Dr. Mauldin's Weekly Devotional

REVIVAL IN OUR MIDST

A phenomenon is occurring before our eyes, and our prayer is that we recognize it in the most spiritual of terms. It is difficult to explain what is happening, but yet it is obvious there is a stirring of the Holy Spirit across our land.

On February 8 near the conclusion of one of Asbury University’s (Wilmore, Kentucky) chapel services, a gospel choir continued to sing. In most chapel services, students take this as a sign to rise to their feet and exit for their classes. However, this was not the case this time.

One by one, students began to fill the altars and pray. In some unusual way, this was the beginning of what is being called the Asbury Awakening or Asbury Revival. The prayer has continued a week after it started with no sign of stopping. Approximately three thousand are witnessing the revival via three locations with hundreds of others standing in line to get in. What is unique about this particular series of events is that the internet is playing a key role in broadcasting these prayer services all around the world.

Students from the University of Kentucky, the University of the Cumberlands and Lee University (an many others) have visited the Asbury campus. Their visits have ignited prayer services on multiple college campuses.

Now, a similar student-led prayer service is being held at Lee University in Cleveland, TN. Both of these universities have experienced similar revivals in the 1970s that went on for literally weeks. Today people are coming to these two campuses from other states and from around the world. Everyone wants to experience this move of God.

Many have prayed for revival. And, revival is here. Joel 2:28 declares:

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your old men will dream dreams;

your young men will see visions.

Dr. Rickie Moore, a retired chair of the Department of Theology at Lee shared this information about the revival:

“In a word, God has opened the wells of salvation beneath us…. They have erupted into gushing fountains that are now forming into rivers of living waters flowing out unto everlasting life.

God has, at the same time, opened windows of heaven over us in the stone chapel of Lee University - heavenly portals from which God is now pouring out His Spirit upon all flesh. Your sons and your daughters are now prophesying, old men and old women are dreaming dreams, and young men and young women are seeing visions.

Everyone who is calling on the Name of the Lord is being saved to the glory of God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit!”

Throughout the history of the church, we have witnessed the spirit of revival taking place that has changed nations. The Wesley revivals definitely come to mind, as well as the Azusa Street Revival. Billy Graham’s tent and stadium ministries could understandably be classified as revivals. Most recently we have encountered the highs and lows of the Toronto blessing and the Brownsville revivals. Perhaps the Church of God annual Winterfest weekends could be viewed as a true revival.

What now? Pray for revival to enter our homes, our communities and our church. Pray this prayer: “Holy Spirit let revival begin with me!”

Dr. Walt Mauldin, Executive Director

Tammie Mauldin, Co-Executive Director

SMCH Participates in the

Tennessee Alliance

“Day on the Hill”

On Tuesday, February 7, the Tennessee Alliance for Children and Families held its annual “Day on the Hill” in Nashville. Each year this day is set aside for all the private providers to meet with

congressional representatives to advocate for the needs of children and families. Twenty-four Alliance organizations participated and visited over 80 of the 132 legislators.

Dr. Shane Smith, Business and Records Director, represented the Smoky Mountain Children's Home attended the event, where he met with key legislatures including: Sen. Frank Niceley (Sevier & Knox.) and Representative Justin Lafferty (Knox District). In addition, Smith met with Senator Art Swann (Blount, Monroe, Polk, & Bradley), Representative Dale Carr (Sevier) and Representative Gloria Johnson (Knox). TN Alliance leaders deemed this year’s event to be the best “Day on the Hill” yet.

The Tennessee Alliance for Children and Families is comprised of private child welfare service providers that serve more than 70,000 children, youth and families. The 36 private child welfare organizations that participate in the Alliance serve over 50% of the children/youth who are in Department of Children’s Services custody.

The TN Alliance hosts network meetings to share ideas, solutions and best practices on specific issues facing its members such as Performance-Based Contracts, Families First, Faith-Based Initiatives and more. Members play a vital role in making sure every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential and contribute to their community.

SMCH PRESENTS ANNUAL AWARDS

After a lingering pandemic, the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home was finally able to host its annual banquet at the Sevierville Convention Center. This year’s event was marked by a new award referred to as the Legacy Award. The first-ever recipient of the Legacy Award was none other than former directors, Paul and Tannis Duncan.

Paul and Tannis Duncan served twenty-four years at The Home as a licensed clinical social worker 1962-1968, Assistant Benevolence Director 1986-1994 and Superintendent 1994-2004. Under their exceptional leadership, the organization became a child-placing agency, an on-campus church was established, cottage-style living was developed, two other denominational children’s homes were launched, Covenant Place was instituted, a cottage was built, Alpha School was opened and Cherish the Child was started to bolster community relations.

The second Legacy Award was presented to Sevierville residents Ron and Betty Ogle, in appreciation for countless hours of service and noteworthy generosity. They led two major capital improvement projects culminating in 1999 and again in 2022 resulting in multimillion-dollar renovations and new construction throughout the campus. Their most recent efforts totaled 3.2 million dollars in capital improvements, which includes an office building, gazebo, off-campus staff housing, as well as excavation and transformation of the entrance to the campus.

Roy and Barbara Miller of Holmesville, Ohio were honored with a crystal award from the Board of Directors for their generous support of the Smoky Mountain Children's Home. Their recent contribution provided flooring for the Moffett Dining Hall. Their influence has impacted countless lives.

Since 1991, individuals have been honored with the prestigious Eagle Award for exemplary service to the organization. This year’s award went to Sonny & Joanie Wilkes of Dublin, Georgia. They have ministered through continued promotional efforts, assisting in meeting the daily needs of children and youth, as well as leading extensive fundraising efforts in numerous denominations. Their love for this ministry is unparalleled.

Another Eagle Award recipient was Dr. David Roebuck, the Historian for the Church of God. Dr. Roebuck’s exemplary service included documenting the narrative of The Home during the recent Centennial Celebration. His expertise in writing about SMCH’s history helped to capture the stories of thousands of life experiences relating to the past one hundred years. His work promoting SMCH as the first benevolence ministry in the Church of God has been noteworthy. Exhibits at the General Assembly and the Pentecostal Research Center provided others with an opportunity to hear the loving and caring stories of The Home.

Two community awards were also presented. The first went to Ripley’s Entertainment, Inc. in recognition for their outstanding service to the children, youth and staff of the Smoky Mountain Children's Home. This company’s generosity has continued to be shown through welcoming the SMCH family to participate in Ripley’s amazing entertainment attractions throughout Sevierville, Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Co-Executive Director Tammie Mauldin presented a large framed certificate to General Manager Chuck Brown.

Another community award was presented to General Manager Megan Cureton of OshKosh B’Gosh and Carter’s located in Sevierville’s Tanger Outlet in recognition of their continued generosity provided to the children of Smoky Mountain Children's Home. Their consistent gifts of new clothing have touched the lives of the SMCH family in the residential and foster care programs.

Executive Director Dr. Walt Mauldin extended congratulations to the award winners and expressed thankfulness to each of them who have given of their time and resources.