Ephesians 4:24; II Kings 2:9; John 14:12; Jude 1:3
Continuing & Upholding The Legacy of True Holiness
To my dearest brothers and sisters in Christ:
Allow me to extend a belated, but sincere Happy New Year to you all. I know this comes quite late, but nonetheless it is heart-felt.
By now many of you are aware that my dear mother went home to be with the Lord earlier this year. I have received numerous cards, letters, resolutions, telephone calls, emails and words of condolence. For this I am eternally thankful.
My mother was an awesome woman of God. She and my father taught me to fear and love God. They brought me up in a holiness home and lived godly lives in front of me. I can never repay my mother and father enough for what they gave me – a good name. They also introduced me to a great God!
On the night before my mother’s home going celebration, I had a difficult time sleeping – she had tasked me with preaching her eulogy more than three years prior. At first, I did not think I had the strength to do it. But as I reflected on the life she lived, the service she gave and the strength she demonstrated, I was somewhat encouraged. As I thanked and praised God for her life, and the blessing of being birthed and raised by so great a lady, He began to deal with me on what our local church should focus on this year.
2012 for Holiness Tabernacle was a banner year. The Lord gave us the theme, “Preparing for the Overflow!” Without question, we witnessed an abundance of blessings from God. We set records in our food bank distribution and Turkey Giveaway outreach programs. We exceeded our 2011 income as the saints were blessed financially and gave abundantly. We saw local support for our jurisdiction and national church increase. We saw our exposure in the public media grow. We were interviewed by WTOP radio, News Channel 8 and Faith Family and Friends program to name a few. Our website has become one of the most popular among holiness churches on the east coast.
We saw our membership grow as we are near capacity on Sunday mornings. We started and completed several projects such as our community park, landscaping project, financial record keeping software updates, security system enhancements, church perimeter lighting and more.
Additionally, we saw new ministries launched: the Marriage Ministry, FISH (Fellowshipping in Sanctified Holiness) Ministry for single adults and our first ever Men’s Retreat. We saw the saints blessed extraordinarily with new homes, new marriages, restoration of marriages, new births, new automobiles and new jobs just to name a few. We even saw this church play a prominent role in our prelate being elected to the Presidium of the Church Of God In Christ.
Finally, we saw continued outpouring of the Lord’s anointing in our services. It appears as though God is emptying out Himself in our services every time we meet. As I pondered all of these things – my mother’s life and God’s favor on our church – the Lord told me we needed to use these blessings to continue the legacy that our predecessors have left us.
Anyone that knew my mother will agree that she was a tremendous worker in Christ. She led dozens (if not more) to Jesus. Here’s a brief resumé of her accomplishments:
- Saved for 55 years
- Married to the same man for 60 years
- Led her husband to Christ
- Started noon day prayer at her local church that spurred unprecedented church growth
- Despite a severe back injury, continued to labor in ministry, including serving in the kitchen
- Led dozens to Christ, including several family members – many of whom went on to a life of ministry in the church:
- One husband who became a pastor
- Two sons who are pastors
- Two brothers-in-law who are preachers (one a pastor)
- One brother who is a pastor
- One nephew who is a preacher
- One daughter who is a church mother
- One sister who is a church mother
There’s more I could list, but time and space would fail me.
I thought about the other saints who have gone on before us: Bishop Charles H. Mason, Mother Lizzie Robinson, Mother Elizabeth Juanita Dabney, Mother Thelma G. Vaughan, Mother Roslyn Short, Pastor Frank Smith, Mother Emma Lee Green, Deacon Richard Lowrey and others you undoubtedly know.
They built ministries, churches, families and communities – and on appearance they did not have much! But with what they had, they accomplished so much. The Lord told me, with all that we have been given, we need to continue and uphold what our ancestors have left us.
Throughout this year, I will focus on the great legacy of holiness that has been bequeathed to us, and how we should advance the kingdom of God!
I bless you in the name of the Lord.
Pastor Eddie B Pruitte, Jr.