Bishop Robert Sanders IL. 3rd COGIC ~ LYA

Regrettably, I must stop to say farewell to a Spiritual Father, not to mention one of the greatest gospel preachers I have ever known, to whom I am indeed grateful to have served with here on earth.

My service to God through this Bishop and the church extends back some 29 years to a time when he was known as Superintendent Sanders and I as Elder Burnett. We've seen the best of days and the worst of days together. Having honest and open conversation about the church, scandal, personal failure, personal victory, and most of all the word of God and the power of God which is able to heal and make alive. 

Bishop Sanders, as you already knew, I Love You Always!

I am praying for the hearts and minds of the family, all my sisters and brothers, and all of the Saints of Il. 3rd Jurisdiction COGIC. On earth, we are indeed at a loss. Rest well around the throne Bishop, we will have a real reunion soon!

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COGIC God Said "Convocation" NOT Convention

Exodus 12:16 ~ "And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you no manner of work shall be done in them save that which every man must eat that only may be done of you"

As a special guest of the Bishop Robert R. Sanders during the 16th Annual Holy Convocation of the Illinois Third Jurisdiction Church Of God in Christ, General Board Member and Bishop Of Western Michigan Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction, Bishop Nathaniel Wells delivered a dynamically tactful, powerful, profound and challenging message which, in part, regarded the Church Of God In Christ Inc., what it has accepted, and the direction in which the church is headed as it pertains to its most holy annual gathering of saints called the Holy Convocation. 

The Rt. Rev. Bishop N. Wells
General Board Member
COGIC

In a message entitled, "We Must Keep The Covenant Of The Fathers" Bishop Wells not only delivered a solid and biblically profound exegesis of the Covenant that God established with Abraham and his seed, and ultimately with all believers through Jesus Christ, but he also took time to examine the covenental styled relationship which was delivered to the Church Of God In Christ Inc.by it's founder, the late Bishop Charles Harrison Mason, encouraging us not to forget what has been set before us as a church and what we are to do with it. 

Some COGIC History

"As the Chief Apostle, he (Bishop C.H. Mason) immediately dedicated twenty days, November 25th through December 14th annually as a meeting time for all the followers to fellowship with each other and to transact all ecclesiastical and secular affairs pertinent to the growth of the National Organization. This segment of the year was chosen because the majority of the communicants of the church lived in farming districts of Mississippi, Tennessee, and Arkansas. By this time of the year, they had sufficient provisions and financial resources from the harvesting of their crops, to enable them to attend and support a national meeting"  [1973 Official COGIC Manual Reprinted 1991]

Under the original application of the vision of the church, Convocation was to be held at least annually in Memphis, TN. under certain dates and times as specified in the prior statement. This time was dedicated to the Lord and the people were dedicated to the Lord's use. In part, as the statement notes, there was a consideration given to the constituency and makeup of the members of the church in general as to the ultimate location and time of the Convocation. So there was an element of meeting the "natural" need of the people, but there was a greater element of obeying and following the will of God for our church on a corporate basis and level. 

The concept was that there would be a specific place date and time dedicated to the Lord's service according to the concept of "Holy Convocation" found within scripture and the basis of that Convocation was the requirement of the Lord upon HIS people.  

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The Nation Of Islam Embraces Scientology Practice

This is Part 2 of The ACLC Redefining "Love" To Suit The New Apostasy

Minister Louis Farrakhan
Receiving Presentation From
Il. 3rd Jurisd. COGIC Adm. Asst. T. L. Barrett

In what has to be one of the most strange, but expected events that I've witnessed in quite a while from an otherwise predictable religious leader, Minister Louis Farrakhan, the head of the Nation Of Islam, embraced a practice introduced and developed by the late church of Scientology cult founder L. Ron Hubbard called "Auditing".

Not only did Minister Farrakhan endorse the benefits of the practice to the ACLC membership, which are by far and large Christian ministers that have been seduced by the apostasy of ecumenism through the vision of Sun Myung Moon and the ACLC, but he also revealed that he has committed the Nation Of Islam's (NOI's) leadership and membership to the practice by the droves. The following are Minister Farrakhan's sentiments on the subject:

"If you trust me, I will never knowingly mislead any human being, but I want to share this with you, and I want the leaders first, just to see it, maybe we'll come back in a week or two and I'll share with you or let you see a video of how this is done. And when you see it, just look at it, think about it, and then look inside yourself, and your church. Because there are people in your church, if they get this technology, they can turn right around in the church, and begin helping to relieve members of the church of some of the grief and sorrow over death and...things that happen in life as a natural consequence of living. ...."and if you will experience it...we had the largest auditing session of over 2000 people. We took a whole hotel, a ballroom, several of 'em, and to see people, being relieved...One child was 8 years old, and he had this technology, and he was talking to a woman, 86 and bringing out her burdens, and helping her to deal with it." ~ Minister Louis Farrakhan ACLC Prayer Breakfast 5/17/2011

In this statement the Minister not only encourages ALL clergy to obtain and use this practice, he tells how he has already taken over 2000 NOI adherents and leaders through the auditing process in order to provide personal mental and emotional healing. In fact one of his Ministers from Atlanta (Minister Oliver) who is over the southern region of NOI Mosques, seems to use this process like a pain pain pill to instantly  provide healing of emotional scars and certain trauma that he believes others are dealing with in the moment.  

This is a DREAM come true for the Non-Christian CULT of Scientology, who's founder is responsible for the development and presentation of this ungodly, unbiblical and horrible practice. What L. Ron Hubbard

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A Special Tribute "Save A Seat For Me!"

The Dunamis Word and the Pastor and members of the New Bethel Church of God In Christ of Peoria, IL. and the Bethel Epiphany Church Of God In Christ of Detroit, MI. pay a very special tribute to an extraordinarily great woman of God. Mother Earlean Cross-Sanders (August 13, 1939 ~ April 1, 2009), wife of Bishop Robert R. Sanders of Illinois 3rd Jurisdiction Church Of God In Christ, went home to be with the Lord on April 1, 2009. Mother Sanders served faithfully in her multiple duties as Servant of God, Spouse, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Teacher, Friend and Example for all Saints within the body of Christ. Mother Sanders' transition to her new abode makes us realize what we yet wait in earnest to experience.

It is really no surprise that this was a great woman of God, having been born to an outstanding family that labored in the Lord. Her parents, Bishop Moses Cross, Sr. & Mother Priscilla Cross, laid a great foundation for Mother Sanders and their other children. As a result, Mother Sanders was saved at the age of 12. Mother Sanders was a beautiful and exemplary woman of God. She was a blessing to women in Illinois and all over the nation. Mother Sanders stood by her husband in marriage just shy of 50 years (since 4/4/1959). She helped to diligently raise 5 children (Robert II, Dehlia, Tereasa Elaine, Terry, and Rosalind) She ministered to the needs of Saints wherever and whenever opportunities arose for her to do so. Mother Sanders' outward beauty was only eclipsed by her inward beauty and light of the Lord within her life. Her accepting smile and love will be greatly missed as we move foreward in the work that Christ has, by his grace, left us here to do.

Final Thought:

At the homegoing celebration of Mother Sanders, held at All Nations COGIC Joliet, IL. on April 9th 2009, Dr. Marilyn Cross, our Jurisdictional Supervisor and wife of Mother Sanders' brother Supt. Arthur Cross, reminded the women of 3rd Jurisdiction that just as Mother Sanders carried forward the legacy left to her by her Mother (Mother Priscilla Cross) we all have a responsibility to carry on the work that Mother Sanders left with us in mentoring and teaching the next generations in our homes and in the ministry. Mother Jean Booker (spouse of Bishop Ocie Booker ~Illinois 1st Jurisdiction Church Of God In Christ) was called to represent the National Bishop Wives Circle in a special tribute to Mother Sanders. In what I considered to be a highlight of the service, Mother Booker explained how she and Mother Sanders would often talk about their plans at National and International church functions and would always conclude their conversations by encouraging one another to "Save A Seat" just in case they didn't see each other right away. She explained that although they didn't have that final conversation before Mother Sanders transitioned, she knew that Mother Sanders automatically knows to do her best to "Save A Seat" for her.

As I thought on these things, I thought of the greatness of glory that Mother is experiencing at this very moment. I simply wish to say, thank you Mother Sanders for setting a wonderful, great and biblical example for all to follow. Thank you for showing that the trials of Pastoral ministry are not an inhibitor to a strong family and beautiful children. Thank you because the people of God, myself and my spouse included, have been blessed by your mere presence. I join Mother Booker in saying "Save A Seat For Me Too!"

With Love, Respect & All Humility

Supt. H. Burnett

Blessed!

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