In the Churches, 4-26-15

• Immanuel Baptist Church: The Ladies Only Luncheon will be held Tuesday in the Family Life Center of the church, located at 701 S. West Ave. Serving wil begin at 11:30 a.m., and the program will get under way at 12:10 p.m. The guest speaker will be Mary Depper of El Dorado. According to a release from the church, “Mary Depper is a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, pastor and cancer survivor. Mary spoke two years ago about the Abundant Life as a believer. Since then she has known the fear and loss of cancer. She will share what God would have us know and experience about Him when life takes us to places we never expected and didn’t want. This is a message for everyone.” Special music will be provided by Margaret Pierce of El Dorado. Preschool childcare reservations must be made by noon Monday by calling the church office at 862-4264.

• St. Vestal C.M.E. Church: The Missionary Society of the church will present their final morning devotion for the conference year during the morning services on Sunday. All missionaries, members and visitors are requested to wear blue. The color blue in the Bible symbolizes dependability, security, trustworthiness and stability. Wilma Muldrew will serve as worship leader and Minnie Springer as devotion leader. The speaker will be Pastor Rodriquress (Reese) Dixson-Broadnax from Camden.

• St. Mark United Methodist Church: Revival services will be held at 6 p.m. May 3-6 at the church, located at 2010 W. Hillsboro St. The theme of the revival will be New Begin-nings, and the speaker will be Carlton Cross. Special music will be provided by Jeff Jackson on Sunday, Rita Benton on Monday, Richard Wynn on Tuesday, and Brooke Roden on Wednesday. Congregational singing will be led by Tracy Roden. Coffee time will be held at 5 p.m. May 3, and fellowship and refreshments will follow the May 6 service. Cross, a native of El Dorado, has been serving in the United Methodist Church for over 20 years. Many of those years were in youth ministry. During this time he has built three different youth programs.

In 1995, at the age of 26, Carlton became a pastor in the United Methodist Church and was appointed to two congregations in South Arkansas. For 11 years, he served as associate pastor at First United Methodist Church in Jonesboro. During his time there, he gained experience in different types of worship which include gospel, traditional, blended, and contemporary.

Carlton also served Oakley Chapel United Methodist Church in Rogers. He then went on to serve the historical First United Methodist Church in Prescott.

Since 2011, Carlton has been serving as the senior pastor at Salem United Methodist Church.

Carlton is a graduate from Arkansas State University with training in sociology and philosophy. He also holds a Masters of Divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. He has been married for 20 years to his wonderful wife, Tracy. He is also a very proud father of twins. He has a son, Brady and a daughter, Shelby who both attend school at Harmony Grove.

He has a passion for mission work and for over 14 years has served in an organization called Ozark Mission Project. For much of those 14 years, he served in the capacity of Camp Director. Carlton has also been involved in many local missions such as Helping Neighbors Food Pantry, Wesley on the Ridge, City Youth Ministries, Church Health Center, and Arkansas Area on Aging. He has also served as an evangelist for various camp meetings and revivals throughout the Arkansas area. He has served as the Evangelist and the Chairman of the Evangelism Committee for the Arkansas Conference for the past three years.

He was raised as a child of the Methodist heritage. His Methodist minister grandfather, Noel Cross, instilled in him a fertile foundation in the Methodist religion and in spiritual awareness. His parents Kenneth and Juanita Cross raised him in a good Christian home in the El Dorado area. His roots spread from Union County to Nevada County and he truly is proud of his heritage.

His hobbies include spending time with family and friends, golfing, and some of his greatest joys include pastoral care and preaching The Gospel."

• Hosanna Baptist Church (Village): The 23rd pastoral appreciation celebration honoring Jerry and Gracie Ross will be held at 2:30 p.m. May 3 at the church. Special guests will be Pastor Daniel Willis and the congregation of Union Mission Baptist Church of El Dorado. Lunch will be served. The Rev. Jacarllus Hill will bring the 11 a.m. message.

• Ebenezer United Methodist Church: The annual singing/homecoming celebration will be held beginning around 10:30 a.m. May 3 with a potluck lunch at 12:30 p.m. Gary Davis, Ellen Marsh and Southern Harmony will be featured.

• Mount Zion Baptist Church (Lockhart, La.): The fourth annual appreciation program honoring the church’s musician, Shirley Clark, will be held at 7 p.m. today at the church, located on Highway 3121. The mistress of ceremonies will be Jamie Walters. Selections will be presented by the Friendship Baptist Church Choir, AOFB Ministries, and the Ford Brothers. A mini concert by Rejoice Music Ministry will also be presented. Refreshments will be served in the fellowship hall.

• Pleasant Grove Baptist Church (Harrell): The first pastoral anniversary of the Rev. and Mrs. George Williams III will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Sunday at the church. Special guests will be the Rev. Luther Harris and the congregation of Beulah Grove Baptist Church of El Dorado. Lunch will be served at 1:30 p.m.

• Mt. Calvary Missionary Baptist Church: The annual Youth Day celebration will be held at 2:30 p.m. May 3 at the church, located at 1807 S. West Ave. Special guests will be the Rev. Earnest Moore and the congregation of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church of McNeil. Revival services will also be held at 7 p.m. May 4-6. The guest evangelist will be the Rev. Wendell Colen, pastor of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Magnolia. The public is invited to attend.

• New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church (Magnolia): A church anniversary service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the church. Special guests will be the Rev. Pierce Moore and the congregation of First Baptist Church-Cordell in El Dorado. Pastor Charlie Ray Cheatham Sr. will speak at the 11 a.m. service.

• New Grace Fellowship of Jesus Christ: A Spring Concert will be presented at 6:30 p.m. today at the church, located at 1400 Trinity. Featured will be Pastor Cedric Hayes and the Pastor’s Choir, Miguel Mime, SIGHT and Angelic Priase, Prodigy, and also praise dance ministry. All youth groups are encouraged to attend, and dor prizes will be given away.

• Sweet Canaan Baptist Church (Smackover): The annual Youth Day celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at the church, located at 4877 Mt. Holly Road. The guest speaker will be Minister Jeremy Junior, associate minister of Evergreen International Ministries of El Dorado. The public is invited to attend.

• Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church (Caledonia): Services appreciating the Holy Spirit will be held at 11 a.m. May 3 at the church, located at 269 S. Caledonia Road. According to a release from the church, “this is a service when this church family and community observes the power of the Holy Ghost in our daily lives. There will be praise, prayers and preaching. There will be plenty of spiritual food for our spirit-hungry bodies. We are inviting all ministers, friends and families, regardless of race or church affiliation, to come and be ready to praise the Holy Ghost. There will also be plenty of down home ‘Soul Food Cooking.’ Please feel welcome to come and help us appreciate the love and protection that the Holy Spirit has bestowed upon us. Please notify your loved ones that have moved away or out of state to send a donation to the church or cemetery in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

• Douglas Chapel Missionary Baptist Church: Pastor D.L. Hegler will host the City/County-Wide Revival at 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday at the church, located at 696 Smackover Highway. Featured will be Pastor Barry Dobson and the combined choirs of Douglas Chapel, St. John and Starlight on Sunday; Pastor Felton Burgie and the combined choirs of Morning Star No. 2, Sweet Canaan amd New Deliverance on Monday; Pastor Larry W. Yarbrough and the combined choirs of Bouldware Temple, St. James and Changing Life on Tuesday; Pastor David Cook and the combined choirs of Evergreen, Beach Hill and Divine Faith on Wednesday; and Pastor Bobby Patterson and the combined choirs of of New Bethel, New Olive Branch and Christ Missionary on Thursday. For more information, contact Dr. George Calloway Jr., president, at (870) 881-1317 or email at [email protected]. The public and all church famlies are invited to attend.

• Bouldware Temple Church of God in Christ: A Youth and Young Adult Program will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the church, located at 1611 Detroit St. Special guests will be Dr. Enzeo White and the Beulah Grove Baptist Church family. Selections will be presented by Brother D.C. Cheeks and his grandchildren, Shaylyyne Holmes. De Michael Staes, Angelic Praise, and the Beulah Grove Baptist Choir.

• New Hope Baptist Church (Mt. Holly): The 20th All Male Musical honoring the Mt. Holly Community Male Chorus will be held at 6 p.m. today at the church. Guest males choruses and soloists will include Lights of Faith, Gospel Echoes, Tony Lewis & Company, Sweet Home, St. Mark, Mt. Calvary, Beulah Grove, Pop Gulley & Company, Cotton Belt, The King Family, the Rev. W.T. Ward, Andrew Kirkindoff, Jerry Dansby and Richard Harris. The public is invited to attend.

• Free Union A.M.E. Church: A three-night Youth Revival will be held at 7 p.m. Monday through Wednesday at the church, located at 3349 Strong Highway. The theme song will be "Every Praise." The evangelist for the services will be Bishop Apostle Philllip M. Gordon of New Grace's Divine Destiny International Ministries in El Dorado. The speaker will be introduced by the Rev. Gayle Williams on Monday, Pastor Linda Burns on Tuesday, and Evangelist Sharon Holmes on Wednesday.

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