Heritage Service at Edgemont Church in Newport, TN

Recently I conducted a heritage service at Edgemont Church of God near Newport, Tennessee. This congregation is celebrating their 90th anniversary in 2009, and I shared a media presentation of how the local church was organized.

Church of God evangelist L.G. Rouse (pictured left with his family) took the Pentecostal message to this community the last week of January 1919, resulting in the organization of the Church of God there a few months later amid much persecution.

It was a wonderful service, which also included special music by violinist Mark Lewis of Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Following the morning service, a meal was served in the newly constructed fellowship hall. Bishop John Nations serves as local pastor, and he and Mrs. Nations were welcoming and friendly hosts (as always). I enjoyed the fellowship with the congregation and the Nations family.

A summarized version of the story of the establishment of the Edgemont Church of God will appear in the April 2009 issue of the Church of God Evangel. Watch for it online.