Off and on for years I have read Eric Hoffer, the blue collar philosopher. Here’s a paraphrase that we could easily adopt to the CoG and our growing up in it. ” The rise of the present is hard on the old. It devalues their experience and convictions and reduces them to frustrated spectators. Caught in a whirl of accelerated change, we begin to wonder if the denomination or our faith can thrive in an environment so lacking in continuity.
I also like an Oral Roberts phrase: God is a God of the now!
Could the generation that had snake handling faith have the faith to handle the trying times of today?
That is why generations must stay engaged with each other and jointly further the cause.
Will I be able to refuse a woman to preach at the church where I pastor? Will I have to let A woman preach?
Will I be able to insist that women who are worship leaders wear modest dresses?
Evangelist Amanda Miller prophesied over me when I was 17 years old, that was at a revival in our Church of God. Sister Miller was a powerful preacher but some pastors back then wouldn’t allow her to preach in their church. I think the answer to both of your questions is yes.
When you say woman minister I think Amanda Miller. She was like Catherine Kuhlman! She preached a revival for our church many years ago.
I did not know her, but I am guessing that God approved her ministry with miracles, signs and wonders following?
she scared the crap out of me as a young kid!!!
Maybe it was needed
The CoG don’t have anyone preaching like that anymore and that is the reason why so many CoG people are full of crap! lol
But did God confirm her ministry, (I have never heard of her).
While I am thinking about it, let me relay a few of the things that just sap the spirit out of a pastor. * The same day I conducted a wedding , a young couple, who had just started coming to our church was killed in a car crash. * Two of the brothers and I took a 34 year old mother to a mental hospital, she had four children, she came from a family of much pride and they just couldn’t accept that one of their own had a mental breakdown. * Two men were drunk and fighting and one fell off a three story balcony and broke his neck, I was asked to have the funeral. * A nine year old boy was playing on a power transformer and touched two wires, he lingered in the hospital for days, hovering between life and death. I spent many days over several months, ministering to the family, even arranging to get them legal counsel. In the end they got $ 500,000 in settlement and you guessed it I got nothing. * A steelworker at the church fell down an open shaft bouncing off the beams, which slowed him down but seeing him in the Chicago hospital took your breath away. Dealing with these kind of situations over 18 years left me totally wiped out. When I went to resign the state overseer gave me a tongue lashing like I have never received before or after, assuring me that that I would end up in hell. So the beat goes on.
A favorite lady Tennessee preacher was Sis Gertie (she married and I don’t know her last name) She was well known in the middle/east Tennessee area.
Sister Gertrude Patrick was also an outstanding woman evangelist.
Another was Mae Terry of Georgia … another, Minnie Hillhouse of Florida. One great lady pastor was Pastor Crawford of Louisiana who had a very effective ministry. I have known many during my years in the Church. They are called and they cannot be denied opportunity.
Sister Crawford has a son, Darrell Crawford, who pastors a thriving congregation in the Fort Worth, TX, area. We have been friends for about 60 years. He’s a great man.