Ministry on the Margins at Shorts Creek COG

As the great Pentecostal Movement, known as the Church of God, began to move further into the mountains of Appalachia, the first State Overseer of Virginia, Rev. J. J. Lowman oversaw house meetings in the Shorts Creek area of Carroll County, Virginia circa 1909. Powerful outdoor brush arbor meetings were also held in the area that further nourished the seed of Pentecost. In the summer of 1913, Rev. Lowman organized the first Church of God in Virginia, Shorts Creek Church of God.

For thirty one years, congregants gathered in a wood slat building to worship the Lord and experience the power and presence of the Holy Ghost. In 1944, a new cinder block building was built down the hill from the original building, beside the creek. This building still stands today and serves the modern day church. In 1957, a new sanctuary was built that spanned the creek and joined the cinder block building giving the church much needed space. During the pastorate of Reverend Dale Frazier (1974-1988), the sanctuary was enlarged, a fellowship center was built and improvements were made to the church property.

God has blessed and has been good to the Shorts Creek Church of God in a mighty way by allowing us to serve Him for such an extended period of time. Today, the Shorts Creek Church of God presses toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. It is our goal, should the Lord continue to allow us, to see The Great Commission through to the end and see as many souls saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost and discipled as possible.

We strive to make an impact in our rural community by reaching out to those in need. One of those outreach missions is to our local crisis pregnancy center. We also support individuals in our community that are in need, on a case by case basis, as needs are found. It is also our high honor to support the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home, formally known as the Church of God Orphanage, a mission that we are sure to continue.

Last year, the Shorts Creek Church of God was asked to take part in a much needed multi-denominational community revival. Churches that participated in that revival ranged from Methodist, Independent, Church of the Brethren, Pentecostal Holiness and the Woodlawn Church of God.

God moved mightily in that revival and bonds were formed not only between the pastors, but the congregations as well. Insomuch that when the revival was over, our group explored ways to continue our new found fellowship. The pastors decided that we would begin holding community service nights at a different church once a month and pool our resources to reach the lost in our community.

This pooling of resources resulted (this year) in 190+ children participating in the Back 2 School program. Those children heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the testimony of a missionary, received school supplies, got their feet washed and had one-on-one prayer time with an adult.

Pray for our group of churches as we feel led by the Lord to double our efforts next year.

The Shorts Creek Church of God also has a vibrant, spirit filled children’s program that includes Sunday School, Children's Church, and a mid-week service. Our exceptional Ladies Ministries hosts several annual events and is directly involved in many facets of ministry.

Our mission is to continue to find new and exciting ways to reach our neighbors for Christ for the next one hundred plus years should the Lord delay his coming. We strive to first seek the unction of the Holy Spirit in all that we do and remain in God’s will while doing it, to see souls saved, and to be a helping body of believers to a hurting community.

Submitted by: Senior Pastor David Akers