MPC has partnered with India Gospel League for over twenty years to help bring the message of Christ to unreached people. From Barefoot Pastors to digging wells, IGL exists to bring the gospel and the love of Jesus to the unreached people of India.
MPC-goers, Bruce and Karen Roberts have been connected with IGL for over eighteen years. Bruce served as Interim Director of the United States part of IGL and currently serves as a Board member of IGL North America and Treasurer of the Board.
Threads recently enjoyed hearing their electrifying excitement about the ministry and their involvement. More.

Life is not meant to be lived as a vacuum – taking in God's love and blessings and placing it in a bag. God intends for us to be as an open-ended tube that His love can flow through into all the world. God opens the door to countless opportunities to serve others and make a real difference by sharing His love. Often God’s love is shown through the little things, the simplest actions can have impacts far beyond our imaginations and are contagious. The simplest actions are powerful when God flows into and out of our lives. More.

“Honestly, it was hard being there – in the clinic and orphanage. I felt like I was in a world of no hope and no opportunity.” MPC-goer, Allison Suer was on her first trip to Haiti with MPC-goers Dr. Mark Fulton of the Mission Haiti Medical team and John Walters of Christians Broadcasting Hope. They were there for a double purpose with a single focus, to bring a message of hope to the people of Haiti. More.

Grief is a life changing experience. As Christians, we celebrate and give thanks for the promise of eternal life but grief is sometimes overwhelming. MPC provides a variety of ministries of support, prayer, resources and encouragement to families at the time of loss and sadness and also seek to journey alongside the family in the weeks and months to follow. More.

Whether you are new to MPC or have been a Christ follower for years, going deeper through small group Bible study and discussion groups helps apply Christlike character to daily living and real life circumstances.

Small groups are designed to take you deeper in faith development and move you forward on your spiritual journey. Many outreach ministries are a result of a small group’s going deeper and seeking ways to minister to others. More.

In a likely turn of events, Scrooge and his 2012 special guest, the Grinch, discovered anew the true meaning of Christmas. Thousands in attendance found it, too... and so did the hundreds who gave of their time, money, talents, inspiration and joy at this year’s production of A Christmas Carol.
• The Carol By The Numbers
• Winner, Winner, Theater and Dinner!
More.

As if taking care of your own family and children doesn't keep one busy - especially this time of the year, the staff at Dove Harbor (DH) are dedicated to seeing that women and children are cared for in the Christmas season and all year. Although the holiday season is especially busy with a variety of big benefit events, Threads recently caught up with Deanna Zimmer, Director of Resource Development at Dove Harbor and asked her some personal questions. More.

“I sought out the leadership track because I knew that I needed to be out of my comfort zone so that God could continue to bring about change in my life,” expresses Logan Ritchhart, as his year long involvement in the MPC Leadership Track comes to a musical conclusion.
Logan continues, “I knew I needed to develop leadership skills in order to be prepared for whatever God has for me next.” More.

Connecting body, mind and spirit with God; the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the focus of entire fitness through Holy Yoga and is now offered at MPC three times a week.
Jamie Wilkerson, MPC-goer has enjoyed the discipline and received certified training in Holy Yoga; a spiritual discipline, much like prayer, fasting and meditation on scripture. More.

On Wednesday night, October 31, MPC will open the church campus and facilities to one of the most attended community events of the year. Hundreds of neighborhood friends will be welcomed by MPC-goers and provide a save, exciting opportunity for families.
“Twenty years ago I came to MPC and was delighted in the outreach MPC has – into our families, our community, and truly around the world,” expresses Russ Miller who has been actively involved in Trunk-n-Treat for the past eight years. “ More.

Hundreds of volunteers from MPC and the Anderson community will tackle work projects around the city of Anderson during DO Something Anderson! Blitz week. An initiative designed to make a positive difference in our community, DO Something! helps the community come together to address needs that the city has been unable to accomplish due to economic down turn and a shortage of government funding.
Co-Chairs, Jerry Breeck and Mike Truman have been busy coordinating with city leaders, community sponsors, participating churches and site managers to pull together projects, needed equipment and resources for Blitz week.
More.
Pictured left to right: DO Something! site manager Richard Prather with co-chairs Mike Truman and Jerry Breeck.

Divorce is painful. Difficult. Frightening. And very, very lonely. But those going through it don’t have to do so alone. MPC offers a Divorce Care class for those needing special support. Read how it has helped some from among us:
“Going through my second divorce, I had some decisions to make. Do I rely on God and his ways? How do I heal and move forward? DivorceCare was my answer for learning to rely on God and move forward. More.

Retro 2012: Music from the 60”s, 70’s, 80’s and 90’s that everyone will know!!
This year’s Retro concert is a night of great music that will feature all MPC people. As we planned this year's event, we wanted to return it to a format that was produced and delivered by our own Madison Park people. We want to be able to say to everyone there that evening, that "this is us." The people you see and hear are our band members, choir people, pastors, board members, congregation people, youth workers....a cast of over 40 people…all people that are faithful contributors to the very life of Madison Park Church. More.

The start-gun will sound and runners and walkers will head out into the beautiful trails of Shadyside Park for the annual 5K and 10K race; a benefit for the Miriam Project adoption agency. Threads caught up with race coordinator, Brooke Mathis, for a little Q & A as she dashes to finish up last minute details leading up to event. More.

On Saturday night at MPC a powerful worship experience draws people into an intimate setting in Crossroads Auditorium with a band and a distinctively modern edge. Kelli Murphy has found a spiritual home in Crossroads worship. Working in management at Eli Lily, her life journey had led on the path of frustration and searching. On Saturday, July 7 at the baptism in the lake, Kelli shared this moving testimony:
"For every setback God has a major comeback. More.

What happens in life when dreams are shattered? How does one move back to hope again and what part does God play?
The current sermon series is touching close to the heart of MPC-goers, Doug and April Linville who minister to families as they work through difficult experiences caused by loss or family crises. More.

She may be found singing at Carnegie Hall in New York City, with symphonic orchestras, in MPC’s Voices of Praise Choir or leading the children in a roaring song in Crossroads Auditorium. She is equally at home with and enjoys singing diverse genres of music such as opera, classical, jazz standards, contemporary and musical theater. Lisa Fauntleroy Dawson has "packed her bags" to perform on stages across the country and internationally, but her heart remains centered on the fundamental values in her life – God, family and church.
An ordained Church of God minister, her roots grow deep in her love of music and the church. A heritage of ministry, from great- grandparents, grandparents and parents, she cultivates a deep relationship with people and ministry wherever God places her. “My love of music began as an infant in hearing lullabies and I began singing as a child, standing on a chair beside my mother at church – including North Anderson (MPC's previous name) when my parents were pastors here. It’s made full circle!” More.

A year long project culminated on a sunny morning, Wednesday, May 16, as workers and children gathered for the dedication and ribbon cutting of the new MPC playground. What began as Rick Sprague’s project to complete his participation in the 2011 Leadership Training Track, turned into a band of brothers who gave over 200 man hours to complete the project.
Often battling extreme heat and cold, and obstacles that sometimes seemed insurmountable, More.

Since the 1990’s MPC has intentionally focused her international missions efforts in key areas around the world, India being one.
Home to the largest concentration of unchurched people in the world—only a fraction of their 1.3 billion population has been reached with the gospel—India has a small but flourishing church.
Christians Broadcasting Hope (CBH), an international radio ministry sponsored by the Church of God, is carried in India. Through the broadcast, Satya Jyoti –True Light, over 800 million people have the opportunity to hear of the love of Jesus Christ in the Odia and Hindi languages. The India ministry also includes retreats, discipleship training, and a variety of other efforts to nurture listeners who have questions or make decisions to follow Christ. A letter received from a listener in India tells the story of the power of God at work: More.

The International Youth Convention of the Church of God is a conference for high school students designed to create a moment for life change and to be a launching pad for young people to change their communities. Typically around 5,000-6,800 students and their leaders gather every two years. IYC2012 will be held July 4-7, 2012 in Denver, Colorado.
“IYC is all about Life Change. Everyone wants to LIVE, which is the theme of IYC 2012 this summer,” shares Eric Reeder, Senior High Ministries Pastor. MPC students will leave on a chartered bus leaving on Wednesday, June 27 and returning home on Monday, July 9. More.

MPJ1:27 builds more than projects
Madison Park Church men gather for their instructions. After a time of devotion, prayer, organization and training, this band of men are released to enjoy the best two hours of their month. It all started with a seminar at an Iron Sharpens Iron conference that focused on James 1:27—“Pure and genuine religion ... means caring for orphans and widows in their distress.” Clark Simpson attended that seminar and brought an idea back to Anderson. Soon after, MPJ1:27 was born. More.

“It was a wonderful comfort at one of the lowest times in my life.” That’s how one care receiver of Madison Park Church’s Stephen Ministry describes it. “[My Stephen Minister’s] concern and words lifted me out of the dark misery I was feeling, and she helped me to find new light and hope for me and my children.”
Stephen Ministries (SM) is a group of congregation members who are trained to provide quality, one-to-one Christian care to individuals experiencing a life crisis. More.

Madison Park Church of God continues to respond to the persistent call of needs around the world. Illnesses are treated in hospitals MPC has helped provide and thousands of lives touched and changed in the name of Jesus through ongoing involvement in India, Haiti, Honduras, Africa and Russia.

Threads recently caught up with Dr. Mark Fulton, local dentist and President of Mission Haiti Medical, a medical ministry and clinic in St Ard, Haiti in cooperation with Church of God missionary Phyllis Newby and the leadership of the Haitian church. More.

DivorceCare for Kids provides healing and fun
The experience of feeling scared, sad, confused, alone and helpless can be traumatic for children of families going through a divorce. MPC is seeking to provide a ministry through Divorce Care 4 Kids (DC4K) to help children heal from the pain caused by a separation or divorce.
DC4K provides children with a safe and neutral place to recognize and learn to share their feelings in a fun and caring group. More.

Dear friends at Madison Park Church of God: Warm greetings from Indian Gospel League! As a result of your donation of a Life Center, a matching gift was given by the Patmos Foundation to build an additional Life Center for Pastor T.A. Paul. We thought you might enjoy the dedication report and pictures.
Pastor T. A. Paul shared the following during the dedication service: Today is one of the best days of my ministry. God heard our prayers and enabled us to see this day to glorify Him in this beautiful church. More.

MPC reached beyond its walls with a wide range of opportunities to impact the community with the spirit of giving and love at Christmas. The events require hundreds of hours in planning and preparation by volunteers and staff. Holiday Giving Opportunities are offered by MPC beginning in October and the response and results are powerful! Although too many to list, check out some of the highlights: More.

An colorful assortment of 100 handmade hats helped fill the Christmas Shoe boxes with a personal touch. The Creative Christian Crafters (CCC) have found a way to “Do Something” for the community and the world through their talent and passion.
In 2003 Deloris Wolford prayed the prayer of Jabez, “enlarge my territory,” and found a world of opportunities for her passion of knitting. More.

Ways to get involved in Dove Harbor are as unique and varied as the people and organization that connect. From providing birthday parties and gifts, hosting a pool party, spending time playing with the children, and mentoring to providing skills, etiquette, or around the building maintenance and repairs, meals and monetary donations, Dove Harbor needs connect to individual’s talents, skills and circumstances. More.

Enthusiastic volunteers wearing bright yellow t-shirts can be seen all around Anderson as the second year of DO Something Anderson! is in full swing.

Hundreds of volunteers from MPC and the Anderson community are tackling work projects designated by the City of Anderson. Many of the projects have not been able to be done, due to a shortage of government funds. More.

If MPC students are faced with the “What did you do on summer break?” essay prompt this fall, several will have answers that will surprise their teachers. Students were offered more summer ministry experiences than ever, spanning the world from Indiana to Russia. They have served in ministry and mission, learning and growing, giving and receiving. Details and stories would fill pages and pages of a theme book; here are just a few highlights: More.

Parades, water fun, good food, a boat, exciting friends. . .sounds like a great place to be! And you can find it all and more at North Kids and the Learning Station, MPC’s two family oriented childcare facilities.
The MPC Learning Station opened early in the spring of 2011 and is growing both in numbers and facilities. The large hole in the back of the MPC campus has drawn both attention and questions. More.

by Eric Reeder, Senior High Student Ministries Pastor
On June 30, thirty-three students and leaders from Madison Park and East Side Church of God will be traveling together to Chelyabinsk, Russia for a life-changing mission trip experience! The group of thirty-three will be joined by seven more youth leaders from our National Youth Ministry Team and will visit Chelyabinsk to conduct an English camp, see the dedication of the youth center café, and continue to plant seeds of the gospel in this city. More.

Each year during Holy Week, Madison Park observes Maundy Thursday, a special service to celebrate the Last Supper. This year, the service will be held on Thursday, April 21 at 6:30pm in The Commons and will consist of music, a message from Pastor Jim Lyon, and communion at the tables. After the gathering, participants will be dismissed with the option of staying for a footwashing service. “
But why wash feet? More.

MPC-goer Rob Fox just returned from a mission trip to the earthquake torn country of Haiti, now ravished with the outbreak of Cholera. On January 12, the one year anniversary of the devastating earthquake, many people and families are still without homes, living in unsanitary conditions. Rob shares his passion and love for missions and Haiti. More.

In the beckoning corner of The Commons, with the umbrella tables, high stools and bright sunlight streaming through the wall of windows, Holy Grounds offers more than a center of fellowship with a place to congregate, talk, write, read, entertain one another, whether individually or in small groups.
Over $10,000 of HG proceeds and tips in 2010 benefited mission projects at home and around the world. More.

Loving others right here in Madison County, finding practical ways to share the message of hope found in Jesus Christ. That’s how the MPC Local Mission Ministry Team views their work. The Local Mission Ministry Team has teamed up with several local organization/ministries to give both financially and in service to meet specific needs in our community. More.

"Koph und Herz, Hand in Hand" (Head and Heart, Hand in Hand) describes the theme and the intent of the conference for Church of God delegates from ten European countries who gathered at the Church of God Bible College in Fritzlar, Germany the third week of September.
Pastor Jim Lyon was invited to address the Theological Conference of the Church of God in Europe which takes place only in even-numbered years, biennially. More

Diligent. Credible. Sound. And now, thanks to the United Way, certified.
It’s a descriptor that Dove Harbor director Doug Linville has sought for quite some time.
“We met with the United Way three years ago to discuss the possibility of applying for certification,” he explains. A rigorous process that is only made available periodically, United Way certification involves submitting a 10-page application, compiling supporting documents, and participating in an interview with the United Way leadership. In the end, the Madison County United Way enthusiastically gave its certification to Dove Harbor. href="http://threads.madisonparkchurch.org/2010/09/13/2nd-story-5/?preview=true&preview_id=4412&preview_nonce=4cdc437403 title="rel="external"> More

Living at 11,000 feet in the Rocky Mountains with groups of students studying altitude physiology. Leading canoe and backpacking trips in the Canadian wilderness. Climbing 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado. Sound exciting and adventurous? More

From the streets of Anderson to the rubble in Haiti, MPC youth have been the hands and feet of Jesus, reaching out beyond the walls of Madison Park Church to touch the world.
Months of planning and fundraising culminated in 14 days of ministry and mission for 37 Senior High teens and leaders. Groups split up and served different areas, both local and long-distance. More.

“It arrived at just a time I needed encouragement and connection with home… It gets so lonely here and sometimes we wonder if anyone at home cares." These words, recently written in a thank you note from a soldier, are echoed time and time again from those who have received care boxes from Madison Park Church. More.

A worldwide audience, filled with individual impact. That’s the target of Christians Broadcasting Hope (CBH). “The dream of CBH is to reach as many people as possible with the hope of Christ,” shares Andrew Lyon, MPC-goer and CBH Constituent and Support Development Specialist.

CBH, an initiative of the Church of God, is heard each week around the globe in 8 different languages on 5 continents. ViewPoint, the weekly English broadcast hosted by Pastor Jim Lyon, faces the real experiences of everyday living through inspiring and informative interviews, biblical insights, personal stories, fresh music and innovative methods of bringing the message of Jesus to a hurting world. More.