ALL Have Sinned and Come Short of the Glory of God

As a pastor, I want to speak to the issue of same sex marriage.

First, the Bible shows that ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  (Romans 3:23) Let me repeat. ALL, that leaves no one out.  Sin is sin no matter what the sin is - lying, stealing, cheating, murder, gossip, backbiting, adultery, lustful adultery in your heart, fornication, rioting, violence, greed, avarice, gluttony, sorcery, pride, self-righteousness, idolatry, boasting, dissension, drunkenness, enmity, envying, covetousness, jealousy, division, carousing, divorce, and, yes, homosexuality is sin.  The ultimate and final consequences of unrepentant sin is death, eternal separation from God the Creator and joining the devil and his angels in everlasting punishment, and torment in hell.  Some sins may have greater negative consequences in the here and now but ultimately and finally sin will cause total everlasting separation from God.

The gift of God is eternal life.  Eternal life, (salvation from sin) comes by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ.  (Ephesians 2:8)  Those who have been saved by grace, have been forgiven of any and ALL sin or sins.  Sin is deceitful and destructive and cannot be overcome by mental capability, mental resolutions, or some type of formula.  Only God can save and He has chosen to save ALL those who believe in His Son and His finished work on the cross and His resurrection from the tomb.  God, our Heavenly Father, gave His Son because He so loved ALL people of the world and did not send His Son to condemn the people of the world but to save ALL the people of the world.  The Bible says God is not willing for any to perish but for ALL to come to repentance.  (2 Peter 3:9)  Repentance comes because of the goodness, forbearance and longsuffering of God toward ALL sinners and is available to ALL. (Romans 2:4)  Repentance is a changing of the mind and heart and a turning of the sinner from sin and turning toward God to be forgiven and delivered from the sinning nature and the sin in their lives to be transformed into a new creation by God through the finished work of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now, let me speak personal experience.  My wife and I served as pastor where a homosexual attended.  I spent hours counseling and praying with this person and knew that this person had a belief in Christ and wanted to be a follower of Christ.  Yet, because the person continued with the lifestyle of being with another person of the same gender, this person continued to be away from God and would be away form the church for weeks at a time until the person would come back and go through the same routine again of praying and seeking for counseling.  Now, I do not mean to say, in any way, that the homosexual lifestyle cannot be changed because it can.  Further, I am in no way saying those who practice homosexuality cannot be saved.  The Bible shows that some in the Corinthian church were in that lifestyle but they were cleansed, sanctified, justified and transformed into the kingdom of God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11) But this person would ask for prayer and we would pray with the person for an hour or more at a time and counsel with the person many times.  However, this person would go back to the same lifestyle.  My wife and I served this church for several years and the last we heard this person is still living the lifestyle of being with another person of the same sex, living in the same house and being involved with the person of the same sex.  I continue to pray for this person and hope this person will give their life over to Christ and leave the homosexual lifestyle.  I respect this person as a human but the lifestyle this person lived and/or is living is sin and will ultimately bring this person to total, everlasting separation from God if the person does not repent, live a life of repentance and live a transformed life of holiness for God.

Now let me address the national issue.  Our nation is being bombarded by the homosexual segment of society and the same sex marriage segment of society.  Of course, we know the Bible speaks of this being part of the signs of the last days before Christ returns to the earth to reign for a thousand years.  (Luke 17:20-30)  In years past these segments of society did not press for public acceptance, much less the approval, that these are now seeking.  Now, these segments of society are seeking approval through lawsuits and court proceedings.  Today (04/28/2015), the Supreme Court of the United States is hearing proceedings from the same sex segment of society.  Lines have been drawn, people are gathered to protest and show support for same sex marriage and for one man, one woman marriage.  The decision will be made by nine Supreme Court Justices and is supposed to be made public by the end of June 2015.  It is a critical decision for this nation because the decision will depict the United States either as a nation who fears God and His Word or fears the desires of those who would force their beliefs on a nation that was founded on the Bible and Judeo-Christian values.  Several states are being challenged for the decision of not allowing same sex marriage and the same sex marriage segment wants their marriages to be approved in the whole nation and to be recognized nationally from state to state.  Our nation is being challenged as a free republic (one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all) and many are wanting the United State to be a socialistic entity ruled and reigned by a supreme earthly government.

Let me offer my belief about this issue.  If this passes for same sex marriage nationally the next step could very well be seeking laws to force pastors, minister, justices of the peace and any who officiate a marriage ceremony, to marry same-sex partners and laws for churches to allow them to be church members and to be actively involved in the ministries of the local churches.  Those who refuse will be charged with a crime and will face court proceedings and jail time.  We are already seeing people with businesses being sued for not serving those who come to them for services because of their religious beliefs. (e.g., the bakery that refused to serve a same sex marriage).  Those who stay firm in their commitment to God, Christ and His word will, at some point, have to close church doors and live their lives underground in secret.  These trends toward a supreme earthly government will likely come sooner than many want to accept but the coming of the Messiah brings those trends faster and faster.  As we approach His coming, these trends will pressure Christians that will bring and launch a last days revival.  Many will be persecuted, emotionally and physically but revival will flourish as the gospel goes forward with power and glory.

Yes, we are in perilous times but we are also in glorious times as well and the words of Jesus will be fulfilled - this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14)  The glorious, powerful gospel of Jesus Christ is for ALL who will heed the message.  I pray the supreme court makes the decision to allow the states to keep their decision on one man-one woman marriage but if not, those who will stay the course and stand true to the Bible and the glorious message of Jesus Christ will end in victory.  God loves ALL sinners, no matter what lifestyle of sin or any other sin a person is in or being acted out by any person and those who come to Jesus, believe in their hearts, repent and turn from sin and confess with their mouth can be saved, and transformed (changed inside and out) into the kingdom of God.  HALLELUJAH TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

CHILDREN AND FAMILY COMMUNITY OUTREACH TRAINING

WAVERLY Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) will host a two hour Children and Family Outreach Training Session with TN COGOP State Children's Ministries Director, Kim Batson, Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 10 am to 12 noon.  Sister Kim has traveled extensively in TN and other nations training children's ministers and workers.

An offering will be received for Sister Kim.

Lunch will be served by the church at no cost.

We are praying, planning and preparing for this time.

All are welcome.

When we look at the staggering statistics of how babies and children are valued in some societies in history it makes one cringe.  According to one site almost 58 million babies have been aborted in the United State since Roe v Wade in 1973 and the same site reports that over 1 billion 300 million have been aborted since 1980 throughout the world. 

Also, many children who have come into this world have been abused in various ways.

CHILDREN are dependent on adults for care, training, security and protection.  Sadly, children have been neglected, and have been emotionally and physically abused in many ways.  The statistics are staggering.  According to one online site 40 million children are subjected to abuse worldwide each year.  In the US, this same site also reported that 78% of all child abuse is from neglect.  This site also lists some other sobering statistics.

CHILDREN AND FAMILY COMMUNITY OUTREACH TRAINING

WHAT:  Children and Family Community Outreach Training
WHERE:  Waverly Church of God of Prophecy, 807 Powers Blvd, Waverly, TN 37185
WHEN: Sunday, April 26, 10 am to 12 noon
WHO:  Kim Batson, TN Church of God of Prophecy, Children Ministry Director
CHARGE: NO CHARGE, an offering will be received for Sister Kim

PASTORS: If you have someone that you can release for this Sunday to get this specific training, it will be a means of equipping them for reaching children and families in your community.

Lunch will be provided by the church after the training at no cost.

ALL ARE WELCOME

WHERE IS THE ZEAL AND JOY OF THE LORD?

Recently, I watched a couple programs on a TV channel (JUICE) on Sunday morning February 22, 2015 while not in church because of inclement weather.  One was the Ramp (Karen Wheaton is the Lead person in this movement) with many young people and a young preacher who was preaching zealously and joyously.  The other program was Amplify with a worship team including Darlene Zschech and Israel Houghton.  The worship team was involved zealously and joyously singing and proclaiming that Jesus would drive back the darkness and bring healing, light and salvation.  The audience of about 500-600 young people in each meeting were actively involved zealously and joyously rejoicing and worshipping the Lord.  I watched intently and somewhat convicted as the young preacher on The Ramp zeroed in on zealously and joyously preaching Christ while the young people watched and rejoiced exuberantly.  As I listened, I found myself being fed by this young preacher who brought out many examples in the Old Testament and paralleled them typifying Christ and His better and complete work.  He referred to Hebrews several times in his message.  At some point during the preaching and worship, I looked over at my wife and said, "I remember some times of zealous and joyous preaching and worship."  She nodded and replied, "Yes, I enjoy those times."  I asked myself the question, "Where is the zeal and joy of the Lord today?"

I was blessed as I continued to watch the young preacher and worshippers and began to reminisce about some days gone by in my youth at my home church of how we rejoiced zealously and joyously.  I also reminisced of a trip I made to Uganda, Africa in January 2014 and the Church of God of Prophecy National Convention.  The people there were and are so zealous and full of joy.  They were then and are not now well off with this worlds material goods.  They live in meager dwellings and eat day by day mostly on what they grow.  They have few of the so called modern day conveniences and most have no running water and electricity but their relationship with the Lord is one of zeal and joy.  Now I am not presuming that the zeal and joy of the Lord are produced because a person is poor, uneducated or ignorant.  Yet, I realize that there are things and stuff that can stifle the zeal and joy of the the Lord in a person's life.  Jesus gave one illustrative example (Luke 8:14) that can stifle His zeal and His joy to produce His life and fruitfulness in ours.  So, my question is simply, "where is the zeal and joy of the Lord?"  

I firmly believe we need the zeal and joy of the Lord in our daily lives.  When there is a passion for God and His work there will be the zeal and joy of the Lord to fulfill it.  Jesus had passion for His Father's will and the zeal to perform what His Father desired.  He had a zeal for the house of God and desired God's house to be a house of prayer so much until he went in and drove out profiteers with a small scourge or whip like instrument.  He turned over the tables and declared, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves (Matt. 21:12-14).  His Father's will was His desire and He knew that the Father desired the house of God to be a house of prayer.  Where is the zeal and joy of the Lord today?

Jesus went through agony and suffering but His outlook was one of joy throughout the shame of a horrible beating, humiliating treatment and crucifixion.  He focused on His Father's present will and to the future.  He saw those who would be saved and delivered from the throes of sin.  The joy set before Him was enlarged far beyond the shame and suffering he endured on the cross (Hebrews 12:2).  As we serve, worship and love the Lord and His will in our lives there is a zeal and joy which motivates and moves us into action.  Where is the zeal and joy in the Lord?  It is in Him, Christ our Redeemer, Deliverer and Savior.  Our relationship with Him brings a passion that produces a zeal to love and serve him and the joy comes as He abides in us, us in Him and we walk in His will. 

Jesus was the supreme example in portraying the zeal and joy of the Lord.   It was the occasion when he went into the temple after making a scourge of small cords and driving out the money changers that the "disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up (John 2:15-18).  The zeal that moved Jesus was not emotional existentialistic emptiness and ignorance.  The zeal of the Lord of Hosts that Isaiah prophesied of gripped Him to move in the presence and power of God.  When the Holy Spirit fell on and empowered the 120 in the upper room, the zeal and joy of the Lord was evident and prevalent.  The Apostle Peter preached Christ and His resurrection with power and thousands were saved and added to the church.  Could that same zeal and joy grip us today to move in the will of the Father and in the work that Jesus, the apostles, early fathers and our modern-day fathers have left for us in these last days.  I say, YES!

YES!  Dear Lord, may the zeal and joy that gripped and engulfed Jesus and the Apostles, grip and engulf us today to fulfill your work.  May the the power of the Holy Spirit come upon us and in us until we are willing and obedient to drive out the hindering spirits that would cramp the move of God's power in our midst.  May our churches be houses of prayer seeking the zeal and joy that moves us out in our communities to people who need the Redeemer, the Deliverer, the Savior.   Dear Heavenly Father, let your zeal and joy flow in us, through us and out from us to perform your will and desires in our lives.  Amen!

MISSION EMPHASIS MONTH OCTOBER 2014

Missions.  The word may have various meanings depending on the context.  Missions in the context of Christianity means becoming involved and engaged in the vision and mission of Christ.  Each believer, each Christian, has the joy of being in a dynamic relationship with the Captain of the vision and mission.  The Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is leading and and each believer has the joy of being involved and engaged in that vision and mission.  In the Church of God of Prophecy  (COGOP) March and October are months of intensified emphasis on the vision and mission of Christ in the world.   Global Missions Ministries in the COGOP includes every ethnic group all over the world.  During the month of October 2014 the Waverly COGOP will emphasize and endeavor to raise extra funds to help support Harvest Partners, One Child, Helping Hands, iMissions and Global Missions Ministries in the COGOP.  We will also intensify praying for Global Missions Ministries and reach out into our local world in Waverly, Tennessee.

Each Sunday we will receive guest speakers who have labored in the vision and mission ministry of Christ in some capacity throughout the world.  The first Sunday in October ( 5th), Jay Johnson,  is scheduled to be the guest speaker.  He serves in Tennessee COGOP youth camp ministries and has served in training ministries for Camp Hickory Hills for several years.  He is one of the four team members who will direct Senior Camp for 2015.  He has spearheaded and led groups of youth to missions ministry in Quito, Ecuador.  He serves in ministry in his local church (Curtis Hill) near Bethel Springs, TN. 

The second Sunday (October 12th), Bishop Gary Riley, Area Presbyter of 3 districts in Middle, TN with 19 churches, is scheduled to be the guest speaker.  He has served as new field worker and assistant pastor in Central Oregon in the mid 1980s.  He served as new field worker and assistant pastor in North Central, Texas from 1986-1988 before becoming pastor of East Texas from 1988-1991.  He then served pastorates of Baggetts Chapel COGOP in TN for 10 years and two years at Gallatin COGOP and is now in his 12th year as pastor of Crossroads COGOP in White Bluff, TN.

The third Sunday (October 19th), Bishop E. C. McKinley, State Overseer of TN COGOP is scheduled to be the guest speaker.  He has served as pastor in Indiana, Kingsport and Colombia Tennessee for over 15 years total and State Overseer of Northwest Territory, Heartland Territory and Tennessee COGOP.  Bishop McKinley has traveled on several mission venues including Ukraine and Russia.  He has also served on state, national and international committees.  

The fourth Sunday (October 26th), Stephen James, is scheduled to be the guest speaker.  Stephen attends The Well church (formerly Galilean Outreach Worship Center) near Waverly and I-40 West.  He has traveled to Africa in ministry and graduated from Bible College in Florida.  He is the grandson of David and Peggy Stephenson, members of the Waverly COGOP.  

It is our prayer that Waverly COGOP, a small in number congregation, will see a great effort in raising and receiving funds for the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ in all the world in the month of October and each Second Sunday of every month.  There are many needs in the Global Missions Ministries and Harvest Partners throughout the world.  We also desire to reach out in our local community.  Prayers are going up for the mission of Christ all over the world.

BREAKTHROUGH

In less than two weeks the International Assembly of the Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) is scheduled to begin (July 30 - August 3, 2014).  The theme this Assembly year is Breakthrough.    The International COGOP took initial steps to intensify endeavors to reach the harvest in the late 1980s and continued through the 1990s.  A few years after the turn of the century the COGOP began to focus more clearly and purposefully on the harvest by accepting and adopting three core values - prayer, the harvest (evangelization) and leadership development.  Throughout the vision and mission statements of the COGOP  these core values are incorporated.

The COGOP has realized breakthrough in efforts in many areas of the world to plant new churches and see others grow.  Breakthrough can have various meanings and nuances for a local church.  Local churches go through times of growth and sometimes through times of decline.  Pastors and local leaders come to the point, in some local churches, of realizing that a local church must focus on the necessary purposes of Christ and the kingdom of God or the church will decline to the point of disbandment.  These core values are vital, not only to the COGOP, but to any serious Bible church.  These three biblical core values must be included in the formational beginnings and/or the new beginnings of a local church that is declined for it to be effective in the vision and mission of Christ.

The beginning focal formation of a local church can become the continual, misdirected emphasis of that local church, over a long period of time, until the local church realizes its constant focus on how it started will not sustain its continuance.  To continue as a vibrant local church the purposes of Christ, (Luke 19:10) (Matt 28:18-20) His church and the kingdom of God (Matt 24:14) must be restarted, renewed and continually prioritized in a declining church.  The local church must gradually and/or suddenly change to the vision and mission of Christ in the local community and missions of the world or the local church will decline and eventually be disbanded.  Some local churches struggle with the change(s) needed to be a vibrant, viable Christ-centered, kingdom of God teaching, preaching and leading church in their families and communities.  The development of prayer ministries in the local church must be the beginning focus of the vision and mission of Christ.

It has been stated, "to pray fervently and effectually is to see God move and work in families, local churches and communities."  Jesus emphasized that His house would be called a house of prayer for all nations (Mark 11:17).  The desire of every pastor should be - to exemplify, promote, plan, develop and seek to implement a holy house of prayer in the local church.  How prayer ministries are planned and developed may vary from church to church but the need is biblical.  Local church members praying for God's will and favor for His purposes is a blessed people (James 4:2-3) (1 John 5:13-15).  In the present local church where my spouse and I serve as Co-pastors, development and implementation of prayer ministries was attempted over a period of three years (2010-2013).  There were some positive results from planning, implementing, training and developing prayer ministries but spirits of opposition arose and many of the prayer initiatives were not continued or were simply ignored.  It is obvious that the devil hates for churches to call on the Lord in prayer.  Albeit, we continue to emphasize, grow personally and lead in prayer ministry development efforts.

When a local church is captivated by controlling spirits and a lack of desire to change, a pastor often becomes frustrated and feels her/his ministry is hindered and hampered by the desires and whims of those being controlled by the opposing spirits.  To not have breakthrough prayer ministries in this type of scenario constrains the pastor(s) to continue to pray and seek for the change needed to have the vision and mission of Christ at the forefront of the church's ministries.  The pastor, however,  often feels he/she is spinning wheels in the sludge and mud of apathetic and disparaging attitudes.  The lack of focus on biblical core values and the vision and mission of Christ is even more obvious when a church continues in the same vein of operation over many years and many changes of pastors.  At some point in this type of scenario the local church must have breakthrough to minister to the families and the community where it is located.  Otherwise, the church's spiritual muscles will continue to be atrophied by the lack fervent prayer ministries, community outreach involvement and Christ-centered purpose to the point of paralysis and/or death.  Some pointed and pertinent warnings for today are given to the primitive churches in Asia in the book of Revelation.

The book of Revelation contains messages from Christ given directly to seven churches (Revelation 1:11).  The interpretations of these messages vary.  Some interpret these messages using a dispensational form of reference and view these messages to the churches to be a certain period of years in history beginning from the time Revelation was written.  Some interpret the messages as being spiritually pertinent only to the specific church in Asia and not relative to today's churches.  Yet, we can see the sinful nature that Christ warned of in five of these churches also in today's churches.  Each of these churches in primitive Asia (present day Turkey in Asia) is directly addressed by the Master.  Some of the churches are commended on their works, faith, service, love and faithfulness.  All of them get rebuked about certain things except a couple (Rev 2:8-10; 3:6-8).  Some of the churches were warned that their candlestick (ministry and light of Christ) would be removed if the church (members) did not repent and turn from their wicked ways (Revelation 2:4-5; 2:14-16) (Revelation 2:20; 3:1-3) (Revelation 3:14-20).  These examples are pertinent for churches today in the post-modern world when these type of opposing, lustful and devilish spirits have entered local churches.  The only remedy in any and all of these type warnings is to repent and turn from the wicked ways and be what Christ intended the local church to be.  Repent is repeated several times to these churches that Christ gave warning in chapters two and three (Rev 2:5; 16; 21) (Rev 3:3; 19).  The warnings are pertinent and applicable for the churches today that have left their first love for Christ, become bound by spirits of fornication, adultery, replacing liberty with licentiousness, legalism, power struggles, apathy, lukewarmness, controlling Jezebel spirits, overpowering Nicolaitan spirits that beat people down, and have failed to be engaged and involved in the vision and mission of Christ.

When there is repentance and turning from those sins and turning to Christ and the ministries that Christ desires (a holy house of prayer, reaching the harvest field for the lost and involvement in viable, practical leadership training and development) then those churches will become a vibrant and vital movement in the community.  The warning and the promise is clear to one particular church, the Laodicean church.   The call of the Master is to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.  Christ knows every local church's condition and He gave the remedy and the promise (Revelation 3:14-20).  There must be no more wasted time!  There must be no more doing things the way we have always done them and getting what we have always gotten.  The local church must repent of any of these sins that the Spirit is charging, open the door to the Master, love Him with His love, sup with Him, get yoked with Him, join Him in His vision and mission in this world, our world, our families, our communities - while there is time.  Hear the Master clearly, Rev. 3:19 "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."  Yes He loves us despite all the warnings against the sin in the church.  He is wanting the church to be zealous for His purposes in this world and He wants repentance from the sins that he warns against.  He is coming back.  Hear Him again as He speaks to the faithful Philadelphia church, Rev. 3:11 "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."  Churches are in dire need of hearing the Holy Spirit today!  Dear Lord Jesus may we have breakthrough like we never have before to see the purposes of Christ fulfilled in the local church and may You receive all the glory! AMEN!

As pastor my heart is heavy to see the glory of God move in our midst and for seeing souls come to Christ.  What will our children and and grandchildren refer to when they are looking back years from now?  Will they see the move of God as I saw it as a young child, teen and young adult in the church where I grew up?  Dear Lord, help me to seek you until you come and reign righteousness on me.  Forgive me Lord for failing to seek You, to minister in every open door, to every person I come in contact and being sensitive to the urgings of the Holy Spirit.  Dear Lord breakthrough upon us in the coming International Assembly to break us, melt us, mold us, make us and use us for your glory.  Break me, melt me, mold me, make me and use me for you glory.  I humbly refuse to go any further without your presence and glory.  I am desperate for You, dear Lord Jesus.  Help me Holy Spirit.  Come and do what You only can do.  Amen.

BREAKTHROUGH REVIVAL

BREAKTHROUGH REVIVAL came to the Waverly Church of God of Prophecy this month.  We began with a series of services throughout the month given totally to prayer for God to breakthrough any opposition to the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ and His kingdom and His purposes in our families, church and community.

God blessed and moved mightily among us during our four scheduled revival services with *Evangelist John Cox of Manchester, Tennessee.  We knew God had something great in store because our adversary, the devil, began working hard to stop this revival.  As our evangelist was on his way to the first night of revival he called to tell us he was very sick and was on the side of the interstate throwing up.  He said, "I'm pushing on Brother Gordon, but I don't know if I'll be there on time or make it there."  We joined in prayer for him.  He arrived on time and God did a healing work in his body until the last night of revival he stated, "I am am really feeling great tonight."  We were all feeling great as He preached last evening's message that in part stated, "God has the final word."  Our souls and spirits were challenged and uplifted to stand for the right regardless of threats and demands of the devil, politically correct ideologies and the devil's schemes to kill God's faith in us - God has the final word.  He preached four powerful and pertinent messages for our day and time - timely truths from God's Holy Word.  Our faith was built up, people were touched mightily by the presence of the Master.  The Holy Spirit anointed and God met needs.

We were also blessed on the last night by Pastor and Area Presbyter Gary Riley being with us and, by Sister Lisa Zimdars and the praise team from Crossroads COGOP from White Bluff.  What powerful praise and worship was offered.  We were glad to welcome Pastor Chris Bohanon and wife Melissa and some of the people from Zion Hill COGOP.

I want to thank the faithful people from Waverly who came out each evening, prayed and supported the revival.  Some of you went the extra mile to getthe church set up and ready for the praise and worship team on Sunday night.  God and you know who you are.  He has a perfect record.

*I want to personally recommend Brother John Cox to any pastor who needs someone to preach when you are away or to use as an evangelist for revivals or any other scheduled services.  He preaches the truth of God's word with anointing and loves the Lord.  He has served as pastor in several (5) churches, with two sanctuaries being built under his tenure.  You can reach him at 931-247-6869