Concord Road church of Christ

I can hardly describe all the feelings I have about the church that has given me the pleasure of serving for these last 13 1/2 years. I have grown to love the elders and remember them with fondness: Maurice Hall, Harold Coggan, Keith Crowe, Bill Lambert, Don King, Sam Gant, Ron Thomas, Buddy Williams, Jim McGee, Mike Hammond, Steve Ellis, Jerry McCormick, Roy Arnold, and David Harper. Each of these men have a special place in my heart.

I have appreciated deeply the people I worked with Shann Jennings, Joe Wells, Ryan Daniels, Will Tidwell, and Paddy Flanagan. I have so deeply appreciated the secretaries: Nancy Smith, Helen Zemmel, Pam McGee, Emily Wilhite, Deborah Pratt, and Melissa Tolbert.

I appreciate so many deacons with whom I spent much time in planning and working on projects. They are hard workers who have a good favor from God. I thank God for so many prayers, so much good.

As they search for a new minister, may the Lord bless and keep them.

phil

Here are some pictures of the house in Edmond that we will likely purchase.

phil

Concord Rd.

Concord Rd was so very gracious to Jackie and me in giving us a wonderful send-off party as we end our time in Tennessee and begin a new work in Oklahoma. We are so blessed to have loved ones in both places.

We can hardly say enough good about Concord Rd. Our prayers of thanksgiving ascend to the Father and our hearts pray the right man will come to work with them. May the Lord bless them.

phil

A Call to America

I'm taking this transition in my life very, very seriously. They tell me that the Search program reaches every corner of America and even to the world. It airs via 84 markets, 4 satellites, 130 cable stations, radio, and internet. This program has been our brotherhood's national voice. We must keep it so and must walk worthy of the name of Jesus Christ.

Several people have said "congratulations" to me, and it is a great honor to speak on one of the three largest religious television programs in America. But, I am also very humbled to think of the awesome responsibility and the need to preach the gospel truth with love. Mack Lyon's shoes are indeed difficult to fill; but the Lord, the Edmond elders, and Mack have entrusted me with this great task. I'm beginning it with prayer, knowing I will need God now more than ever to guide, to strengthen, and to help me. I am not sufficient on my own. My sufficiency is from the Lord (2 Cor. 3:5), and I am praying the Lord will graciously supply all the things I yet lack on my own.

Now I need your prayers and ask your continued financial support for the Search program. My first program on Search will air February 1, and I'm preparing the script now. My prayer is that God will be honored and that I can have a good start with millions of people who don't know me. (The actual audience is about 60 million weekly.) If I am to be a minister and an ambassador for God, then I too must know nothing but Christ and him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). I must be true to God, honest with the faith, and loving to people.

My task is to point people to Jesus. Like the people who heard Paul at Mar's Hill, America is full of "confliction" (yes I know this is not a word) and confusion. Our country has told God to hush to its own harm. God must not be silenced by cultural bullies. We believe it is high time to start listening to God, to seek out His Way. Jesus always pleased God (Jn. 8:29), and Paul sought to be "fully pleasing to him" (Col. 1:10). So should we. We need to be utterly grateful for God's grace by responding in faith and in repentance. The message of Jesus and Paul to the masses was "repent" (Mt. 4:17; Acts 17:30-31). Repentance is the gift America needs most. People can change, and the need for them to change in the way that pleases God is as great now as at any time.

Please devote yourselves to prayer that God will open doors for the Word (Col. 4:2-4).

With love,
Phil