WINGS'

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

A Woman With A Willing Spirit to Serve/Our WINGS Lady of the Month for July 2015(Teri Garrett)

Theresa Hacker Garrett was born on June 16, 1967, in Marion County, Indianapolis, Indiana, where she resided until she was two and a half years old. She and her family then moved back to Manchester and then to Oneida where she went to elementary school. Teri graduated high school from Oneida Baptist Institute. She was very active in school and loved sports. She played basketball, baseball, ran track, and was also a cheerleader. It's no wonder Teri is so great at everything she does.

Teri has one daughter, Danielle Garrett, who is the world to her. God has recently blessed Danielle, who is expecting a new baby this year around September. As far as doctors can tell, it's a baby girl.

Teri has been active in her church since she began in 1988, when the church was organized. She has held positions of Sunday School teacher and Children's Church Director, her current position at this time. She has been very active in the annual Teen Camps being a team leader and games coordinator. She's a valuable asset to our church.

In addition, if you need a dessert, Teri's the woman for the job! She makes the "world's best" cakes and desserts. All you need to do is give her a call, and it's done! She takes it upon herself to bake cupcakes for every Mothers and Fathers Day and other church events. What a beautiful and thoughtful thing to do. It's her special way of saying "we love and appreciate you" from our church. She doesn't even want the credit, because she says it's from the church to them. This is done solely at her own expense.

Teri has NEVER refused to do anything the church has asked of her. She has such a willing spirit to serve. She has always allowed God to use her with the spiritual gifts and is a blessing to her sisters and brothers in the Lord and to our church. Teri has also incorporated one of her gifts of crochet into the making of her beautiful prayer shawls. Those who have received one will treasure it forever. Teri is also an anointed altar worker.

Teri, we just want to say THANK YOU! Our prayer is that God will continue to bless and prosper you with everything you so richly deserve. We also pray for God's blessings upon your new baby granddaughter in September.

Congratulations, Miss July!!!

Monday, June 1, 2015

A Woman Using her Talents in Service for the Kingdom/ Our WINGS Lady of the Month for June 2015(Teresa Collatz)

I was born in Franklin, Indiana on October 25, 1971, to Amos and Rosa Sizemore. I have one brother, Sherman Sizemore of Manchester, Ky. and two nieces, Madison and Alexis Sizemore.

Just about as early as I can remember I've been in Church. Some of my fondest memories are of Sunday School at Locust Grove Pentecostal.

One of my favorite activities growing up was roller skating and riding my bike in the cull-de sac where I lived. We lived in large trailer park community back behind Johnson County Hospital. I was a bit of a wanderer when out with my friends. I used to slip away from where I was supposed to be and go trotting off with new friends I had made. Only by the grace of God was I able to remain safe and find my way back home.

At the age of ten my family moved to Kentucky to help my Aunt Liza, who had lost her husband. We lived on Laurel Creek in the area somewhere a bit past where Mike and Amy Bishop live now. Eventually mom and dad decided to stay in Kentucky and we then moved to Collins Fork.

With a family of Preachers we could usually be found at a Church somewhere most anytime. I think that over a period of time growing up I became a little resentful of all the rules. Coming out of a very strict Church which didn't believe in TV, Cutting hair, Make Up, Women wearing pants, listening to no other music than Christian etc.....The list goes on and on. I had an argument for all of them. I used to tell my mom and dad "what's wrong with cutting your hair? All them women walking around with their hair upon their head in a bun might as well have theirs cut off because it looks short. lol

I graduated High School 1990, and decided that I wanted to be either a Teacher or Cosmetologist. I chose the latter. I worked in Cosmetology for about 9 years before I met and married my husband, Fred. He then insisted that I work with him and learn the business. After his death in 2000, I continued on for about 6 and a half years. Finally, realizing I couldn't continue living someone else's dream. It was hard to let go but it just became necessary. I once had a Pastor that was a patient of Fred's write me a letter who told me that as long as we had the name Christian Cardiology over our door, we would have trouble. He told us that the devil hated the name of our professional business and all the religious artwork that Fred so boldly displayed in his offices. He wrote of a storm coming and that I would bear the brunt of the storm. How poignant that was looking back now.

After Fred passed away a friend had her Pastor come from Corbin and pray with me. I rededicated my life to Christ that day in 2001. I would go to Church with her from time to time but not often enough as I should. Finally, in 2006 I was asked to be apart of the Chamber Banquet Decorating Committee and I accepted. I worked with my friend, Shirley in finding a venue and she mentioned a few places that were possibilities. Finally it was decided that the Church of God Worship Center would host. It was not long there after that I starting attending in 2007. I could feel the presence of God and I knew deep in my heart that this is where God wanted me.

Years later I started praying for God to use me. I knew the Church had a website but that they didn't really have anything like a blog. So as I started to work with it, I began to try to come up with a way to make it really special. What better way to catalogue every service and create a history of your Church than in pictures. I received lots of help from Sue Lunsford who was already taking lots of pictures. I started with a total of 4 blogs in all and just couldn't handle all of them. Amanda Jones took over the teen and kid blogs and is outstanding in what she does.

I'm also apart of our Reception Resource Ministry, and take part in helping out in the Food Pantry Ministry as well. God has been so good to me, I could write a book and still keep writing for all He's done, doing and is going to do. He's been with me every step of the way. All to Him I owe.

A woman of God, like the man of God, depends on her Lord for the power and grace to accomplish all these things. She realizes that, like the fruit in the illustration of the vine and the branches (John 15:1-8), she is merely a branch on which the Lord hangs His fruit. She exhibits the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—and knows that these are indeed His fruit, not her own. They are the product of the Holy Spirit who resides within her, and she gives Him all the glory for what He accomplishes in her.

I am excited about the future and what it holds. On the 24 of October I get to marry the most wonderful man, Jim Gray. Funny how God's plan unfolds in our lives. I feel a little like I'm reaping my harvest. Those seeds of prayer I planted long ago are springing up God's promises. Oh, and there's plenty more to come...

I'm deeply honored that you choose me this month. I love you all! Especially my Pastor Joey, and Sister Vicki. I know I don't tell you enough. God Bless!

Teresa

Thursday, April 30, 2015

A Woman Using her Gifts for the Lord -Our WINGS Lady of the Month for May 2015(Candon Stevens)

Candon was born January 30, 1979, to Pastor Joey and Vicki Burns. Since her birth she has been a wonderful daughter. She displayed motherly type tendencies from the time she could hold a baby doll in her hands. When her little sister, Deidra, was born, Candon was almost eight years old. She began to take care of Deidra from the very start, just like a little mother.

Candon was dedicated to the Lord a few months after she was born; she was saved when she was eight years old, and baptized in the Holy Ghost a few years later. She started singing in church when she was about ten. From then on, she was unstoppable. She then started playing piano after being shown a few cords by her Mom. God started anointing her from the very start to sing and play music for the Lord.

At age 19, Candon married her grade school, on-and-off again boyfriend, Brad Stevens, who was also very talented in singing and playing music. No doubt, God had a plan all along for these two to marry and serve Him throughout their lives. They both have special callings from God on their lives. How do we know this? Because Brad became Associate Pastor of the COGWC a few years after they married, and Candon became the Worship and Praise Leader. They have three beautiful children, Peyton, age 14, Hannah, age 11, and Hope, age 3. Words cannot express how important and special they are to our church.

Candon and Brad have been Administrators over the Teen Camp for the past eight years. They are solely responsible for overseeing the raising of funds, planning events/games, meal planning, theme selections, booking evangelists, making flyers, selecting team leaders, designing, ordering and distributing T-shirts, as well as corresponding with teens and their parents throughout the community and churches in Michigan and Tennessee to get them registered for Teen Camp. These Teen Camps have been a great success each year.

Candon has been our church secretary/treasurer/clerk for the past 10 years. She has served very well in these positions to ensure that the church's finances are well documented and preserved appropriately. She makes deposits for the church and works closely with members to distribute yearly statements to them involving their donations and tithes to the church. Candon has always been involved with our WINGS Ministry and has recently been heading up these meetings.

Last but not least, Candon is a work from home mom who has, and will always be, THE BEST mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and Christian woman. She has a sweet, gentle spirit and loads of personality. If only a picture could describe who every teenage girl would like to be like when they grow up, it would be a picture of Candon. We are so proud of her and we love her very much!

We thank you for all you do. From all of us at the COGWC! God Bless You and Yours!

Monday, April 13, 2015

Sending Prayers your way Sue.

We've sure been missing you at the COGWC. God Bless you Sue!

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Happy Anniversary to Dennis and Lana Hoskins! 23 Years today.....

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Musical Drama "Watch the Lamb" April 4th & 5th, 6PM.

This Saturday, April 4th & 5th, at 6PM each night at the Church of God Worship Center on Laurel Creek. You don't want to miss this musical drama of the life of Jesus! Be there! People have went far and wide but upon coming to this play say it is the "Best" by far. Come out and literally step back into time. You will be surrounded by a cast of anointed men, women and children depicting The life, death and resurrection of Christ. Admission is free. Bring a friend. It might just be a life changing event you experience.

Monday, March 30, 2015

A Woman Who is Passionate about Serving God and Serving Others/Our WINGS Lady of the Month-(Sonya Maxie)April 2015

Sonya Marie Marcum Maxie was born September 17, 1967 to Carolyn King and Leslie David Marcum. She was born in London, KY at Marymount Hospital and was raised in Clay County on Sextons creek. She attended Burning Springs Elementary, Clay County High School, Union College, And the Bible College in London, Ky. She happily married Ricky Lee Maxie on Sept 9,1989. She is the youngest of 2 children and the mother of 3 children. Her brother is Sam Marcum of North Carolina, and her step mother is Charlotte Marcum, she has 3 step siblings: Jason Welch, Jimmy Welch, and Jessica Davidson. Rick and she have 3 children: Chelsea Marie Smith (Married to Terry Smith), Joshua David Maxie (Married to Cassie Maxie), and Ricky Brian Maxie (Married to Beverley Maxie). She is also a proud grandmother to Levi Case Maxie, and AnnaBella Brielle Smith.

She eventually got her Bachelors degree at Eastern Kentucky University at age 45 making the dean’s list with such outstanding grades. Throughout the years she has worked at City Hall, Lexington Herald Leader paper route, Pony Express paper route, MidSouth, Retail outfitters (where she met Rick), and now she works as a case manager at the Federal Bureau of Prisons in Manchester, KY.

She and Rick began going to the Oneida Church of God (COGWC) in January of 1992. Brian was almost 9, Chelsea was 2 and Sonya was pregnant with Josh. They became Youth Pastors in 1994-1995 and served in that role in the church for 17-18 years. The youth through the years practically lived at their house. They held lock ins, sleepovers, youth rally's, fundraisers, events, trips, was involved in every bible school, and every other event at our church. They have been a major part of the young adults lives who attend our church still today.

It was just a few years ago when they stepped down and began a new ministry with the jail in Manchester, then moved on to the food pantry at our church that Sonya currently heads up. She spends her days off work at our church. She dedicates her life to the work of the Lord and to his house. Anything that goes on involving the church, you can bet that she and Rick are somewhere in the middle of it all.

Her kids say she is the best momma ever, Her husband says she is the best wife ever, Her parents say that she is the best daughter ever, Her grandchildren say that she is the best mamaw ever. Her friends say she's the best friend ever, and we say she is one of our best at the COGWC.

A Big Thank You to Chelsea and Rick for all the pics and info. Sonya is so deserving of this Honor.

Thank you for all you do!

From all of us at the COGWC.