On May 22, Bishop James King was the preacher/teacher at the ALPS (Appalachian Local Pastors School) 7:30 am Worship Service in the Conway Boatman Chapel of Union College. Pastors were there from all over the United States for this special week of learning, training, fellowship, and growing, as part of their course work and continuing education.
Bishop King encouraged and exhorted the Pastors to seize every opportunity to serve the Lord, and to know that God has given us every thing we need to be and do what He wants us to be and do. Bishop King used the 6 letter acronym (P-P-PUSH) for his main points in being all that God wants us to be:
- PURPOSE - We must catch God's vision.
- PASSION - We must be filled with God's enthusiasm.
- PERSISTENCE - We must see and do from God's eternal view.
- UNCONDITIONAL LOVE - We must know God's love for us and all people.
- STUDENT FOR LIFE - We must grow daily in our understanding of God's truth.
- HARVEST - We must affirm and experience that all our work is in God's time and plan.
The Lord has greatly gifted Bishop King with communication skills, and at the end of his message, the Pastors rose to their feet and gave him a long, warm, and affirming applause for him and his message of the morning.
Mrs. Kitty Allen, wife of Dr. Joel Allen (Pastor of Barbourville UMC and Part-Time Faculty Member of Union College) is the Director of the ALPS Program, which is excellent in every way.