Abounding Life Church of God In Christ

Historical Highlights

1981

• Elder James Adams called to Pastorship
• Meetings held at Adams (Louis), Thompson, and Weathington homes
• First worship service held at Phoenix Multi-Purpose Center, Phoenix, Illinois
• Church is named Abounding Life
• 9:00AM Weekday Morning Prayer established; held at the homes of Father & Mother Adams, Sister Mariah Owens, and David Thompson’s Beauty & Barber Shop

October 1981 – October 1982

• All worship services held at Today & Tomorrow Nursery, Harvey, Illinois
• 1st Year Anniversary Service (October 17, 1982)

October 1982 – October 1983

• God reveals He will bless Abounding Life with an edifice.
• Worship services moved to Snoopy’s Day Care Center, Harvey, Illinois
• 2nd Year Anniversary Revival (October 9 – 14, 1983)

October 1983 – October 1984

• Last worship service at Snoopy’s Day Care Center; Purple Cat given to Pastor Adams as keepsake
• First worship service is held at 14615 S. Mozart, Posen, Illinois (November 27, 1983).
• Bishop Louis H. Ford, First Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Churches of God In Christ International dedicates Abounding Life (January 15, 1984).
• 3rd Year Anniversary Revival (October 14 – 19, 1984)

October 1984 – October 1985

• 4th Year Anniversary Revival (October 13 – 18, 1985)

October 1985 – October 1986

• “The Anointing of God, the Power of God, the Strength of God, the Authority of

God, and the Wisdom of God”; the Lord reveals these powerful words to Pastor

• Adams (February 1986).
• 5th Year Anniversary Revival (October 12 – 17, 1986)

October 1986 – October 1987

• Abounding Life pays off mortgage (March 5, 1987)
• 6th Year Anniversary Revival (October 11 – 16, 1987)

October 1987 – October 1988

• 7th Year Anniversary Revival (October 9 – 14, 1988)

October 1988 – October 1989

• Abounding Life purchases 18 land lots (April 21, 1989).
• Lots landscaped by Abounding Life men and dedicated as “Canaan Land” (September 16, 1989)
• 8th Year Anniversary Revival (October 15 – 20, 1989)

October 1989 – October 1990

• 8:00AM Early Morning Sunday Service established (September 18, 1990)
• 9th Year Anniversary Revival (October 14 – 19, 1990)

October 1990 – October 1991

• 10th Year Anniversary Revival (October 13 – 18, 1991)

October 1991 – October 1992

• Blue Prints are created for the New Abounding Life edifice.
• 11th Year Anniversary Revival (October 11 – 16, 1992)

October 1992 – October 1993

• Fire damages church edifice (October 11, 1993); prayer held in church parking lot
• 12th Year Anniversary Revival postponed because of fire; service held at Posen
• Elementary School, Posen, Illinois (October 15, 1993)

 October 1993 – October 1994

• 13th Year Anniversary Revival (October 9 – 14, 1994)

October 1994 – October 1995

• 14th Year Anniversary Revival (October 8 – 13, 1995)

October 1995 – October 1996

• 15th Year Anniversary Revival (October 13 – 18, 1996)

October 1996 – October 1997

• 16th Year Anniversary Revival (October 12 – 17, 1997)

October 1997 – October 1998

• 17th Year Anniversary Revival (October 11 – 16, 1998)

October 1998 – October 1999

• Abounding Life Choir records first CD entitled, Pastor James R. Adams and the Abounding Life C.O.G.I.C. Choir Victory and Praise Volume I.
• Abounding Life travels to London, England; Pastor Adams and choir perform in concert.
• 18TH Year Anniversary Revival (October 10 – 15, 1999)

October 1999 – October 2000

• Abounding Life travels to Osaka and Kobe, Japan for outreach work; Pastor Adams and choir perform in concert.
• 19th Year Anniversary Revival (October 8 – 13, 2000)

October 2000 – October 2001

• Community Prayer & Fish Fry (September 2001); service held to pray for our nation
• 20th Year Anniversary Revival (October 14 – 19, 2001)

October 2001 – October 2002

• “Times of Refreshing” written by Pastor Adams
• Community Prayer & Fish Fry
• 21st Year Anniversary Revival (October 13 – 18, 2002)

October 2002 – October 2003

• “We Sing & Praise the Lord” written by Pastor Adams
• 22nd Year Anniversary Revival (October 12 – 17, 2003)

October 2003 – October 2004

• Revised Blue Prints are created for the New Abounding Life edifice.
• Abounding Life hosts visitors from Osaka, Japan (June 2004).
• Community Prayer & Fish Fry (June 2004); Mayor of Posen and Posen Village officials in attendance
• 23rd Year Anniversary Revival (October 10 – 15, 2004)

October 2004 – October 2005

• Abounding Life breaks ground for new edifice on December 19, 2004.
• Abounding Life acquires additional land with demolition of 2 buildings.
• Abounding Life makes 2nd visit to Japan for outreach work; Pastor Adams and choir ensemble perform in concert.
• Community Prayer & Fish Fry (July 2005); hosted by Ray/Dawson Architects, Myler Builders, and Audio Ethics; more than 2000 in attendance
• Abounding Life gives support to Hurricane Katrina victims (September 2005).
• God’s awesome healing power is manifested when Ratasha Adams-Mays is made whole on September 7, 2005.
• 24th Year Anniversary Revival (October 9 – 16, 2005)

 October 2005 - October 2006

• “And the iron did swim, yes it did!” – The Lord gives Pastor Adams this anointed message to encourage His people (Text taken from II Kings 6:6).
• Construction of the new edifice officially begins March 16, 2006 with the excavation of “Canaan Land”!!
• "It's Alright" written by Pastor Adams
• "It is Good to Praise the Lord" written by Pastor Adams
• 25th Year Anniversary Revival (October 8 – 15, 2006)

October 2006 – October 2007

• A beautiful, 10 foot-high cross on a 52 foot-high steeple is placed atop the new edifice during a special ceremony in July 2005. Church members, community members and local media are present

Concrete cutting in pulpit of new edifice is completed to install a sealed time capsule; the capsule contains a listing of contents, a Holy Bible (King James Version), the December 2004 Groundbreaking Service program, 2006-2007 Church Member Directory, and the church history document for the Abounding Life Church of God In Christ (1981 through 2007).

• 26th Year Anniversary Revival (October 14 – 21, 2007)

October 2007 - October 2008

• The Vision Unfolds... Habakkuk 2:3. Abounding Life opens its newly-constructed worship facility on Sunday, November 25, 2007. Approximately 1500 church members, community members, dignitaries, and well-wishers are present.
• The Seal of the Church of God In Christ is installed in the main foyer of the new edifice (August 2008).
• 27th Year Anniversary Revival (October 12 - 19, 2008)

October 2008 – October 2009

• Abounding Life’s original edifice (“The Chapel”) receives a new steeple and cross.
• Abounding Life records its 2nd CD entitled, Pastor James R. Adams & The Abounding Life Mass Choir Live In Chicago.
• Abounding Life hosts the First Jurisdiction of Illinois’ 53rd Annual State Holy Convocation.
• 28th Year Anniversary Revival (October 11 – 18, 2009)

October 2009 – October 2010

• Abounding Life celebrates its CD single entitled, Times of Refreshing with a CD release concert on September 25, 2010.
• 29th Year Anniversary Revival (October 10 – 17, 2010)

October 2010 - October 2011

• The full 13 -track, Times of Refreshing CD is officially released to the public on July 12, 2011.
• Abounding Life hosts the First Jurisdiction of Illinois' 55th Annual State Holy Convocation.
• Times of Refreshing appears on Billboard's Top 25 Gospel Album, chart for 15 consecutive weeks (peaking at #4).
• 30th Year Anniversary Revival (October 9 - 16, 2011)

October 2011 - October 2012

• Times of Refreshing CD enjoys continued success with quality airtime and interview promos; Pastor Adams is featured in radio interviews across the nation.
• Abounding Life hosts the first Jurisdiction of Illinois' 56th Annual State Holy Convocation.
• Bishop Brandon Porter, Memphis Tenn., Bishop Roger Jones, Flint Michigan, Mother Willie Mae Rivers, International General Supervisor of Women, and Bishop Charles Edward Blake, Presiding Bishop of the Churches of God in Christ International, visited Abounding Life for the first time.
• African -American Radio pioneer Walt "Baby" Love heavily promotes Times of Refreshing CD on his weekly syndicated radio broadcasts; Love visits Abounding Life and ministers to the church body on August 26, 2012
• Abounding Life travels to Detroit, Mi at the invitation of  Bishop PA. Brooks, 1st Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Churches of God in Christ International.
• 31st Year Anniversary Revival (October 14 - 21, 2012)

October 2012 - October 2013

• Abounding Life suffers the great loss of it's Founder and Pastor, Elder James R. Adams on January 28, 2013.
• Abounding Life hosts the First Jurisdiction of Illinois 58th Annual State Holy Convocation.
• Abounding Life Celebrates it's 32nd year Anniversary Revival (October 13-20, 2013)

October 2013 - October 2014

• Abounding Life hosts the First Jurisdiction of Illinois 59th Annual State Holy Convocation
• Abounding Life celebrates it's 33rd Year Anniversary Revival (October 12 - 19, 2014)
• Bishop Ocie Booker appoints  Elder Micah J. Lewis as interim Pastor of Abounding Life for six-month trial period.

October 2014 - October 2015

• Abounding Life celebrates it's 34th Annual Revival/Anniversary Service (October 11-18, 2015)

October 2015 - October 2016

• 35th Year Anniversary Revival/Anniversary Service (October 9-16, 2016)
• Elder Melford Cartwright serves as Pastor of Abounding Life from November 2015 to August 2017.

October 2016 - October 2017

• Abounding Life hosts the First Jurisdiction of Illinois' 61st Annual State Holy Convocation.
• Bishop Ocie Booker appoints Kendrick Harris as Youth President of Abounding Life (August 2017)
• Bishop Ocie Booker appoints Minister John Purnell as Youth Pastor of Abounding Life (September 2017)
• 36th year Anniversary Revival Service (October 8-15, 2017)

October 2017 - October 2018

• Bishop Ocie Booker Appoints Zorriante Brown as Minister of Music (March 2018)
• Bishop Ocie Booker appoints Deacon Short as Chairman of Men's Fellowship (June 2018)
• 37th Year Anniversary Revival Service (October 14-21,2018)

October 2018 - October 2019

• 38th Anniversary Revival (October 2019)
• District 143 1/2 hosted their 8th grade graduation at Abounding Life
• First Jurisdiction Illinois - 63rd Holy Convocation (August 2017)
• Abounding Life COGIC hosts First Jurisdiction Illinois 63rd Holy Convocation (August 2017)