Morganton Freedom Church Of God !

LET FREEDOM RING! JOHN 8:32, 36 (ABOUT US)

"THE CHURCH SET ON A HILL!" FREEDOM WAS NOT & IS NOT FREE...JESUS, THE PATRIOT PAID THE PRICE! JOHN 8:32, 36

OUR NAME'S SIGNIFICANCE & THEME: The name "FREEDOM" is very significant to the area. Places near the church are Freedom High School, Freedom Park and Freedom Plaza and several area businesses use "Freedom" in their names. In light of recent events of history, especially September 11, 2001 and with patriotism so evident, our name is very contemporary, timely and relevant. Further, how scriptural the term "Freedom" is, as our scriptural basis is John 8:32 and 36 - whom the Son sets FREE is FREE indeed and that you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you FREE. With this theme, both the Christian and the American flag take on fresh meaning: red symbolizes the blood of Christ; white symbolizes His purity; blue represents His holiness; the stars represent His crown, The Bright and Morning Star and the stripes represent those placed upon His back, for the Bible states that "by His stripes we were healed" and further, to the Christian, the Cross is truly our Statue of Liberty. The Children's Church at MFCOG has been named "Grand Freedom Station" for several years and several groups in the church use "Freedom" in their names; HENCE COMES OUR MOTTO, "LET FREEDOM RING!" (The church was organized November 28, 1950 under the name "Morganton Church of God." In a December 2001 Church Conference, the name was changed to "Morganton - Freedom Church Of God," effective January 1, 2002.)

The Morganton - Freedom Church of God welcomes all. It is our goal and mission to consistently and effectively demonstrate Christ's love to everyone we touch! To find out more about the Church of God or for a more indepth look at our doctrine and teachings, look at our denominaton's website's: www.chofgod.org OR www.churchofgod.cc

Come share in the excitement! MFCOG is a church that believes in the full gospel. Our services are centered around worship, prayer and the Word of God. We love God, we love America (our name implies), we love our church, we love each other and we love you--because we let God's heart beat through our hearts. If you are local to Morganton, we would love to have you as part of our regular church family. If you are not local to us, we would love to have you anytime you are in the area.

When you enter our sanctuary, you enter a place where people believe in praying, praising and preaching! It is a praising place! God is worthy of worship; and when we do, God inhabits the praises and worship of His people! We believe in both, praise and worship! PRAISE is telling others how good God is and that you love Him. WORSHIP is telling the same thing to TO GOD. Further, when God inhabits our praise and worship, it is then that the Holy Spirit convicts, inspires, meets needs and that miracles are wrought. REMEMBER, it is the same Holy Spirit that convicts the sinner that blesses the saint. Please join us and let's worship God together! Our congregation will personally and cordially welcome you during our Fellowship Time and be sure to introduce yourself to Pastor Phillips as you leave.

SPECIAL THINGS: 1-"Burger King Night" is the last Sunday evening each month. The church purchases all youth high school and under. All others who go get a 20% discount. 2-We have a monthly "Pavilion Skate Night and "Ladies Night Out." 3-"Every Day With The Word" is a daily Bible reading program we participate in and encourage. Following the plan helps you accomplish reading the Bible through in a year. At the end of each year, all finishing the chart receive a trophy denoting the accomplishment. 4-Services are available for the hearing impaired--sign language interpretation. 5-Services are available on audio cassette tape. 6-Perfect attendees are recognized each month in 4 categories: in every service; in Sunday School; on Wednesday evenings and in Grand Freedom Station (Children's Church). At the end of the year, those with perfect attendance in every service are honored with a trophy for their accomplishment. 7-We support world mission programs in the Philippines, Costa Rica and South Africa. 8-Pastor Phillips has many of his sermon outlines printed to distribute to the congregation to assist in their personal devotions. 9-Church Librarians, Elmer and Marie Avery open the Church Library on Sunday evenings prior to service from 5:30 to 6:00 PM. 10-We support a Storehouse Ministry where our people bring non-perishable goods and canned food to give away as needed--those outside our church are asked to come for a church service where we can minister to them spiritually and afterwards give them physical help.

*Location: in Morganton, NC on NC Highway 181 (North Green Street), one mile above K-Mart, on the right, at the top of the hill.
*Directions (from I-40): Take Exit #100 (Jamestown Road)/If you were west bound on I-40 turn right onto Jamestown Road; if you were east bound on I-40 turn left onto Jamestown Road/Go 3 miles & turn left at Hardees onto NC Highway 181 (North Green Street)/Go 1 mile/The church is on the right, at the top of the hill. When you arrive, you will see why we are called, The Church Set On A Hill!
*For an audio tape of one of our church services: send $5 to the above address, with your request; & remember, visitor's are always welcome!
*Prayer requests: Feel free to mail or email them to the proper address. If using email, please put "Prayer Request" on the subject line.
*Attention mountain campers and tourists: we may be on the way to your destination--please stop in! We always love to have people who won't miss church and who don't like to miss church, stop by on their time away from home! If you do, please let a greeter, usher or the pastor know where you are from upon your arrival.

     THE FOLLOWING LETTER APPEARED IN BURKE COUNTY'S NEWSPAPER, THE NEWS HERALD, SUNDAY - October 16, 2005:

New Church Bulletin Bloopers -Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa will be speaking tonight at Calvary Memorial Church in Racine. Come tonight and hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa. -Fasting Conference: "The cost for attending the Fasting and Prayer conference includes meals." -Our youth basketball team is back in action. Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King. -The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict. -The sermon this morning: 'Jesus walks on the water'. The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus'. -Next Thursday, there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get. -Barbara remains in the hospital and needs blood donors for more transfusions. She is also having trouble sleeping and requests tapes of Pastor Jack's sermons. -The Pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday morning. -Remember in prayer those who are sick of our church and community. -Next Sunday, Mrs. Vinson will be soloist for the morning service. The pastor will then speak on 'It's a terrible experience'. -Thursday night Potluck Supper. Prayer and medication to follow. -The rosebud on the altar this morning is to announce the birth of David, the sin of Rev. and Mrs. Adams.

ABOUT OUR PASTOR, TODD PHILLIPS & FAMILY

The Phillips' moved to Morganton on January 1, 2000. Pastor Phillips is from Hickory, North Carolina and Ami, his wife is from Clover, South Carolina. They were married on February 14, 1987 (Valentine's Day). Their children are Leah (born March 1, 1992), Anah (born June 30, 1993) and Dannah (born August 28, 1995). Called to preach on April 2, 1978, he preached his first message Sunday, June 25, 1978. His first message was, "The Christ Of The Future," on the coming of the Lord--and it is still very timely and relevant for today. Pastor Phillips graduated from East Coast Bible College (Lee University, Charlotte, NC campus) on May 7, 1983 with a Bachelor Of Arts--majoring in Biblical Studies, with a double minor in Pastoral Ministry and Psychology. During college, he received an "Outstanding Young Man Of America Award," was on the Dean's List or President's List every semester, graduated Cum Laude (making a speech at the College Awards Program the evening before graduation) and immediately after college graduated from the Church of God Ministerial Internship Program. During the earlier years of his ministry and college years, he preached on invitation, served as State Evangelist of North Carolina and worked as Youth Pastor at the South Gastonia Church of God (NC). He began pastoring and has pastored the following Churches of God in North Carolina: Asheville-Azalea (May 1987-January 1989); Reidsville (January 1989-August 1993); Cherryville (August 1993-September 1997); East Shelby (September 1997-January 2000) and Morganton-Freedom (January 1, 2000 to the present). He has also preached in South Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio and worked as a disc jockey/announcer at two christian radio stations, WHKY (Gospel One Radio in Hickory, NC - 102.9 FM) and WGAS (Gastonia, NC - 920 AM).

Of his ministry, Pastor Phillips states" "The ministry that God has entrusted to us is basically a two-fold one. Number one-if you are not a christian, born-again and ready to go to heaven when the time comes to go (by way of the rapture or the grave), we want to show you the way and help you prepare for heaven, according to God's Word. Number two-if you are a christian, we desire to encourage, inspire, instruct and direct you along this christian way, with help from God's Word. We love God and we love people! In other words, we simply want to help people make it to heaven! PLEASE STOP BY AND VISIT WITH US ANY TIME AND EVERY TIME YOU CAN!"