The Bishop's Word
Praise
God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below;
Praise Him above ye Heavenly Host; Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!
I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ – the Name
that is above every Name.
God has permitted me to return to serve as Bishop of the Fifth District
and I thank you for the privilege of being assigned for the next four
years. I thank the members of the fifth district for receiving me so warmly.
We praise God for the manifestation of his amazing grace as we have
traveled and heard reports of all the work going forth from over 300
churches here in the Fifth Episcopal District. The hard work that you have
offered up in God's kingdom has not gone unnoticed. God has truly moved in powerful
ways – His wonder to perform. The foundation of evangelism has been laid
and we praise
God for the Fifth District's commitment to move to the next level of
equipping the saints for service and reaching out to those who are in
search of the message that God is the answer to all of their needs.
The
2012 – 2013 series of Annual Conferences highlighted your commitment to
"Continue to Rebuild the Walls" of the home, the school, the church, the
community and the world. Our societal ills are demanding more and more
that we stand firm on God's word and that the "Church remains the Church" – a
peculiar people, a royal priesthood, holy and set apart. When we think of
how God is guiding our steps, is blessing our labors and now anoints our
work, we should feel blessed but aware that God is not through with us yet
and has prepared us to go the next mile. It has not yet been revealed what God has in store for us. The 2012 –
2016 quadrennial is filled with promise and as your Presiding Bishop, I am
committed to seeking the Lord's guidance through continual prayer as to the
direction we must take in completing the wall.
Mrs. Kirkland and I are
convinced that because we are family, any challenges we face will not stop
the fearless, thankful and forthright Fifth District from "Continuing to
Rebuild the Walls."
"Be not weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap, if we
faint not."
May God's richest blessings be yours,
Bishop T. Larry Kirkland, Sr.
Chief Pastor, 5th Episcopal District
African Methodist Episcopal Church