Feed My Sheep CLEVELAND, Tenn. — In


1950, Bonnie Bell Jones Brannen became a licensed Church of God minister. Today, at age 89, she is still preaching, singing, and holding revivals. She wrote the following. Two weeks before going to the 2010 General Assembly, I became heavily burdened about one of the agenda items. That evening, while still praying, I went to bed and dropped off into a rest- less sleep. I was dreaming about it


Then I reviewed the story of why God chose David. God sent Samuel to Jesse’s house to anoint a king. Jesse had seven of his sons get ready for the occasion, but none of them were selected. Where did God finally find the person He chose to be king? He was out in the field taking care of the sheep. This is the lesson God stamped on my heart that morn- ing: If we will busy ourselves out in the field, God will find us when He wants to exalt us.


I remembered the parable of the lost sheep. The shepherd left the 99 and went to hunt for the one sheep, and came back rejoic- ing. If I can just rescue one lost sheep, I will be able to come home rejoicing.


Bonnie Brannen


in the early morning hours when I was awakened, and it was as though the Lord was revealing His will to me.


Through the years, I had asked


the question, How could God say that David was a man after His own heart when he had committed adultery and plotted a man’s kill- ing because of his own lust? I had determined it was because David was always willing to repent, and because he always had a praise for God. However, that morning the Lord said to me, “I loved David because he took care of the sheep.” Then I was reminded of Jesus’ compassionate words to Peter: “Do you really love Me? Then take care of My sheep.”


I was made to wonder, When we, as ministers, are preparing our Sunday sermons, are we trying to impress someone? Or are we pre- paring to feed the sheep?


I thought of how David cared so much for his sheep that he fought a lion and a bear to their death.


Romans 8:32 says, God “spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all.” God sent Jesus as the Shepherd to deliver us all. Pastors, do you prepare ser- mons to feed the sheep? I want this to be the purpose of any mes- sage I prepare, and I pray that the Lord may find me busy in the field when He wants to use me.


DECEASED MINISTERS and COMPANIONS


BROOKS, Joann Yates; 75; widow of Nelson Thomas Brooks; Missouri; Betty Hollifield (sister)


ELLIOTT, Clifford W.; 81; ordained bishop; Oklahoma; Tom Elliott (son)


GRAY, Edward G., Jr.; 84; ordained bishop; Maryland; Nellie Gray (wife)


JONES, Nathaniel Chester; 88; ordained bishop; North Carolina; Rudy Jones (son)


LAZA, James Herbert, Jr.; 49; exhorter; West Virginia; Tabby Dingess (church secretary)


MATTHEWS, Don; 78; exhorter; Georgia; Geneva Matthews (wife)


McNEESE, James Wafer; 87; ordained bishop; Texas; Darla McNeese (wife)


MULLINS, Thomas C.; 76; ordained bishop; Kentucky; Bob Mullins (son)


NEALE, Rueben David; 88; ordained minister; California; Cordelia Neale (wife)


NEWCOMB, R. S.; 86; ordained bishop; Virginia; Joan Gray (daughter)


O’BANNON, Jeanette; 81; ordained minister; Florida; James O’Bannon (son)


PALMER; Alonzo; 81; ordained bishop; Florida; Odel Palmer (son)


PRESSLEY, Ralph; 79; ordained minister; North Carolina; Lois Pressley (wife)


RAMPY, Wallace Crowell; 81; ordained bishop; North Dakota; Charlotte Rampy (wife)


ROLLE, Jeremiah; 85; ordained bishop; Bahamas; Brian Rolle (son)


RUSHTON, Marjorie Jay; 30; exhorter; South Carolina; Mark Rushton (husband)


SANTANA, Daniel; 55; exhorter; California; Martha Santana (wife)


TURPIN, Edward Wayne; 59; exhorter; Kentucky; Lana Turpin (wife)


ZORNES, Jesse William; 68; ordained bishop; Ohio; Nancy Zornes (wife)


Georgia Church’s DOUBLE OUTREACH


DOUGLAS, Georgia— The West Ward Church of God pro- vided two important end-of- summer outreaches. On August 14, the church sponsored “Oper- ation: Move In” at South Georgia


College. Church members helped college students move into their dorms as an expression of the love of Christ . The students were also given a “city guide” packet and bottled water. The Baptist College


Back 2 School Bash


Ministries pitched in by helping to pass out water and assist students in their move.


The following Saturday, August 21, West Ward hosted a “Back 2 School Bash,” focused on children ages 5-12. The kids enjoyed a day of free fun with blow-up slides, jump houses, a dunking booth, sno- cones, cotton candy, popcorn, and drinks. After hours of fun outside, lunch was provided and the church gave away school supplies. Pastor Britt Peavey said, “We were grateful for the opportunity to share Christ’s love, disguised as fun and school supplies, to over 200 people.”


EVANGEL | November 2010 29


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