Events and Church News

● Pastor Green moving to Georgia

Pastor Salone Green, Sister Jane and their daughter, Harolyn, have announced they are leaving Morgantown to accept a pastorate at the Carpenter Road Church of God in Tifton, Georgia. This congregation is located near the state campground for the Church of God in southern Georgia.

The news came as a shock the local congregation at Morgantown, who are deeply saddened to see the Green family leaving our area. The local congregation has increased tremendously under the leadership of Pastor Green, including a current average attendance of more than 170 individuals and over $20,000 given monthly in tithes.

Brother and Sister Green are both preachers and excellent speakers. Brother Green was serving on the Mississippi Church of God State Council, and Sister Green was a member of the State Women's Ministries Board.

Everyone is invited to attend a special farewell reception held in honor of Brother and Sister Green on Sunday evening, October 22nd at 5:30pm. The event will be held in the Family Life Center directly behind the church building.

Please join us in prayer as we begin to seek a pastor who can continue to lead us forward in Kingdom ministry.

● Delean Pearson Promoted to Glory

Ila Magdelean "Delean" Hammond Pearson, age 84, passed away Sunday morning, September 17, 2006, about 10:05 AM at a nearby nursing home. She was born in Morgantown, Mississippi, in 1921 to R.W. "Bob" and Julia Beard Hammond. Her father was an early supervisor for Marion County and instrumental in local community agriculture and politics. Her mother was a pioneering member of the Church of God in this area and was one of the first musicians for the emerging local Pentecostal movement prior to 1920. One of her brothers, Kelly J. Hammond, served as a noted member of the Mississippi Legislature as well.

Delean was a faithful member of the local church from a young age, and she served as a church pianist for over 70 years. She graduated from West Pearl High School in Morgantown and was a homemaker. However, she was very active in the local church and community activities. She served as a teacher, choir director, pianist, and church clerk. She also taught piano to numerous individuals.

Moving to other areas of the country with her family because of her husband's work, Sister Pearson also served other Church of God congregations faithfully, before returning to Morgantown upon retirement. She daily visited the shut-ins and the area hospital and nursing homes. A gifted musician, she often played the piano to bring comfort and entertainment to nursing home residents. She also assisted her husband in conducting local singing schools in the community. Following an illness, she had resided in a local nursing home for one year.

In addition to a ministry of caring for others, Sister Pearson had a wonderful sense of humor, loved to laugh, and was devoted to her family, church, and Savior. We will certainly miss "Sister Shorty" (as her pastor called her because of her height). Her life was truly a blessing, and we now look forward to the day when we will see her again in Heaven.

She married Charlie May Pearson in 1946, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her daughter Jenny Rebecca Beal, who passed away in 2005. She is survived by her daughter, Janis Stringfield of San Antonio, Texas; sisters Jannie Bethel Hammond Scarborough of Morgantown and Reba Hammond Zampiere of Columbia, Mississippi; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Visitation was held on Tuesday, September 19th at the Morgantown Church of God beginning at 6 PM. The funeral was conducted at 2 PM at the church on Wednesday, September 20th. Burial was in the Morgantown Cemetery, and Colonial Funeral Home of Columbia was in charge of arrangements.

One Year Later -- We still remember the blessings and provision of the Lord and His children. Thank you to all who helped us in our time of need.

● Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Morgantown

Thursday, September 15, 2005:

Operation Compassion, the Church of God disaster relief organization, visited Morgantown today. A truck and trailer from Cleveland, TN, arrived in Morgantown with supplies for area residents impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Members of the Morgantown, Mt. Sinai, and Richland Creek congregations picked up the supplies to distribute to individuals in their communities. A truck also delivered supplies to nearby Columbia. Operation Compassion has delivered over 300 trailer loads to the hurricane-ravaged areas of MS, AL, and LA.

In addition, Operation Compassion has been selected as a partner to assist in the reconstruction efforts on the Gulf Coast. More than 10,000 Church of God members from various states (particularly Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina) are serving as volunteers on the Gulf Coast and in Louisiana (particularly Slidell and other devastated areas) . They have been instrumental in the relief efforts there and were among some of the first on the scene. Operation Compassion has established 53 disaster relief sites as of 9/15/05. Teams from the church's educational institutions (especially Lee University and the Theological Seminary) have been sent to the Gulf Coast to assist as needed. Church of God chaplains and counselors have also been sent to minister to the emotional needs of those who've suffered great loss and trauma as a result of the storm.

When we give to the Church of God, we often don't think of being the beneficiary of our personal giving. But we are so thankful for the assistance of Operation Compassion and all who have partnered with this organization. Certainly many individuals are being blessed and ministered to through the efforts of all those involved in these relief efforts. God bless you Church of God members throughout the world who are giving, praying, and volunteering-- and God bless you Operation Compassion. Most of all, may God bless those who are still in great need.

Friday, September 9, 2005:

Morgantown was completely restored with electricity this evening. Some locations in Marion County are still without power, including portions of nearby Mt. Sinai and Darbun. If you would like to view images of some of the damage in nearby Columbia, check out the Columbian Progress website or view their picture gallery. In addition, check out the Katrina pages on the Church of God website to learn about it's relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Please continue to pray for the evacuees and all impacted by this disaster. God bless you!

Tuesday, September 6, 2005:

Electricity has been restored to some parts of Morgantown, although it has not been restored in the central locations of our community. Hopefully, that will occur on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. One resident who hooked up a generator to his home allowed individuals to use his kitchen to cook meals for the local elderly and ill. However, for the past 2 days a local resident has traveled to Columbia to get about 30 lunch meals each day and then delivered them to some of the elderly in Morgantown. The meals were from Sonrise Ministries, a nondenominational outreach to the needy and victims of disasters. (Our church has contributed to this ministry at various times, and we encourage you to consider donating to it as well.) Some of our offshore workers have been notified to return to work in the Gulf. People are busy cleaning up their yards and repairing some of the damage to homes and property. It is nice to see how individuals have come together to help one another. We thank you for praying for us. Let us all continue to pray for those who have lost so much as a result of the hurricane.

Sunday, September 4, 2005:

FEMA brought us a generator today for the water pump. So, we have taken the other borrowed generator and are using it to supply electricity at the church-- providing air-conditioning and a working ice machine. Local elderly residents are using the church as a place to rest and stay cool. Some parts of Columbia now have electricity also. Please continue to pray for this region of the country, and especially for those individuals without water and any place to stay cool.

Saturday, September 3, 2005:

Thankfully, we received a generator for our water pump. Through the generosity of an out-of-state company, we are able to borrow this generator until we receive electricity. Several individuals worked to hook up the generator, and we were able to begin taking showers just before midnight on Thursday evening. Also, two nearby gas stations were able to provide gas today. They limited the sale to $20, but it was a great blessing to get that much. Hopefully some areas of Columbia will have electricity soon, which will allow us to have access to more gasoline. We are so thankful for our water. Please continue to pray for us-- and especially those who are suffering much worse than us.

Wednesday, August 31, 2005:

Hurricane Katrina swept through Morgantown and Marion County on Monday, August 29th, leaving behind a path of destruction. Morgantown has been without electricity and running water since early Monday. Although most houses appear to be livable, many sustained some damage, and most property received varying degrees of damage. Trees are down throughout the community and county. Historic main street in downtown Columbia (about 10 miles away) looks like a bomb was dropped. The front of many of the century-old buildings was blown inside.

The heat and humidity are a concern for the many elderly residents in our community. The temperature is reaching the high 90s, and many individuals are cooling off in the local creek. We hope to have a generator by Friday (the 2nd) to connect to the water pump. If so, we will be able to have running water. Please help us pray that this becomes available.

At present, there is no knowledge of any loss of life locally, for which we are most thankful. There is still much work to be done, but we will pick up the pieces. Right now we are focusing on helping each other and rebuilding our community. Please remember to pray for our community, and especially those in locations with even more devastation. The old song reflects our prayer:

"Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more;

Till the clouds roll forever from the sky,

Hold us fast, let us stand, in the hollow of Thine hand;

Keep us safe, till the storm passes by."

● Men's Bible study meets each Tuesday PM

Join us in the Family Life Center each Tuesday evening for a time of fellowship, refreshments and Bible study. All men are invited to attend. For more information call the church office or contact Cory Odom or Chris Crawford.

		● Pastor Green moving to Georgia Pastor Salone Green, Sister Jane and their daughter, Harolyn, have announced they are leaving Morgantown to accept a pastorate at the Carpenter Road Church of God in Tifton, Georgia. This congregation is located near the state campground for the Church of God in southern Georgia. The news came as a shock the local congregation at Morgantown, who are deeply saddened to see the Green family leaving our area. The local congregation has increased tremendously under the leadership of Pastor Green, including a current average attendance of more than 170 individuals and over $20,000 given monthly in tithes. Brother and Sister Green are both preachers and excellent speakers. Brother Green was serving on the Mississippi Church of God State Council, and Sister Green was a member of the State Women's Ministries Board. Everyone is invited to attend a special farewell reception held in honor of Brother and Sister Green on Sunday evening, October 22nd at 5:30pm. The event will be held in the Family Life Center directly behind the church building. Please join us in prayer as we begin to seek a pastor who can continue to lead us forward in Kingdom ministry. ● Delean Pearson Promoted to Glory Ila Magdelean "Delean" Hammond Pearson, age 84, passed away Sunday morning, September 17, 2006, about 10:05 AM at a nearby nursing home. She was born in Morgantown, Mississippi, in 1921 to R.W. "Bob" and Julia Beard Hammond. Her father was an early supervisor for Marion County and instrumental in local community agriculture and politics. Her mother was a pioneering member of the Church of God in this area and was one of the first musicians for the emerging local Pentecostal movement prior to 1920. One of her brothers, Kelly J. Hammond, served as a noted member of the Mississippi Legislature as well. Delean was a faithful member of the local church from a young age, and she served as a church pianist for over 70 years. She graduated from West Pearl High School in Morgantown and was a homemaker. However, she was very active in the local church and community activities. She served as a teacher, choir director, pianist, and church clerk. She also taught piano to numerous individuals. Moving to other areas of the country with her family because of her husband's work, Sister Pearson also served other Church of God congregations faithfully, before returning to Morgantown upon retirement. She daily visited the shut-ins and the area hospital and nursing homes. A gifted musician, she often played the piano to bring comfort and entertainment to nursing home residents. She also assisted her husband in conducting local singing schools in the community. Following an illness, she had resided in a local nursing home for one year. In addition to a ministry of caring for others, Sister Pearson had a wonderful sense of humor, loved to laugh, and was devoted to her family, church, and Savior. We will certainly miss "Sister Shorty" (as her pastor called her because of her height). Her life was truly a blessing, and we now look forward to the day when we will see her again in Heaven. She married Charlie May Pearson in 1946, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her daughter Jenny Rebecca Beal, who passed away in 2005. She is survived by her daughter, Janis Stringfield of San Antonio, Texas; sisters Jannie Bethel Hammond Scarborough of Morgantown and Reba Hammond Zampiere of Columbia, Mississippi; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Visitation was held on Tuesday, September 19th at the Morgantown Church of God beginning at 6 PM. The funeral was conducted at 2 PM at the church on Wednesday, September 20th. Burial was in the Morgantown Cemetery, and Colonial Funeral Home of Columbia was in charge of arrangements. One Year Later -- We still remember the blessings and provision of the Lord and His children. Thank you to all who helped us in our time of need. ● Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Morgantown Thursday, September 15, 2005: Operation Compassion, the Church of God disaster relief organization, visited Morgantown today. A truck and trailer from Cleveland, TN, arrived in Morgantown with supplies for area residents impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Members of the Morgantown, Mt. Sinai, and Richland Creek congregations picked up the supplies to distribute to individuals in their communities. A truck also delivered supplies to nearby Columbia. Operation Compassion has delivered over 300 trailer loads to the hurricane-ravaged areas of MS, AL, and LA. In addition, Operation Compassion has been selected as a partner to assist in the reconstruction efforts on the Gulf Coast. More than 10,000 Church of God members from various states (particularly Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and South Carolina) are serving as volunteers on the Gulf Coast and in Louisiana (particularly Slidell and other devastated areas) . They have been instrumental in the relief efforts there and were among some of the first on the scene. Operation Compassion has established 53 disaster relief sites as of 9/15/05. Teams from the church's educational institutions (especially Lee University and the Theological Seminary) have been sent to the Gulf Coast to assist as needed. Church of God chaplains and counselors have also been sent to minister to the emotional needs of those who've suffered great loss and trauma as a result of the storm. When we give to the Church of God, we often don't think of being the beneficiary of our personal giving. But we are so thankful for the assistance of Operation Compassion and all who have partnered with this organization. Certainly many individuals are being blessed and ministered to through the efforts of all those involved in these relief efforts. God bless you Church of God members throughout the world who are giving, praying, and volunteering-- and God bless you Operation Compassion. Most of all, may God bless those who are still in great need. Friday, September 9, 2005: Morgantown was completely restored with electricity this evening. Some locations in Marion County are still without power, including portions of nearby Mt. Sinai and Darbun. If you would like to view images of some of the damage in nearby Columbia, check out the Columbian Progress website or view their picture gallery. In addition, check out the Katrina pages on the Church of God website to learn about it's relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Please continue to pray for the evacuees and all impacted by this disaster. God bless you! Tuesday, September 6, 2005: Electricity has been restored to some parts of Morgantown, although it has not been restored in the central locations of our community. Hopefully, that will occur on Wednesday or Thursday at the latest. One resident who hooked up a generator to his home allowed individuals to use his kitchen to cook meals for the local elderly and ill. However, for the past 2 days a local resident has traveled to Columbia to get about 30 lunch meals each day and then delivered them to some of the elderly in Morgantown. The meals were from Sonrise Ministries, a nondenominational outreach to the needy and victims of disasters. (Our church has contributed to this ministry at various times, and we encourage you to consider donating to it as well.) Some of our offshore workers have been notified to return to work in the Gulf. People are busy cleaning up their yards and repairing some of the damage to homes and property. It is nice to see how individuals have come together to help one another. We thank you for praying for us. Let us all continue to pray for those who have lost so much as a result of the hurricane. Sunday, September 4, 2005: FEMA brought us a generator today for the water pump. So, we have taken the other borrowed generator and are using it to supply electricity at the church-- providing air-conditioning and a working ice machine. Local elderly residents are using the church as a place to rest and stay cool. Some parts of Columbia now have electricity also. Please continue to pray for this region of the country, and especially for those individuals without water and any place to stay cool. Saturday, September 3, 2005: Thankfully, we received a generator for our water pump. Through the generosity of an out-of-state company, we are able to borrow this generator until we receive electricity. Several individuals worked to hook up the generator, and we were able to begin taking showers just before midnight on Thursday evening. Also, two nearby gas stations were able to provide gas today. They limited the sale to $20, but it was a great blessing to get that much. Hopefully some areas of Columbia will have electricity soon, which will allow us to have access to more gasoline. We are so thankful for our water. Please continue to pray for us-- and especially those who are suffering much worse than us. Wednesday, August 31, 2005: Hurricane Katrina swept through Morgantown and Marion County on Monday, August 29th, leaving behind a path of destruction. Morgantown has been without electricity and running water since early Monday. Although most houses appear to be livable, many sustained some damage, and most property received varying degrees of damage. Trees are down throughout the community and county. Historic main street in downtown Columbia (about 10 miles away) looks like a bomb was dropped. The front of many of the century-old buildings was blown inside. The heat and humidity are a concern for the many elderly residents in our community. The temperature is reaching the high 90s, and many individuals are cooling off in the local creek. We hope to have a generator by Friday (the 2nd) to connect to the water pump. If so, we will be able to have running water. Please help us pray that this becomes available. At present, there is no knowledge of any loss of life locally, for which we are most thankful. There is still much work to be done, but we will pick up the pieces. Right now we are focusing on helping each other and rebuilding our community. Please remember to pray for our community, and especially those in locations with even more devastation. The old song reflects our prayer: "Till the storm passes over, till the thunder sounds no more; Till the clouds roll forever from the sky, Hold us fast, let us stand, in the hollow of Thine hand; Keep us safe, till the storm passes by." ● Men's Bible study meets each Tuesday PM Join us in the Family Life Center each Tuesday evening for a time of fellowship, refreshments and Bible study. All men are invited to attend. For more information call the church office or contact Cory Odom or Chris Crawford.