Sister Agnes Holmes, Sister Rita Dawson and Sister Mary Williams were the 3 lady ministers that influenced me the most growing up.
Lady ministers???? I didn't think there was such a thing!
__________________ "I think some people love spiritual bondage just the way some people love physical bondage. It makes them feel secure. In the end though it is not healthy for the one who is lost over it or the one who is lives under the oppression even if by their own choice"
Titus2woman on AFF
"We did not wear uniforms. The lady workers dressed in the current fashions of the day, ...silks...satins...jewels or whatever they happened to possess. They were very smartly turned out, so that they made an impressive appearance on the streets where a large part of our work was conducted in the early years.
"It was not until long after, when former Holiness preachers had become part of us, that strict plainness of dress began to be taught.
"Although Entire Sanctification was preached at the beginning of the Movement, it was from a Wesleyan viewpoint, and had in it very little of the later Holiness Movement characteristics. Nothing was ever said about apparel, for everyone was so taken up with the Lord that mode of dress seemingly never occurred to any of us."
Quote from Ethel Goss (widow of 1st UPC Gen Supt. Howard Goss) book "The Winds of God"
its interesting
Sermons that have impacted me?
well there are 2 sermons that have had dramatic impact on me to this day, that were preached by men who have lost my confidence. sad stories.
There is a short list of sermons that I would say have been very impactful.
Most recently my pastor preached a series that included a sermon on Ungodliness... wow. ive taught on Godliness for years, but after that it changed my paradigm.
Papa George Glass' "He has magnified his word above His Name" should be mandatory listening.
In fact the list of his sermons that should be mandatory is extensive. I would say that if you can get your hands on any or all of his lessons as School of Missions, it would be worth whatever you paid and whatever time you spent.
GA Mangun's "Tomb of the Unknown Solider" was powerful. the impact to me was really more in the palpable feeling he was able to transmit of the real need to see people saved. just wow.
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
Then there was the single most vivid memory of any sermon ever. I wouldn't necessarily say its a good memory... Although the preacher is on the short list of men of God who have impacted me dramatically and powerfully and positively at a personal level. ...here is the story.
It was the late 70s early 80s. Bishop T. F. Tenney, then District Sup. was preaching an End Times revival at First Church in DeRidder La. (His and my home church). The place was packed and the tension was building every night. I was a kid but it was so powerful and freaky and scary. I mean everyone back then was afraid the end was coming the next day anyway.
Anyway that Sunday night was the last night and he was preaching on the Rapture. A storm blew up duing the service so you can imagine the setting. you can hear the rain pounding on the roof and tension building....
At some point he crescendos "IN THE TWINKLING OF AN EYE!!!!!!!" As he says "EYE" he pounds the pulpit, you hear the crash of thunder and see the flash of lightning..
and the lights go out! The place is pitch black. silence for a half a heartbeat then the panicked collective moan of a crowd that thought they just got Left Behind.
It took a good 15 minutes to get the place back under control ...
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
There is a longer list of preachers who impacted me not because of sermons they preached but because of the time I spent with them. Not that there aren't great preachers rather, their lives simply are greater. im not going to list them but I am utterly indebted to them.
(Nona Freeman and Vesta Mangun are both on my list of most impactful preachers to impact me.)
__________________ If I do something stupid blame the Lortab!
David Wilkerson and his sermon "Call to Anguish" really blew up my world.
My very first pastor after leaving UPC Gordon Houston preached a sermon about the Jewish Wedding Tradition. It made me think about our roots.
TF Tenney befriended me after a mutual friend our ours Brad Bullock passed away a few years ago. He walked me through my bitterness. His son preached at our church and my pastor told me that Tommy wanted to see me.
__________________
Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. (Romans 14:4)
Scripture is its own interpreter. Nothing can cut a diamond but a diamond. Nothing can interpret Scripture but Scripture" Thomas Watson.
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