Faith Covenant Christian Church

11:00 a.m. Service

CALL TO WORSHIP

*INVOCATION

*CONGREGATIONAL HYMN

*RESPONSIVE READING

*PRAYER

SONG OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP

WELCOME / ANNOUNCEMENTS / FELLOWSHIP

OFFERTORY PRAYER AND OFFERING

*INTERCESSORY PRAYER

*PRAYER OF FAITH AND COMMITMENT

SPECIAL MUSIC

WORD OF GOD – Pastor Nokomis Yeldell, Jr.

*INVITATION TO SALVATION AND DISCIPLESHIP

PRAYER OF COMMITMENT

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I want to turn from my sins, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son. I believe He died for my sins and that You raised Him to life. I want Him to come into my heart and to take control of my life. I want to trust Jesus as my Savior and follow Him as my Lord from this day forward.

In Jesus’ Name, amen.

[You may join Faith Covenant Christian Church by: Baptism, Christian Experience,

Re-Dedication, Transfer Letter, or Watch Care]

HOLY COMMUNION (1st Sunday Of Every Month)

BENEDICTION

This Week's Message

Date: January 11, 2026

Preacher: Pastor Nokomis Yeldell, Jr.

Sermon: Sowing Seeds

Scripture: Matthew 13: 3-9

3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

Imagine standing at a crossroads, where one path leads to life and the other to destruction. This is where we all find ourselves when we encounter the truth of the Gospel. It’s not enough to just know the right path; we have to make a choice. Conversion is about more than simply recognizing what’s right—it’s about turning away from what’s wrong and choosing the way of life. Repentance and faith are not just steps we take; they’re the very heartbeat of true conversion.

Repentance is more than just feeling bad about our mistakes. It’s a deep, personal sorrow that leads us to turn away from the things that separate us from God. John Wesley said it best: “True repentance is a thorough change of heart and life; a universal change from all sin to all holiness.” It’s about recognizing that the old way of living, no matter how comfortable, leads nowhere good. It’s about letting go of the things that keep us chained to the past and stepping into the freedom God offers.

But repentance alone isn’t enough. We must also turn toward Christ in faith. Faith is more than just believing in our minds; it’s trusting Jesus with our whole hearts, knowing that only he can save us. Susanna Wesley (John’s mother and a woman of deep faith) once said, “There are two things to do about the gospel—believe it and behave it.” This faith isn’t just about agreement with the facts; it’s about leaning into God with everything we are, trusting him to transform us from the inside out.

Repentance and faith together are the keys that unlock the door to true conversion. We can’t fully turn to Christ without first turning away from the sin that holds us back. And we can’t truly repent without reaching out in faith to the One who offers us new life. If you’re at that crossroads today, take heart. God is offering you a new beginning. Turn away from the old life, and with faith, step into the new life that Christ has prepared for you. This is where the journey truly begins—where life, real life, takes root and flourishes forever.

SUNDAY SCHOOL NEXT WEEK

SUNDAY SCHOOL – January 18, 2026

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Prayer and Humility ~ Genesis 18:25–27; Luke 18:9–14; 1 John 5:14–15

Lesson Aims: After participating in this lesson,

each learner will be able to:

1. List the characteristics of prayer from the lesson's Scripture texts.

2. Discern which occasions call for bold prayer and which

occasions call for humble prayer.

3. State a way to ask God for good things while humbly

sharing the gospel with friends and neighbors.

Genesis 18:25-27 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?" 26 The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake." 27 Then Abraham spoke up again: "Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes,"

A Humble Negotiator Abraham has just hosted mysterious servants of God for a meal, which is when he first receives a promise that he and his wife will have a son (Gen. 18:1–15). That was the good part of the visit! But as the figures depart, they mention God’s intention to inspect reports of unchecked wickedness from the city of Sodom. Reports of the city’s wickedness have reached heaven, and God is sending His representatives to find out more. News of this worries Abraham, for he knows that his nephew and extended family has gone to live there (Gen. 13:12). Abraham approaches God, armed with humility and his knowledge of God’s character. In Genesis 18:25, Abraham calls out what he knows to be true of God: above all, God is just. He is an impartial “Judge,” and He always does what is right. Abraham can say these things because he has established a relationship with God; Abraham knows God. Since the events of Genesis 12, he’s been listening to Yahweh, walking with Him, and observing that God keeps His word, despite any apparent obstacle. Abraham knows that God is not like the false and unpredictable gods who are worshiped by surrounding people. Abraham’s God is near and has demonstrated faithfulness by entering a covenant relationship with Abraham and his family (Gen. 12:1–3; 15:18; 17:1–8). Because of this existing relationship, Abraham feels able to approach God with prayerful confidence. He knows that God does not treat “the righteous” and “the wicked” alike, and he asks God to remain consistent with His own faithful character (Gen 18:25). Abraham receives an immediate response in Genesis 18:26. God is willing to listen to Abraham—the man chosen to bring blessing to the earth. Abraham and his descendants must learn the just and right ways of God (Gen. 18:18–19). The Lord of heaven is not angry with Abraham’s appeal. He will continue the conversation until Abraham has secured a promise of God’s intention to spare Sodom, even if there are only ten righteous residents (Gen. 18:32). Abraham is accurate when he says that “the Judge of all the earth” will do what is right (Gen. 18:25). The text does not list the total population of Sodom, but fifty (or ten!) righteous souls would likely have been an incredibly small percentage. God has no desire to rain down fire and brimstone. From the beginning in Genesis 1–3, death and destruction are not part of God’s intentions for the world. Neither does God take the death of human beings lightly (Gen. 9:5–6). But what God does desire is repentance and righteousness. Maybe Abraham is a bit shocked that God engages in this negotiation at all. Abraham acknowledges his own boldness, admitting that he is nothing but “dust and ashes” (Gen. 18:27). But because he knows God’s character, Abraham is ideally placed to ask for more mercy and more faithfulness from God. This is not a prayer that God ignores.

Luke 18:9-14 9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' 13 "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' 14 "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

1 John 5:14-15 14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him.

Making Humble Prayers Thousands of years after Abraham’s conversation, his descendants are comfortable approaching God in prayer. The problem is that, many of them lack the humility of Abraham—they no longer think of themselves as simply dust and ashes (Gen. 18:27). So, Jesus tells a parable especially for those who are confident of their own righteousness (Luke 18:9). He uses the example of two men who go up to the temple to pray—one a Pharisee and one a tax collector (Luke 18:10). Jesus’ listeners would have immediately assumed the Pharisee is righteous. Pharisees were respected for their knowledge of Scripture and desire to display purity before God. Tax collectors, on the other hand, were considered traitors to the Jewish people. They worked for the oppressive Roman government, and the profession nearly always meant stealing from neighbors. The Pharisee stands by himself and thanks God that he is not like those who do evil (Luke 18:11). He boasts about fasting twice a week and tithing a tenth of all he has (Luke 18:12). We are meant to understand that the Pharisee considers himself extremely righteous, since he goes beyond the requirements of the Law to display outward signs of righteousness. The tax collector, however, stands at a distance from the place of God’s presence—with his eyes lowered in prayer. He beats his breast as a sign of repentance and humbly asks for God’s mercy (Luke 18:13). Jesus concludes His parable by pointing out a reversal of expectations. The tax collector, not the Pharisee, is the righteous one. He is the one who comes before God in humility, recognizing his position as a sinner in need of grace. The Pharisee’s prayer isn’t shaped by a desire to know God’s will. He wants to be heard and exalted before others. This same point appears in 1 John 5. Believers can approach God in humble confidence, just like Abraham did. At the same time, we are able to acknowledge God’s character when we bring requests that conform to His will (1 John 5:14). This does not mean that God replies with a yes to every request. But when we go before God, we know for certain that one request is granted: we are heard (v. 15). And the faithful God does not leave His people lacking anything to complete their mission for the kingdom.

About Us

OUR HISTORY

Faith Covenant Christian Church began on February 27, 2014 following a fellowship dinner for displaced former members of Crossroads Christian Church. Following that first meeting, we formed a Planning Committee and began meeting @ Best Western Hotel at Cedar Bluff.

On May 7, 2014, we adopted the name Faith Covenant Christian Church, with our foundational verse being Jeremiah 50:5. On June 22, 2014 an invitation to membership was given by Rev A. David Baxter and 21 people united with Faith Covenant Christian Church. Women’s and Men’s Ministries began having regular meetings. In September 2014, we began having Sunday School and Wednesday Night Bible Study. In November, Youth Ministry began. By the end of 2014, ten more people joined, three as new converts. We moved to 1027 Summer Wood Drive on April 1, 2015. Following a yearlong pastor search, Violet P. McRoy, was called as pastor on April 18, 2016. In March 2018, Pastor McRoy resigned as pastor, due to poor health and other personal issues. God quickly responded to our prayer-laden search and Nokomis Yeldell, Jr. was elected to the pastoral position on April 16, 2018. On Easter Sunday in 2025, we moved into a new sanctuary at 1021 Summer Wood Drive. In May, 2025, we celebrated our 11th church anniversary and are looking onward, upward and forward to serving God faithfully.

OUR PASTOR

Nokomis Yeldell, Jr.

Pastor Yeldell was born in Mt Pleasant, Texas, the third of five children of Nokomis and Dollie Pearl Yeldell. His father, also a Pastor for over 60 years, was called to Memphis, TN, where Nokomis Jr. grew up. Following graduation Pastor Yeldell attended Southwestern Christian College. He then served four years in the United States Air Force. He then decided to move to Knoxville, TN to further his education. After serving in leadership capacities in various ministries at Foster Chapel Baptist Church, Pastor Yeldell was called into the ministry in 2010.

Faith Covenant Christian Church represents Pastor Yeldell’s third and prayerfully final pastorate.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

FAITH COVENANT Christian Church accepts the Holy Scriptures as the revealed will of God, the all-sufficient rule of faith and practice, and holds to the following foundational truths:

1. The One True God

GOD IS… He is the eternally existent and immutable Father, Creator of the Universe and everything therein. He is the Lord of heaven and earth, and in Him we move and have our being. He is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth. Our Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is One God in three distinct persons: one in essence and purpose and distinct in personality and function. He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. He is the essence of love, goodness, faithfulness, kindness, mercy, grace, holiness, righteousness, and justice.

2. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the eternally existent Son of the living God, the fullness of the Godhead bodily, the image of the invisible God, and the firstborn of all creation. Through Him was made everything that is made—things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things are held together.

He was born of a virgin, and lived a sinless life. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God through His substitutionary death on the cross. He was resurrected bodily from the dead, and sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for us.

3. The Work of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the Counselor, the Spirit of Truth, who goes out from the Father and testifies about the Son. The Holy Spirit convicts the world of guilt in regards to sin and righteousness and judgment. He is given to all who believe, for Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit according to the promise of God the Father, who gives the Spirit without limit. The Holy Spirit lives with us and in us, bringing about the endowment of power for life and service, as well as the bestowment of the gifts and their uses in the work of the ministry. These gifts of the Holy Spirit, distributed according to His own will (Hebrews 2:4) include: prophecy, service, teaching, encouragement, contributing to the needs of others, leadership, mercy (Romans 12:6-8), message of wisdom, message of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, distinguishing between spirits (discernment), tongues, interpretation of tongues (1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

4. Salvation from the Penalty of Sin

By grace, through faith, we are saved from the penalty of sin. Mankind, though made in the image of God, has inherited through the first man, Adam, a sinful nature. By this nature, all mankind has sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and thereby, was alienated from God; dead in transgressions—gratifying the cravings, desires, and thoughts of the sinful nature; following the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air; stirring up wrath against himself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgment will be revealed. But God did not appoint mankind to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—and saved us by His grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

5. Salvation from the Power of Sin

By grace, through faith, we are saved from the power of sin. Having been crucified with Christ, we put to death the deeds of the body so that sin shall have no dominion over our mortal bodies. We have received the Spirit who is from God so that we may live by faith, understanding what God has freely given us to accomplish His purpose:

He has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our personal knowledge of Him as Savior and Lord.
He has given us His precious and magnificent promises by which we may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
He has given us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ, His church, may be built up.
He has given to us the manifestation of the Spirit through spiritual gifts for the common good.
He has given us the ministry of reconciliation: that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him.

6. Salvation from the Presence of Sin

By grace, through faith, we are saved from the presence of sin, for the Lord Jesus died and rose again, and will Himself come down from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God. The dead in Christ shall rise first, and we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. And there shall be a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth will pass away. And we shall dwell with God in the Holy City, the New Jerusalem. We shall be His people, and God Himself will be with us and be our God. He will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away.

7. The Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture

God’s Word is TRUTH. The Holy Scriptures (both the Old and New Testament) is the inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God. We are saved from the penalty, power, and presence of sin by grace through faith that comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, which testifies of Jesus Christ. By His Word, God has revealed Himself, His plan, His purpose, and His ways—so that we would come to Him to receive eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.

OUR MINISTRIES

Faith Covenant Christian Church operates under a FIVE FOLD Ministry concept

I EXALTATION

Deacons- Bro. Reggie Lindsey

Holy Sacraments And Sacred Days – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

Media- Sis. Tiaeshia Kelso, Bro. Anthony Lindsey

Music- Bro. Reggie Lindsey

Program – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

Public Relations – Bro. Reggie Lindsey, Sis. Sabrina T. Wilson

Pulpit – Pastor Nokomis Yeldell, Jr.

Reconciliation – Ministerial Council

Ushers – Sis. Teresa Farmer

II ENABLING

Benevolence – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

Food Pantry – Bro. Karl Townes

Hospitality – Sis. Teresa Farmer

Intercessory Prayer – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

Missions – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

III EDUCATION

Bible Study – Pastor Nokomis Yeldell, Jr.

Youth Church –

Sunday School – Bro. Reggie Lindsey

Supplemental Education And Training – Bro. Reggie Lindsey

Vacation Bible School –

IV EDIFICATION

Church-Wide Edification – Sis. Sabrina T. Wilson

Men’s Ministry – Bro. Karl Towns

Women’s Ministry (WICS) – Sis. Teresa Farmer

Youth – Sis. Earlenia Lindsey

V EQUIPPING

Administration – Sis. Sabrina T. Wilson

Finance – Sis. Teresa Farmer, Sis. Tiaeshia Kelso, Sis. Sabrina T. Wilson

Transportation – Bro. Karl Towns

Trustees – Bro. Karl Towns

Kitchen Ministry / Special Events – Sis. Teresa Farmer

Comfort And Care Ministry - Pastor Nokomis Yeldell, Jr.