Missional youth ministries involve their young people in missions and service, in ministries like Speed-the-Light. Franklin Full Life (Pastor Nick Serban & Youth Pastor Jonathan Zajas) is a great example. They were the #1 STL giving church in Tennessee for 2011. Our Top 25 STL churches for 2011 were:
Since its inception, Speed-the-Light has been resourcing our missionaries with transportation and equipment. Check out this video of DYD Jeremy Austill and Youth Pastor Jonathan Zajas on the following link: https://vimeo.com/41086263
Below you can download the Evangel Consolidation Update:
Dear Pastor,
The 87th Tennessee District Council right around the corner. I believe the Lord is going to meet with us in a very special way, as we convene to conduct the most important business in the world – God’s business. We will be spiritually refreshed in the presence of God through our worship, the ministry of the Word, and seeking the Lord in the altars. Bryan Jarrett, Shane Warren, and Kent Ingle will deliver anointed messages. We will deliberate with wisdom, in a spirit of unity, as we make leadership decisions and conduct kingdom business. We will be inspired and challenged as we come together to strategize in missions with the Belize Camp Project. We will be strengthened as we network together in fellowship and receive resources that will enhance our ministries. Needless to say, I am excited about this year’s District Council!
There will also be opportunities during District Council for you and your church to sow seed in special giving. Please prayerfully prepare to give generously to:
1. Benevolence – If you could send a benevolence offering prior to District Council, we will collectively bless some of the benevolent needs within our ministerial family during the Council. Be sure to designate “benevolence” when sending your offering. If you are aware of a minister who has a specific need, please let us know of your recommendation.
2. Jackson Conference Center – The Monday evening offering will be designated for our camp. Some of you are already making commitments to the Nehemiah Project and your giving is much appreciated.
3. Missions – On Tuesday night we will have a missions dinner instead of an evening service. We will honor our leading missions giving churches for 2011 and cast vision for the Belize Camp Project. We will also receive a special missions offering for our TN missionaries who are returning to the field this year.
Thank you in advance for your generous giving!
A Word from Our Superintendent
As promised in the last update, below you will find a brief “bio” for each of the leaders that will be brought before you at the upcoming Tennessee District Council as a nominee for a department director. It is my desire that you become better acquainted with each of them as we approach District Council.
District Secretary/Treasurer
The name being submitted to you by the Presbytery Board to serve in this key role is Rev. Glenn Burks. Many of you are already familiar with Bro. Burks as he previously served in this role from 1990 to 2007. Prior to his 17 years of serving in the District office, he served as the Sr. Pastor of four different churches; First Assembly of God in McMinnville, Bordeaux Assembly of God in Nashville, First Assembly of God in Waverly, and Calvary Assembly of God in Nashville. His first pastorate (McMinnville First AG) was offered to him while he was still in High School. He accepted the position in 1956 and started his 56-year ministry career. Bro. Glenn Burks is a man of integrity, anointing and wisdom, and we are blessed to have him serve in our District in any capacity.
District Youth/Christian Education Director
Jeremy Austill is the nominee for our next District Youth & Christian Education Director. After growing up attending Covington Assembly of God and participating in Tennessee District youth ministry events, Jeremy graduated from CBC and Evangel in 1999. Over the course of the past 13 years, he – along with his wife, Michelle, has served as youth pastor in Tennessee and Texas leading thriving youth ministries that experienced significant spiritual and numerical growth. They also were staff members of Karen Wheaton Ministries as leaders of the RAMP in Cleveland, TN and a liaison to youth pastors throughout the nation.
In recent years, Jeremy and Michelle launched and led a new church plant in Beaumont, TX. After having two children, Kingston (2 years old) and Neyland (4 months old), they returned to their roots here in Tennessee and have ministered as evangelists in various environments. Although they have worn numerous ministry hats, their focus and passion has been consistent; to lead people into a genuine encounter with the life changing power of the Holy Spirit. As a result of their array of experiences, they are uniquely gifted to mentor leaders, maximizing their spiritual development and their ministry effectiveness.
Jeremy and Michelle are excited about the opportunity to serve the Tennessee District. As teenagers they were direct recipients of the ministry of the Tennessee District Youth Ministries Department. They are honored to have the chance to serve and be a blessing to a fellowship that has so tremendously blessed them.
Women’s Ministry Director & Assistant Director
The names that the Presbytery Board will be submitting to you at District Council for these strategic positions are Lori Hawkins (Director) and Tammy Waycaster (Assistant Director). Both of these fine ladies and pastor’s wives are strong leaders in Women’s Ministry. We are looking for them to be a dynamic team and they will be working together to energize and empower the women’s ministries of our local churches.
Lori Hawkins serves as Minister of Music and Women’s Ministries Director at Covington Assembly of God, Covington, TN. The Lord has brought her through some incredibly difficult trials and has, through His grace and power, richly blessed her life and ministry. Lori has traveled extensively and ministered to audiences in churches, conferences, retreats and on Christian television. Sharing a testimony of God’s love and deliverance, Lori ministers powerfully to women who are hurting and broken. God has opened doors for ministry in Africa, El Salvador, the infamous El Inca Women’s Prison in Quito, Ecuador and with Latin American Childcare in Jamaica.
In 2010, Lori received her ministry credentials with the Assemblies of God. Lori leads worship, directs the Covington Assembly sanctuary choir and works with various instrumental and vocal groups within the church. “I don’t care if people ever know my name”, she says with conviction, “but I would give anything for them to know my Jesus.” That same passion and heart are evident in her ministry each week.
In addition, God has placed a burning passion in Lori’s heart for the women and families in her local community. She began the Fishes & Loaves Backpack Program, providing weekend meals for local elementary school students in need. And in January, 2012 Lori partnered with a local business owner to launch Tipton County Community Chronological Bible Discipleship, an intensive community Bible study for women that addresses the epidemic of Biblical illiteracy. This weekly study has seen women from the community saved, healed and set free from bondage as they learn and embrace the truth of God’s word.
Tammy Waycaster is a passionate, anointed speaker with a heart to see women fulfill their destiny in Christ. To truly fulfill the call of God, we must be able to discern His voice and determine His direction for us. Tammy is a gifted communicator who exhorts and encourages others to reach their full potential and operate in the greatness God intended.
Tammy is an Ordained Assembly of God Minister who has dedicated her life to preach the Gospel. She and her husband, Rick, Co-Pastor First Assembly of God in Milan, Tennessee. They have been married for 26 years and have three children and one adorable granddaughter! You will experience Tammy’s passion for the generation and her special gift to make the Gospel come alive and relate to your life.
Royal Rangers
Our hearts were saddened at the resignation of our former District Ranger Director, Rick Black. Rick’s shoes will be hard to fill. This position is a 2-year term and there is 1-year remaining for which an Interim Director is needed. Pastor Ron Bush has graciously accepted the call to be the Interim TN District Ranger/Boy’s Ministry Director. The Presbytery Board will be presenting his name to you at council as the nominee to fill this key role in our District. Ron has worked in the Ranger program for many years and closely with Rick Black. Ron will be serving in this role to complete the remainder of Rick’s 2-year term.
Ron Bush is an Ordained Minister with the Assemblies of God and has a Master’s Degree in Biblical Studies from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Debbie, have served as Associate Pastors, Chi Alpha Directors, Sectional Youth Reps, and leaders in the Royal Ranger program.
They came to us from the Iowa District in 1987. Prior to their transfer into the Tennessee District, they were involved in ministry to all age groups. Ron shared in pastoral duties as an Associate Pastor for over 10 years. He shared the pulpit with his Sr. Pastor, taught numerous classes, directed a van ministry, a substantial hospital ministry, and was active in the District camp program. In addition, he and Debbie were active in the Sunday School, the church choir, and Debbie also served as a Missionettes sponsor.
Since joining the Tennessee family 24 years ago, they have continued to serve faithfully as Sr. Pastor at Lafayette First Assembly and then as Associate Pastor at Gallatin House of Grace where he is currently still serving. Through it all, the Ranger program has been one of the passions of Ron’s heart. I thank God for blessing our District with the servant hearts of Ron and Debbie Bush.
Your fellow servant,
Terry Bailey, Superintendent
Prayer Needs
The following individuals are in need of special prayer for various needs. Let’s take time to call their names in prayer.
Upcoming Events
Youth Pastors Lunch with the Superintendent – March 22, 2012
Hey Youth Pastors, you are invited to join our Superintendent for a luncheon … just for YOU! Join Superintendent Terry Bailey, our DYD, Terry Allen, and our DYD Nominee, Jeremy Austill at The Black-eyed Pea Restaurant in Hendersonville, TN on Thursday, March 22, at 11:00 a.m. (central time) for a time of food and fellowship. Please RSVP by or before March 19th to Shannon at sbrown@tnaog.org or 615.431.0871.
87th Annual TN District Council is April 9-11.
It is being hosted by Cathedral of Praise in Cordova, TN. The guest speakers are: Bryan Jarrett, Lead Pastor of Northplace Church in Sachse, Texas; Dr. Kent Ingle, President of Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida; and Shane Warren, Sr. Pastor of First Assembly of God in West Monroe, Louisiana. Online registration is available, registration info was mailed to all AG ministers, additional details can be found online atwww.tnaog.org or the Tennessee District Facebook page atwww.facebook.com/TNAOG. If you haven’t registered yet, deadlines are approaching quickly so don’t delay! Register now at tnaog.org/districtcouncil
*NEW … TN District Ministry Women’s Retreat is May 10-12, 2012.
We are excited to announce the addition of a highly requested event specifically designed for ministers’ wives and ladies who are credentialed AG ministers. Below is the basic info for the first annual ministry women’s retreat:
*Promotional packets will be mailed within the next week. Online registration will be available soon.
Ladies, mark your calendar now and plan to be a part of this great time of refreshing for your spirit, good food, lots of fun, and some much deserved rest. If you have any questions, contact Susan Bailey or Shannon Brown at 615-431-0871 extension 237.
Kenny McNatt is Lead Pastor of Canvas Community Church in Manchester, TN.
In all of the times that I had been in hospitals, the cold, sterile atmosphere had never been so painful. I couldn’t even begin to count how many times that I had been in emergency rooms with others. But this time I was there with the love of my life. I had never felt so inadequate, so incapable of making things better. The look in Amy’s eyes and the sense of emptiness was overwhelming. All I could do was stand there and hold her hand as we experienced the loss of our first child. We did work through the first miscarriage and were blessed with our son who is now 12. Unfortunately, we would experience having a miscarriage two more times in our desire to have a family. It was so hard to understand why. Why, after committing our lives to pursuing God and his purpose for our lives, would he allow this profound sense of loss.
In 2008, we were presented with an opportunity to adopt a precious three-month old baby girl that had been removed from her home and placed in the custody of the state department of children’s services. We were so excited to have the opportunity to give her a home and feel that we had completed our family. Due to loopholes in the system, the adoption never materialized. Our hearts were broken. We decided that we would keep our home open as an adoptive placement in hopes of adoption.
Adoption never happened but heartbreak did. We had two additional placements that were supposed to be adoptions and in each case, the adoptions failed. It was a painful decision, but we decided to close our home. After 10 years of hoping to have another child and having two failed adoption attempts, it became very clear that we needed to be content and focus on the tremendous blessing that our son is.
For over ten years we were involved in fruitful ministry. God was using us in spite of our personal struggle with understanding why? But, as we were going through those very difficult moments, we never really stopped long enough to realize that God was birthing in us a deep desire that opened the door to two new areas of ministry: To minister to young families that have experienced the devastation of miscarriage and to reach families that are at risk of losing their children as a result of addiction.
The desire to reach families led us to make the difficult decision to leave a comfortable staff position to plant a church targeting young families who are far from Christ. As a result Canvas Community Church was launched in 2009. God has taken the most painful moments of our lives and turned them into a reservoir of compassion for others. Those moments were the formative times for the vision, passion and desire to rescue families from the emptiness of life without Christ.
As I write this article, after ten years of wondering why, I am looking at the most beautiful baby girl in the world, now officially 8 days old. She is an ever-present reminder that it’s not easy to stay up all night and that God has a reason for allowing us to experience “sifting” moments in life. Those reasons, while often blurred by our tears of hurt, anger and disappointment, will one day become clear as we continue to follow Christ. I know that there will be more sifting times. I also know that as we experience the disappointments and pain that is often associated with ministry, God has a plan.
