother Terry Flora, followed by songs led by Sister Sam Flora, with piano by Sister Fannie Hinton who attended from Sturgis, KY. Sister Phyllis Warriner boosted the Children’s Ministry and Sunday School work, and we were again blessed by a selection of songs by the District Gleaners.
Finally it was time for an evangelistic message by Brother Shane Wilcox, pastor of The Church of God in Sturgis, KY. He preached under a great anointing and shared from the word and the message was followed by a good time in the altar which was extended when the people followed a few of the ministers back into the congregation to pray for a young lady who was in sore need of a touch from the Lord. God was glorified by all as we prayed and shouted to His Glory! Amen.
Saturday morning we met again at just after nine am, and began to feel the blessings of God immediately as we prayed and sang God’s praises. Brother John Talley blessed the congregation as he testified, read a scripture and led us in prayer.. He has recently been through a major back surgery and had not been able to attend regularly for a few weeks, so this was a special blessing for him. As he began to cry and tell of God’s goodness a sweet spirit filled the room.
The good spirit continued as Brother Terry Flora took to the pulpit to preach an anointed message about obedience. Following his message was the VLB boost by Regional Coordinator Sister Leandra Morris. We were all blessed by the sincerity of both of these as they allowed God to speak through them to the hearts of the people. Thank God!
The next item on schedule was Testimony Time led by Deacon Josh Graham, pastor of The Church of God in Elizabethtown. Brother Josh blessed us all with his wisdom, and love for God, along with his obvious compassion for others. It was a blessing to hear his testimonies, and words of encouragement, as well as those testimonies shared by the others who spoke up to tell of God’s goodness.
Sister Phyllis Warriner then returned to boost the ABM work. Her tireless work for the various auxiliaries in the region has long been a blessing to us all. God bless Sister Warriner!!
After the ABM boost we went immediately to a message by our Regional Overseer Bishop Paul Jernigan. As always the message was anointed, exciting, and timely. He admonished us to be sober and vigilant because there are still trials ahead for the church. Included in the message was some good Church history to help put many current events in the proper perspective. We are reminded that we must obey God and do things His way, not man’s. Thank God for Brother Jernigan and his boldness in delivering what God has given him.
In the Saturday afternoon session, Sister Rita Talley led the congregation in singing, accompanied by Sister Barbara Hilton on piano. Once again, one could sense the love the people have for their God who has kept them through so much in the last year. Brother Barry Warriner, Regional Field Secretary came to the pulpit next and as always was a blessing to the people. He is another plain spoken preacher who believes in telling it like God gives it. Thank God for men like this who are such an encouragement to us, while also helping us to remember to put God first. Once again, it seemed that obedience came out as a theme.
The service was closed with an exhortation to pray, and work for Revival from both our Regional and District overseers. Our theme for the weekend was “Revive Us, O Lord.” We want so much to see this region fully revived and on fire for God like never before. Many thanks to God for His presence in our District Convention. Because oif Him, it was truly a success!

Attendance…50
Total offerings…$612.00
Reported by…
District Overseer, Donald R. Estep II

Hey...

Hey, everyone. Happy Sunday Morning. I love Sunday morning. Maybe it's the pastor in me. Maybe it's the kid in me who still loves going o Sunday School. Probably a little of both. I have loved Sunday School since childhood. It's a light, fun time, yet what a serious thiong it is that we are doing. We have so little time, comparatively speaking to gather and study the Word. Where our children are concerned, we have that one key hour per week, plus whatever Children's Church and/or Gleaner time a local church might use., to teach them. It seems that given that limted time for the local church to teach and train, maybe we ought to be pushing for more good Christian teaching and instruction at home. I know many of our church parents work very hard at this, but throughout my ministry, one thing I have noticed is that for every family that seems to do this well, it seems there are several more that place no emphasis on it at all. I want to do better and encourage others to improve as well. Our children need us to take this seriously. They need strong examples from us, but beyond that, they need us to lead the way in teching them the Word.
I have to go for now, but these are just some things to think about.
God bless...
Brother Donnie

It's Almost BIRTHDAY TIME AGAIN!!!

Oh yes, friends, it is birthday time again at the Esteps house! Haley will be 7 on Sunday. I've already officialy begun the celbration with a rousing rendition of "Happy two days before your birthday to YOU!!!!" She returned the favor by wishing her mother and I a "Happy two days before my birthday to you" before bed time. Oh, boy...I do still love birthdays.
Haley is a special little girl. Not just because she is mine. She is both beautiful, and good hearted. She has always had a loving heart, and is compassionate towards everyone. She is my baby doll. My first baby daughter. (Of course Taylor is just as special, but I'll save that for her birthday...lol)
I have to go for now, but will be on tomorow night, Lord willing to post some pictures from her birthday party.
God bless...
Brother Donnie

Good Meeting at Raceland, KY TCOG

2/3/07
The Church of God at Raceland, KY met at the home of the Clarkes in Flatwoods, KY for a wonderful church service followed by some good food and fellowship.
Brother Terry Flora and I were there with about eight people from the area. There was a sweet spirit throughout the service. God is always faithful to bless His people when we meet together to worship Him. It was a blessing for Brother Terry and I to be with these wonderful, faithful people of God. We plan to be in service with them again on Saturday February 17, 2007. We expect even more of the faithful to be in attendance at that time. Please pray for the folks there that we could find a building and that God would send a pastor who could be there with them on a regular day to day basis.
God bless each of you, and thank you for your prayers!
Brother Donnie

Good gravy, it's cold...

It is so cold in my house right now! Our furnace, which is a big ol' free standing gas burner, has stopped working. The pilot light went out and will not relight. My father in law, who owns the house replaced a part, hoping it would fix it, but it did not. I appreciate his effort. He is a great guy, by the way. The fix-it guy should be here around 3:30 today, I think. I'm praying for that guy. That he will be the one fix-it type who actually arrives on time, and has all the necessary tools and parts to fix the stinkin' thing. I hope he can even get here. Where we live, it is a near physical impossibility to get up our hill in a normal vehicle. I had to go to my new job this morning to sign forms and do the post hire paperwork (yay!), and I nearly did not make it back up onto the farm! I think I nearly finished off my already terrible, and badly balding tires. I know, bald is beautiful...NOT, HOWEVER, ON TRUCK TIRES! It's not bad here in town, but we live in the country. To get to our place, you go down a hill, up a very steep hill, back a gravel road, and part way down yet another hill. That's all after you leave the main road. Oh, and it's uphill both ways.
But anyway. I'm not bitter. Cold, but not bitter. I'll just sit here in my living room with my coat and boots on and eat some chips and blog a bit. I might even play my COLD guitar. If my COLD fingers aren't too stiff. From the COLD, that is.
God bless...
Brother DOnnie