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)