
Our Mission & Vision / Our Beliefs / Our Pastor and EAGLES |
| Abundant Grace is a nondenominational, Spirit-filled fellowship purposed on sharing God’s grace. The Bible says so much about “grace,” but what is it? Grace means “an extravagant, expensive gift.” God’s grace is the gift of His acceptance, approval and favor. And when God gives gifts, He gives them in abundance! His only motive for these extravagant gifts is His unconditional love!
As you explore our site we hope that you will be inspired to discover more about the abundance of God’s Grace!
|
Our Mission & Vision
Our Mission is to change the world by changing lives by changing the way we do church.
Our Vision is to be a growing, cross-cultural worship community demonstrating the wisdom, grace and excellence of Jesus Christ.
Through the Word lives will be transformed, individual purpose will be discovered, families will be strengthened, and believers will be equipped and empowered for service, success and soul-winning.
Using creative and contemporary means we will “Publish the name of the Lord,” serve our community and the greater Mid-South area, and impact the nations. |
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Our Beliefs
We believe that there is one true Almighty God, who is the creator of everything and the author of the Bible, which is the owner's manual for life.
God created human beings to be in relationship with Him and have control over the earth. Man's disobedience broke the relationship with God, and contaminated man’s control with evil and sin.
Because God loved the world so much, He sent His only Son, Jesus, to restore the broken relationship and recover the authority that had been lost. We believe that Jesus is not just the Son of God, He is actually God, Himself, come to us as a human.
Jesus took the punishment for our disobedience by dying on the cross as our sin-substitute. He was buried in a grave, but was resurrected three days later with victory over sin and the powers of darkness.
Now Jesus is no longer the only Son – He is now the first son, because we have become children of God, too. A person becomes a child of God by believing in Jesus Christ and what He did for us, turning away from a sinful life, and by being re-born! When Jesus introduced being “born again,” He said that it happens when a person is baptized in water, then the Holy Spirit makes their spirit alive to Him!
When Christ Jesus was leaving the earth to return to heaven, He assured us that we would not be without His presence. While He would not be here physically, His Spirit would become a companion and helper to us. The Holy Spirit is here to live inside every believer to enable us to live an authentic, victorious Christian life and have spiritual authority over life's circumstances.
The Holy Spirit also enables us to continue the ministry that Jesus started - that of restoring relationship between God and man, and breaking the control of evil and Satan. The Holy Spirit also gives us the desire and courage to share with others about our relationship with Jesus Christ, persuading them to become followers of Christ and a part of His Church.
The Bible teaches us that the Church is the Body of Christ, with Jesus being the Head of the Body. That means that the physical presence of Jesus Christ should still be experienced in the earth today through the Church. That happens when believers connect to His Body, the local Church, for worship, spiritual growth, fellowship, stewardship, service and reaching out. Thus, we are not just strengthening our relationship with God, we are building relationship with one another, and working hard to bring others into these relationships.
Every believer is a Masterpiece with Spiritual gifts to fulfill our unique God-given purpose in the Church and in the world. So that the Church can fulfill its
assignment to advance the Kingdom of God in the earth, Jesus has given Spiritual offices to the Church, and He still moves in power and glory today, just as He did in Bible days.
We believe that one day Jesus will come back to take His believers to live with Him in eternal peace and joy, and He shall reign forever and ever. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
 |
Our Pastor & the EAGLES
Pastor Dwayne N. Hunt
An Inspirational Speaker Who Provides A Spiritual Grip On Reality by Celia Rock, author of “101 Publishing Tips for Speakers and Consultants,” “Brilliance Marketing Management” and “Organizing the Good Life.”
“Dwayne N. Hunt’s preaching is designed to take you on a journey. It’s not just about delivering a particular message du jour from the bible. His sermons are flush with emotion. Exhilarating with desire to convince. Most important, Pastor Hunt connects the dots in his delivery – from every individual to the world as a whole and to God. Huge events do have an impact on each and every one of us. Pastor Hunt’s powerful messages help us to understand our role and our part in society. He explains it, replete with an urgency that invades all of your senses. It’s impossible to nod off while Pastor Hunt delivers a message. Even if you don’t agree with every concept, he’s the kind of orator who is capable of getting your attention and able to help you to understand.
“Pastor Hunt uses powerful delivery techniques… he makes understandable connections between life and the Word of God. His fervent delivery includes repetition of the message. Just so you’re sure to understand. It’s methodical. It’s pounding. But it seems ad lib. After climbing a mountain seeking to deliver a point, he guides his listeners back down to reflect. He preaches from the heart and from a logical mind that helps us learn how to deal with what’s happening in the real world.”
Not only is our pastor is a compelling speaker, he is a master teacher and a visionary leader. He is also the author of The Invisible Enemy, Our War Against Terror, which declares that only the church can deal with the enemies of fear, anxiety and terror. The late Dr. Adrian Rogers of Bellevue Baptist Church said this about the book: “This timely and dynamic volume by Dwayne Hunt is a succinct and strategic word to a needful nation. My heart was stirred and my will was moved by its message. My sincere prayer is that it will find its way into the hands, the heads and the hearts of God’s people everywhere. It is the message of the hour.”
Pastor Dwayne and his wife, Diane, are devoted followers of Jesus Christ, committed to loving others and leading them to know Christ and grow in Him. They are also the proud parents to two teenage sons, Barrington and Dewun.
|
|
| |
The EAGLES
Our leadership team is referred to as the EAGLES, because of their commitment to excellence. EAGLES is an acronym for Every Abundant Grace Leader Excellent in Service. These are our EAGLES: |
| |
|
 |
Clifton Johnson, Associate Pastor
Clifton Johnson is a native of Tunica County, Mississippi and from a family of 11 children. He is a professional accountant with 23 years of experience in auditing, accounting and government administration. He is married to the lovely Angella Johnson, and they have three children: Angela, Malcolm and Najee. He also enjoys playing golf and singing.
What are your primary spiritual gifts?
Teaching and Counseling
Who is a hero to you?
My dad who raised eleven children. He had the opportunity to move to the city to make more money to give his family a better life by other people’s standards, but he chose to stay in the poorest county in the nation living off minimum wage and food stamps instead. All eleven children are productive citizens today.
What’s the best book you’ve read lately?
This is one area I have to improve in. The book I have been most intrigued by lately has been “Seven Practices of Effective Ministry”. It is helping me both at church and at work.
What’s your favorite food?
Bread Pudding
What is your most embarrassing moment?
When I was on the Praise Team, I did an entire worship service with my pants unzipped. I didn’t realize it until the time of greeting visitors. |
|
|
|
Gayle Hunt, Executive Pastor
Gayle Hunt is Director of Ministries and responsible for administrative support, here at Abundant Grace Fellowship. Her family consists of a loving mother who supports her tremendously in the raising of a teenage daughter, Chastity, an independent and charismatic kindergartener, Bethany, and a strong-willed Pre-K son who is eager to learn, Ian.
What are your primary spiritual gifts?
Administration and Helps
Who is a hero to you?
I see both my father, Gary Hunt, and Hillary Clinton as heroes.
What’s the best book you’ve read lately?
The best book I’ve read lately is “The Law of Attraction” by Jerry & Esther Hicks.
What’s your favorite food?
Houston’s chicken fingers
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
Earl Sayles, Senior Elder
Earl Sayles is a hard working devoted husband, father and (multi-tasking) leader who loves the Lord and the work of the ministry, my family, baseball and music. Married for 32 years to Theodora, they have two sons, Elliott, 29 and Garrett 14. Having relocated several times, they have learned to work together through transition and adversity.
What are your primary spiritual gifts?
Wisdom, Teaching and Administration.
Who is a hero to you?
Spiritually, Jesus Christ, and naturally, my little sister Linda.
What’s the best book you’ve read lately?
Winning by Jack Welch
What’s your favorite food?
Desserts
What is your most embarrassing moment?
Confusing names of family members at reunions. |
|
|
|
Craig Ferguson, Elder, Marketplace Ministries
Craig Ferguson’s heart is building a ministry (service) to the business community.
He has been married for 26 years to Brenda, and they have four children: David, 25, a cameraman and editor for a CBS station in Ohio; Jonathan, 24, a CSA for Healthcare and leader of the prayer ministry at his church; Rachel, 21, a waitress and 2nd year pre-med student; and Elizabeth, 14, our bright and energetic 9th grader.
What are your primary spiritual gifts?
Intercession, Teaching, Prophecy
Who is a hero to you?
William Wallace
What’s the best book you’ve read lately?
Presence, by Otto Scharmer
What’s your favorite food?
Lasagna
What is your most embarrassing moment?
Coming to a church service and discovering that I had a different shoe on each foot |
 |
|
|
|
 |
Carolyn Tippett, Elder, Women of Grace
Carolyn Tippett is a true giver and an intercessor who believes God for the extraordinary! Married for 21 years to Hughrey Tippett, she is the mother of five children, Hughrey Jr., Dwayne, MaRico, Michael and Dianne. She also has nine grandchildren and six great grand children.
Who is a hero to you?
My deceased sister, Ida Ballard Simon
What's the best book you've read lately?
God's Appointed Times
What's your favorite food?
Banana Smoothies
What is your most embarrassing moment?
I'm sure I've had them, but I can't think of one right now. |
|
|
|
Rufus Woods, Elder, Care Ministries
Rufus Woods is commonly known around Abundant Grace Fellowship as “The Demon-Buster,” because of his ministry of deliverance. He is a bold preacher and counselor. He is married to the lovely Dorothy “Ms Dottie” Woods, and together they have nine children and 16 grandchildren.
What are your primary spiritual gifts?
Deliverance, Discerning of Spirits and Counseling
Who is a hero to you?
Anyone who is a self-starter that can accomplish a particular event or goal
What’s your favorite food?
Chicken (I’m a preacher)
What is your most embarrassing moment?
Introducing my new wife by the name of my old wife to some very prestigious people. |
 |
|
|
|
| |
|