Abundant Life UPC Raceland

About Us

Our Mission

Abundant Life UPC is a house of worship & Prayer. When we gather together in the House of the Lord, we come to worship, pray and hear from the Lord through ministry of God’s word. We allow the spirit of God to move in our services. We believe Jesus heals and works miracles! Our church believes the Apostles’ Doctrine as preached and taught in the New Testament. Abundant Life UPC has answered the call of God to take the Gospel to the whole world. The whole world begins with our local community and reaches many countries around the world. As an affiliated church with the UPCI, we accept the challenge and theme of the UPCI; the Whole Gospel to the Whole World by the Whole Church. We believe in Evangelism (preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ) and education of the local congregation with the doctrines of the Bible and edifying of the congregation. Our assembly welcomes people to experience Jesus!

At Abundant Life UPC, our doors are wide open to people from all backgrounds, regardless of where they are on their spiritual journey. We are a life-giving, multicultural church. Our goal is to infuse life and God’s love into families through engaging, powerful worship services that offer biblical truth in relevant, practical ways.

Our passion is to provide a place where people can have a life-changing experience with God.

So, if you are still just checking out the “church scene” and investigating the claims of Jesus Christ, thank you for allowing us to help you in your search. Or, if you are a committed Christ-follower who wants to sink the roots of your faith even deeper, you can find a home here.

Here you will find information concerning our church and its ministries. We hope you find your time spent here a blessing. Our church is a warm and loving church, and we want you to feel comfortable and at liberty to call on us for anything you need. Feel free to browse through the various areas of our website and learn about our fellowship.

If you are considering a new place of worship or a relocation to our area, we would love to have you be our guest.

When you visit our church, you will find:

  • A caring congregation that will gladly welcome you

  • Preaching/teaching that is centered on the Word of God

  • Ministries to meet the spiritual needs of every age

Our Ministry Team

Pastor Michael & Sheila Cook

Michael Cook was about 4 years old when his mother received the baptism of the Holy Ghost, and his family attended a Pentecostal Church.  One of his earliest memories was the family gatherings when his maternal grandmother would play the piano and his mother’s six sisters would sing together.  Following their singing, Michael at the age of 6 would stand on a box or a chair and preach, with conviction, the only verse he had memorized – ACTS 2:38!  He obeyed the command of that verse on February 13, 1977, and received the Holy Spirt baptism in August 1977.  Growing up he remained in his home church feeling the call of God throughout High School and served in several capacities of ministry until he graduated from High School and left to attend Apostolic Bible College in Memphis, TN, eventually earning a MA in Religious Education.

  Returning home to assist his childhood pastor, he acknowledged his call to preach December 31, 1986.  He continued to serve his local church teaching Sunday School, youth leader and Nursing Home ministry and itinerant ministry to local churches in his district.  During this time, he met and eventually married Sheila Dunn (1992).  While in Anderson, Indiana, Michael and Sheila were instrumental in starting jail and prison ministries.  Six years later they would move to Lake Charles, LA, under the ministry of the Treece family (Sheila’s childhood pastor) where Brother Cook studied Biblical Greek and Hebrew. 

The next several years would bring this couple into pastoring churches that would provide training for personal ministry and enable them to work with individuals on several levels (spiritual, mental and physical).  Michael has worked as a Chaplain at a rescue mission (homeless shelters).  He became an Ordained Minister in Louisiana on March 23,2001.  He eventually earned his ThD through Biblical Apostolic University September 21, 2011, and he received his MA in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in 2014.  He currently is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor serving as a Licensed Mental Health Provider.  He has mental health experience working with Cognitive and Behavioral issues serving children, youth, adult individual and couples counseling.  He also has experience helping individuals dealing with issues concerning relationships, depression, anxiety, mood disorders and other mental health diagnosis related disorders, various stressors complicated by low SES and complicated grief issues.

 

 

First Lady

Sheila (Dunn) Cook beautiful and compassionate wife of the pastor and mother of two awesome adult children.  Sheila comes from a strong Pentecostal heritage of preachers.  Her paternal grandparents were the planters of several churches in Louisiana.  She has several aunts, uncles and cousins who were pastors and ministers.  She was raised in the Apostolic Pentecostal way from an infant and grew up under the ministry of Bishop M. D. Treece family.  She received the baptism of the Holy Ghost on October 31, 1979.  She loved to serve in any capacity that she was asked to take part in at her home church.   She helped with bus ministry, taught Sunday School, and sang in the choir.  Later during their time at Apostolic Temple, she organized their very first Vacation Bible School.  Sheila received her undergraduate degree in accounting on from McNeese State University.  She earned her MA in Accounting through Liberty University on September 14, 2017. 

Together this team works the work of ministry providing safety, confidentiality and support to individuals while encouraging growth and equipping individuals spiritually and mentally to fight a good fight of faith. 

Pastor Emeritus Anthony & Sis.Mary Jane Keaton

Anthony W. Keaton has been Pastor of Abundant Life UPC for 37 years.   He has been married to Mary Jane Saunders Keaton for almost 47 years.  Their daughter Natalie is a registered nurse and is married to Kyle Martin. 

 

Pastor Keaton has a Doctorate of Theology with Biblical Apostolic University.  Pastor Keaton has held credentials with the United Pentecostal Church International since 1979.  He has held many positions with the UPCI.  Currently he is an Honorary Presbyter for the Kentucky District of the UPCI and serves as the Minister of Comfort for the Kentucky District.

Pastor Keaton has been on Missions Trips to Costa Rica, Ecuador, Israel, and Italy.  

 

He has authored Is God A Respecter Of Persons and has the intentions to publish more books.  Pastor Keaton is a respected citizen of Greenup County, Kentucky.  He has served on the Parks & Recreation Committee for the city of Flatwoods and has been privileged to pray a Raceland City Council Meetings!

Our Departments

Abundant Life UPC has 7 departments that help serve our congregation and community.  All of our department leaders are dedicated individuals who have a genuine desire to see children, youth, and adults of our congregation and community to be ministered to.

 Children’s Ministry – This department serves children from ages 4 – 11. Children’s Ministry is responsible for Vacation Bible School, Activities, Fund Raising for their department. 

Fellowship – This department serves our whole congregation with regular activities that are open to our community.  Fellowship oversees our yearly Food Drives for needy families.  This department is also responsible in honoring our Pastor & his wife.

Outreach – This department is responsible for Guest Follow-up, monthly Outreach projects, ministry to our congregation’s shut-ins. 

Service Team – This department oversees and schedules our Ushers, Greeter, Service Leaders, Praise Singers, Musicians, Sound Room Technicians and several other positions that are needed to be a blessing to the local congregation and the visitors to our church services.

 Sunday School – We are very thankful our assembly is still conducting 2 services on Sunday; a morning and evening service.  Our morning service is for the purpose of educating our Children, Youth, and Adults in the precious Word of God.  We have dedicated Teachers to instruct the 5 different age groups (Toddler [1-3], Beginner [4-7], Primary [8-11], Youth [12-17], and Adult [18 & older].   Most of our Teachers have been certified as Sunday School Teachers with the UPCI.

World Missions – Our World Missions program involves Global Missionaries, KY Missions, and several endorsed projects of the UPCI.  Not only do we faithfully support each Missions effort with finances but we also support with our prayers.  Our World Missions also financially supports several annual UPCI fund drives (Save Our Children, Move the Mission, Christmas for Christ, Mothers’ Memorial).  Through out the year there are special offerings received for other worthy causes.

Youth – Our Youth Department serves our Youth ages 18–30 as long as they have never married.  Our Youth are involves Sectional, State-wide, and National events.  We offer a safe place for young people of our community to get involved with.

 

What We Believe

A Solid Foundation –

GOD

According to scripture there is one God, who is Spirit, infinitely perfect, eternally existent who has employed various manifestations throughout history in relation to humanity, such as the Father in creation, the Son in redemption, and the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (Deuteronomy 6:4, John 4:24, I Timothy 3:16).

THE BIBLE

We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, a divine revelation from God to man. We accept he Scriptures as the final authority in all matters of faith and conduct (II Timothy 3:16).

JESUS CHRIST

Jesus Christ is true God and true man, having been conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died on the Cross, the complete and final sacrifice for our sins according to the Scriptures. Further, He arose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, where at the right hand (signifying power) of the Majesty on High, He is now our High Priest and Advocate (Hebrews 1:3).

THE HOLY SPIRIT

We believe that the Holy Spirit is a active and available in the world today and that the baptism of the Holy Spirit, with its accompanying gifts, is the privilege of all New Testament believers (John 7:39).

MAN

Man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin through disobedience and is therefore lost, separated and only through New Birth obedience can salvation and spiritual life be obtained (John 3:5).

SALVATION

The sacrifice, shed blood and resurrection of Jesus Christ provide the only grounds for justification and salvation for all who believe. And those who act upon this plan through faith by applying what Peter stated on the Day of Pentecost can become the children of God (Acts 2:38; I Corinthians 15).

THE CHURCH

We believe the Church has been “called out” of the world to be a habitation of God through the Spirit. As the body of Christ on Earth, the Church offers hope to mankind. The Church is one body made up of many members, diverse in their gifts and calling. (I Corinthians 12:27).

THE SECOND COMING

We believe in the return of Jesus Christ to receive His bride, The Church, unto Himself. At His coming, we believe the dead in Christ will be resurrected from the grave. His imminent return is out hope and has a vital bearing on the personal life and service of the believer. (I Corinthians 15:50-57)

Do you have any questions about what we believe? Are you searching for Truth in your life? Let us help you understand God’s plan for your life through the Word. If you’re interested in receiving a bible study please fill out the form below.