Assembly Band Movement
The Assembly Band Movement (ABM) is the Church's department of pastoral care, and its purpose is to see that each member of The Church of God is shown the proper care. The Assembly Band Movement is one of the five major auxiliaries that has been set in the Church. Originally introduced in 1916, the ABM has maintained its purposes of keeping, maturing, and equipping the membership of the Body of Christ for the overall work of the ministry for the evangelization of the world with the full gospel of Jesus Christ.
History of the ABM
The Assembly Band Movement began in these last days in 1916, and is presently ministering to the saints in the same manner of spirit in which it was intended when it was first introduced in the days of Moses for governing the children of Israel. It is not known as to whether or not the Early Church had such an auxiliary as the Assembly Band Movement within its policy to care for the membership; however, there are scores of Scripture in the New Testament that sets forth the need for such an auxiliary in the Body of Christ as a help to care for the sheep. Paul states that God has set helps and governments (1 Corinthians 12:28) within the Body of Christ to edify itself in love. The aspect to "...bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ..." (Galatians 6:2), surely sets forth the need for an organized method and a unified effort to keep the sheep safe in the fold (Church).
Presently, in The Church of God, there are great men and women, the band leaders or undershepherds of the Assembly Band Movement, working energetically to keep the sheep safe and secure within the Church. Jesus, speaking in Matthew 18:11-14 reveals the depth of His concern for just one little sheep that has gone astray. "For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. How think ye? if a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. (Matthew 18:11-14).
Prior to the foundation of the Church in the Wilderness (Exodus 19:5-6; 24:1-7), God knew that it would need a proper form of government for it to operate effectively and efficiently. Preceding the covenant made at Sinai (Exodus 24:1-7), God moved upon Jethro to give Moses the advice to govern the people in a more satisfactory manner. It was while in this selfsame Spirit that A.J. Tomlinson, General Overseer, was moved to bring before the General Assembly of 1916 what he called "Watchers over Tens". This concept was accepted in that Assembly and has been practiced ever since in The Church of God. The inspiration for this recommendation sprang forth from the Scripture in Exodus 18:13-26.
Purpose of the ABM
The Assembly Band Movement is the Church's department of pastoral care, and its purpose is to see that each member of The Church of God is provided the proper care. In accordance to the principles of government as outlined in Exodus 18:13-26, the pastor divides the local church flock into various bands for supervision. The leaders of these bands, or undershepherds, are given the oversight of the band. Their duties include conducting monthly band services to encourage the members toward spiritual growth and development, writing to correspondent band members, and praying for the spirituality of the band. Band leaders are expected to report monthly to keep the pastor abreast of any needs facing band members.
The Assembly Band Movement will prove to be a greater asset to The Church of God in the very near future as the zeal of the Lord enlightens and enlivens those gallant men and women who have accepted the burden of being their brothers' and sisters'
A SINNER'S CRY
MY SOUL IS SO TROUBLED SO FULL OF SIN AND DISPAIR,
I LOOK AROUND FOR HELP BUT NO
ONE SEEM TO CARE.
I CRY OUT FROM WITHIN ME NO TEAR WILL DIM THE EYE,
SO TORN APART, I BOW MY HEAD A BED OF SIN I LIE.
ON DOWN THE ROAD I TRAVEL MY BODY IS FULL OF PAIN,
AS SATAN DEVOURS ME MY LIFE HERE IS IN VAIN.
I HAVED LIVED MY LIFE FOR SATAN MY SOUL HE DOES TAKE,
I LOOK BACK WHERE DID TIME GO BUT NOW IT IS TOO LATE.
THE DEATH ANGEL IS LEADING ME A LAKE OF FIRE I CAN SEE,
HE IS FORCING ME I CRY OUT OH PLEASE LET ME GO FREE.
HE LAUGHS AT ME HE LASHES OUT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS DAY,
OH LORD PLEASE GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE OH WHY DIDNT I TAKE TIME TO PRAY.
I LOOK AROUND AS HE IS PUSHING ME INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE I CAN SEE,
I FALL IN THE FIRE SO HOT AS THE FLAMES ARE COVERING ME.
I CRY OUT FOR MERCY THE LIFE I LIVED I AM TO BLAME,
THE SCREAMING THE FIGHTING THE KNASHING OF TEETH ETERNITY IN THESE FLAMES.
OH LORD PLEASE LET ME WARN MY FAMILY ON EARTH THEY STILL LIVE,
THEY HAVE MY WORD A PLAN OF LIFE MY SON I DID GIVE.
LORD PLEASE LET ME GO BACK AND LIVE ON EARTH AGAIN,
I PROMISE THAT I WILL LIVE FOR YOU AND BE A WITNESS TO ALL MY FRIENDS.
LORD IF YOU WILL ONLY GIVE ME ANOTHER CHANCE LORD PLEASE DONT LEAVE ME IN THIS PLACE,
HE TURNED AWAY WITH TEARS IN HIS EYES AND SUCH A SAD LOOK ON HIS FACE.
LORD PLEASE DONT GO AWAY I CANT STAND THIS PLACE MY BODY SO HOT I START TO SCREAM ,
I WAKE UP CRYING I LOOK AROUND ME AND I REALIZED THIS WAS ALL A DREAM.
I LAY THERE TREMBLING THE DREAM SO REAL I SEE THAT I STILL LIVE,
I FALL ON MY FACE I CRY OUT TO THE LORD MY LIFE TO HIM I GIVE.
I GAVE MY HEART AND MY LIFE TO GOD AND THIS DREAM I WOULD LIKE TO TELL,
THAT WIDE IS THE GATE AND BROAD IS THE WAY THAT LEADTH TO DISTRUCTION AND IT IS A PLACE THAT IS CALLED HELL.
By Agnes Baughn
(church member)
On one particular work day, I overslept. I woke up and it was an hour later that normal. Somehow I made a mistake when I attempted to hit the snooze alarm. In my drowsiness, I turned the wrong switch and wasn’t alert enough to know the difference!
Matthew 25:6-13
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
I. Why didn’t they fill their lamps?
· Inattention
· Distractions
· Priorities
· Cost of oil
· Poor stewardship
· Sleepiness
· Self-centeredness
1 Corinthians 15:34
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
II. It’s time to wake up!
a) Mentally- Study the Word
b) Spiritually- Pray; Seek the Lord; Worship the Lord; Praise the Lord.
c) Unity- Let us pray for one another as never before.
III It’s time to prepare
Eph 5:13-17
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
This month, two Major League Football teams will meet in the Super Bowl. Many factors will go into determining the winner of the contest. One of the major factors is preparation in the form of practice, strength building and hours of hard work. Now is the time, more than ever before, for us to awake and prepare ourselves for the soon coming of Jesus Christ!
Rom 13:11-12
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
Rom 13:14
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
Anybody can wake up. It may take great and constant effort. With Christ’s help, even those who are almost dead spiritually can be revived!
More than ever before, we need to be awake, alert, and spiritually revived, anxiously awaiting the return of our Lord!
Revelation 22:20
20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
-Dale Hoffman
