GOD USES ORDINARY PEOPLE: THE STORY OF JOHN H. PARKS

Hackler Cemetery, located a mile from the Indian Mountain State Park, Jellico TN

During the late years of the nineteenth century a wave of revivals swept the nation and around the world.  In 1895, Rev. John H. Parks, Rev. Steve Bryant, Tom Moses, William Douglas among others began preaching a closer communion with God.

On 8/24/1906, the Church of God, Mountain Assembly was formed and Rev. A.J. Silcox was elected as the first Moderator of the church and Rev. J. H. Parks was elected as Assistant Moderator.  The Assembly is now a member of the Pentecostal Fellowship of North American. 

As in the days of the New Testament, enemies sprang up to persecute the church.  At one of the meetings that Rev. Parks was preaching, there was a group of men that came into the church with weapons (knives and pistols).  Their aim was to disrupt and end the meeting.  They threatened to remove Rev. Parks from the service and kill him.  He stood and moved to the pulpit to preach and rebuked the men in the Lord's name.  When he did this the Spirit of God caught him up against the ceiling of the church.  The men fell and managed to leave the church. 

1919 Assembly the first twelve Elders were chosen, J. H. Parks was among them.  This group was charged with planning the future course of the Church.

1925 Assembly Rev. Parks was again elected as an Elder.  This group was charged with looking after the interests of the Church.

1932 and 1936 Assembly Rev. J. H. Parks preached the Introductory Sermon to up that year's Assembly Meetings.  In the 1936 sermon He spoke about being excommunicated from the Baptist Church 30 years earlier and that he was glad that they had braved the storms of persecution and unbelief to that present day.  He continued telling of the many blessings the followers had received from God.