February 1, 2012
Remember the days of long ago; think about the generations past. Ask your father and he will inform you. Inquire of your elders, and they will tell you. Deuteronomy 32:7 NLT
One of the keys to success in your future is to have a clear assessment of where you have come from in your past! It’s the 225th Anniversary of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church! It’s the 48th Anniversary of Anderson Chapel - the church on
the hill in the valley of love! Think about what the Lord has done for you in your life! Think about what the Lord has done for you through Anderson Chapel! Think about what the Lord has done for you through the African Methodist Episcopal Church! God is our refuge and strength!
As we begin our month-long celebration, I’m excited about how the Lord will visit and bless us! I’m ready to sow my $48 Anniversary offering! One dollar for every year of the life of the church! I’m ready to receive words from the Lord through the Reverend R. Vincent Smith, III, of the Trinity Christian Center in Sarasota, Florida. I’m enthusiastic about hearing a word from the Lord through our own prelate - Bishop Gregory G. M. Ingram - of the 10th Episcopal District. This will be
the last time he will come to us as the presiding bishop of our district.
The last time I wrote to you - December 26, 2011 - I shared the message of First Fruits in this The Year of Immeasurably More! As the youth would say, “how’s that working for you?” I don’t know about you, but I have seen God’s hand of blessing in some unusual and unexpected ways. If I were you, I would not let this season go by! Jump on in and participate in the blessing of First Fruits. Do you need a teaching handout? They are available in the Administrative Office via hard copy or electronic version.
Since I wrote last, my mother, Edith Jackson Campbell, went home to be with the Lord. I remember that Friday, December 30th when she and I were talking about me
returning to Anderson to preach the Watchnight Celebration and First Sunday. She encouraged me to go and promised me she would be there when I returned. I did return to you and minister that weekend. I left out early that Monday morning and, true to her promise, she was still with us. She stayed around long enough to see her newest great granddaughter Jaliyah. Then, on that peaceful afternoon of January 5th at 3:35 p.m., while
listening to great hymns of the faith, she breathed her last. I was blessed to be with her as she was released from this world. What a profound blessing from the Lord for me. I’m thankful.
I’m also thankful for the love and outpouring that we received and still receive from around the world and especially from the wonderful congregation affectionately known as “the church on the hill in the valley of love.” Words are inadequate to describe my family’s gratitude for your kind expressions, prayers, cards, calls, texts, emails, Facebook messages, and ministry of presence during mom’s Celebration of Life. We anticipated about 500 persons and printed 700 programs. Over 1,200 persons showed up to pay their respects and 1,100 stayed for the celebration. The Lord did indeed say that this is the year of immeasurably more!
I’m excited about what will happen in the life of our church this month and this year! The 48th Anniversary Steering Committee is busy at work. Leaders let’s
be on the lookout for important meetings to advance the vision and mission of the work that God has entrusted to our hands. God has already spoken that whatever we do, He will do “immeasurably more than we can imagine.”
Remember to tell someone about the goodness of the Lord in your life. Share your testimony with the world around you and watch the world around you change!
Together we are: Building God’s Work - God’s Way! You are in my thoughts and prayers. Hope to see you Sunday. The message: More Than You Can Handle!