The Good News Update
By Evangelist Dr. Valeria Eloby-Slade, Bishop Sarah Francis Davis Covenant Keepers and Intercessors
During the 50th Quadrennial Session of the General Conference, the aforementioned legislation was written to become “Item G,” under the Department of Church Growth and Development, as well as under the Division of Worship and Evangelism for this department. In honor of Bishop Sarah Francis Davis transitioning before this legislation was ever submitted, the team—under the leadership of the Rev. Dorisalene Y. Hughes; the Rev. James C. Wade, Executive Director of the Department of Church Growth and Development; and Bishop E. Earl McCloud, Jr., the Commission Chairperson—unanimously agreed to name this legislation using Bishop Sarah’s full name. This is the rationale for The Bishop Sarah Francis Davis Covenant Keepers and Intercessors. The final number assigned to this legislation was #21.GGB17 and it was passed on the last morning session in July 2016 with a unanimous yes of the delegation.
This approved legislation is currently found in our Bicentennial Edition of The Doctrine and Discipline of the African Methodist Episcopal Church (2016), pages 213-214. The mission of the Bishop Sarah Francis Davis Covenant Keepers and Intercessors is to be an outreach ministry to conduct spiritual mapping and domestic and international intercession regarding our various bishops, councils, general and connectional officers, events, and issues of our Zion. This would include all local, conference, and district concerns and matters. The Covenant Keepers and Intercessors would be responsible for the Connectional Day of Prayer, which occurs annually on April 13, with the approval of the chairing bishop and general officer. It is also responsible for the General Conference’s prayer chapels and Early Morning Prayer Labs.
If we are not careful, it is easy to speak words of doubt that contradict what God says in His word. In Romans 10:8, Paul writes of the word that saves, “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart.” Therefore, we speak God’s word over every situation and watch Him go to work on your behalf, setting things right for you. The word “confession” is related to the Greek word homologia, which means to come into agreement with or say the same thing. That means we must come into agreement with God’s word and learn to say what He says, no matter how bad things look at the time. If it is not what God is saying, it is counter-productive.
If they are His words, they become powerful weapons. Job 6:25 says, “How forceful are honest words! But your reproof, what does it reprove?” This word “forcible” comes from the Hebrew word marats; which means to press. Just like a king’s signet ring pressed his seal of authority onto a document, our confession of faith seals the matter before God. Mark 11:23-24 says, “Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”
Respectfully submitted,
The Senior Bishop, Presiding Prelate A. J. Richardson Jr.
The Bishop Chairperson of the Commission, Bishop Harry L. Seawright
General Officer and Executive Director, Reverend Dr. James C. Wade
Director of The Bishop Sarah Francis Davis Covenant Keepers and Intercessors, the Rev. Dorisalene Y. Hughes
The Bishop Sarah Francis Davis Covenant Keepers and Intercessors Columnist, Evangelist Dr. Valeria Eloby-Slade
