WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY'

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WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY'

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Title: WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY'

1
WHO ARE THESE THAT FLY.

Clinton E. McGriff

2
Introduction

This is to inform you about the history, vision,
function and objectives of The Church of God, and
The Church of Prophecy Markers Association
(C.P.M.A.), which includes the Wings of Prophecy,
the White Angel Fleet.
My name is Clinton E. McGriff, former White Angel
Fleet pilot, an ordained Bishop also third
generation Church of God on my Mothers side.
During the same year, 1952, of Prophecy was
added to the Church of God, I too was added by
covenant.
.

3
Topics of Discussion

HISTORY OF The Church of God.
HISTORY OF THE C.P.M.A.
MAKING THE VISION PLAIN
FUNCTION AND OBJECTIVE of The Church of God
WINGS OF PROPHECY/WHITE ANGEL FLEET
MEMORIES OF CLINTON E. McGRIFF

4
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF GOD
5

The Church of God was established in about A.D.
28
by Jesus Christ on Hurn Hattin (Mark 312-15).
It was endued with power on the Day of Pentecost,
but was in operation prior to this point in time.

The true Church plunged into the Dark Ages on
June 14, 325
with the signing of the Nicene Creed
and remained in darkness for 1,578 years.

From A.D. 325 to 1903, God was not asleep!
He began revealing the truth to men once again
Martin Lutherjustification by faith
John Wesleysanctification
Dr. Albert Simpsondivine healing, to name a few.

On June 13, 1903,
The Church of God arose from darkness (as
prophesied in Isaiah 601-5)
in Cherokee, County, North Carolina.

In 1923, a disruption caused a split in the
Church,
resulting in two groups
both calling themselves the Church of God.

In 1933, God gave a Banner (Psalms 603,4) to His
Church.

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12

On May 2, 1952,
of Prophecy
was added to the name Church of God.

In 1990, the Church of God of Prophecy departed
from theocratic government.
Through the Holy Ghost, God called for a Solemn
Assembly to be
held July 23-25, 1993.

On July 24th,
the Holy Ghost gave direction to separate
ourselves from the apostasy of the past three
years,
and to continue truly as The Church of God,
clearly designating
Robert J. Pruitt as the General Overseer.

The Church of God thus returned to the true
theocracy.
This constituted,
not a new organization,
but the reorganization of The Church of God
as the true theocracy of God,
the exclusive Body of Christ

Which was set in order by Christ
and functioned in theocratic order until A.D.
325

Which arose from the Dark Ages on June 13, 1903

Which continued true to God in faith and
practice, government and discipline following
the 1923 disruption

Which is doing likewise since the similar
disruption in 1993.

In 2001, God gave a banner to His Church
to replace the banner that was retired.
(CPMA Leaders Handbook pgs 22,23)

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22
Pictures of Old and New Banner.
23
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF PROPHECY
MARKERS ASSOCIATION (C.P.M.A.)
24

A. J. Tomlinson said, I am so enthused about the
mighty vision I have of the work
that will be done by the Church of Prophecy
Marker Association

I earnestly hope the Questions and Subjects
Committee will be interested to give this subject
their attention and not only consider it
themselves

but bring it to the Assembly in regular order to
give a chance for the multitudes to give it
careful consideration,
since it has often been said that,
..in the multitude of counselors there is
safety (Proverbs 1114).

The Questions and Subjects Committee stated in
response,
We heartily agree with a section of the General
Overseers Annual Address
concerning the Marker Association as an
auxiliary.

We recommend that this Assembly consider and
adopt it as an auxiliary.
Further development to be worked out by the
Association
(Bible Training Institute, Term 1 Box,
Auxiliaries, lesson 4).

Perhaps these things were not so necessary when
the Church was in its infancy
however, these helps and governments were to be
revealed at the appointed time.

On October 20, 1941 at 1150 A.M.
the Church of Prophecy Marker Association
was accepted by the Church of God as an auxiliary
by unanimous agreement as recommended by the
Questions and Subjects Committee.

Its stated purpose was to locate,
mark,
beautify and
maintain places of biblical interest and other
prominent places in the world
in connection with the Church of God of the
Bible.

It was also stated that further developments in
the auxiliary were to be worked out later.

During the 38th General Assembly in 1943,
General Overseer A. J. Tomlinson appointed a
General Secretary to the CPMA.
The man chosen for the job was Grady R. Kent.

The auxiliary used various methods to raise funds
such as membership fees,
special offerings,
and the sale of Eternity Bonds, instituted in
1942.

Before long, individual states were donating
large sums of money to help accelerate projects,
including building more markers at Fields of the
Wood
(dedicated September 7, 1941),

Beautification and preservation of the First
Assembly grounds
(dedicated September 7, 1942),
And the investment in other markers that would be
placed as God directed.

Offerings and membership funds now collected help
to
maintain and beautify our General Headquarters
properties
and keep them clean.

The place where we assemble and worship the Lord
is a marker unto Him!

HE SAW IT TOO!

One Sunday morning, after the 35th General
Assembly in 1940 had convened,

Grady R. Kent
(pastor of the Cleveland, Tennessee church)
preached a prophetic sermon on the church and the
Fields of the Wood,
pointing to Fields of the Wood as the site
referred to by Brother Tomlinson in his Assembly
sermon,

Brother Tomlinson questioned Pastor Kent,
Do you know what you are preaching?
The question concerned Kent and he hardly knew
what to say,
but stammered nervously, I.. Hope I do.

I wonder if you know what you are preaching.
Tomlinson said again, staring into the eyes of
the disturbed preacher.
I..think..I doBrother Tomlinson, Kent managed
to say.

The pastor had envisioned extraordinary thing
occurring around Fields of the Wood,
but when he reached home that day
he was greatly downhearted.

When the telephone rang and Brother Tomlinson
called him to the office for a conference,
cautioning him to have his dinner before he left
home,

Pastor Kent felt like the world was falling
around him.
Yet he continued to hold fast to what he believed
God had shown him.

Instead of disapproval and criticism,
the afternoon conference brought great ease, joy
and encouragement, along with great fervor and
zeal
(Americas Unusual Spot, pg 38).

A. J. Tomlinson realized that, as men of God
sought for the whole truth concerning the Church,
God would provide the revelation with it.

Grady Kent was just one of the numerous men in
our past who received divine revelation of the
Body of Christ.

We can see in history what it was like in the
early days of the Church.
God was pouring out divine revelation and the
Church was receiving divine direction from His
Word.

The Revelation of the Church of God did not
usually come all at once.
Even today, God continues to show us more and
more about His Church through the Bible.

We have much to be thankful for today-God is
still giving divine revelation!
A. J. Tomlinson saw it
Grady Kent saw it
We, in the church today see it
And God will use us to help others see it.

Thank God for divine revelation!
Thank God for the Great Church of God.
(CPMA Leaders Handbook, pgs 7,8,11,12)

54
MAKING THE VISION PLAIN
55

And to make all men see what is the fellowship
of the mystery (Eph 39)

And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said,
Surely the LORD is in this place and I knew it
not. And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful
is this place! This is none other but the house
of god, and this is the gate of heaven. And
Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the
stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it
up for a pillar(Gen. 281-18)

And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the
ark of the LORD your God into the midst of
Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone
upon his shoulder, according unto the number of
the tribes of the children of Israel

That this may be a sign among you, that when your
children ask their fathers in time to come,
saying, What mean ye by these stones?
Then ye shalt answer them, That the waters of
Jordan were cut off before the ark of the
covenant of the LORD when it passed over Jordan,
the waters of Jordan were cut off

and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the
children of Israel for ever (Josh. 45-7).

From the time Jacob received his dream of the
house of God
and marked the place with a stone, until the time
the church in the wilderness crossed Jordan,
the Marking program has been telling the story of
the Church.
These markers are symbols for generations to come
that God always does the work.

The entire written vision program of the last
days Church
was typified upon Mount Ebal by Joshua and Israel

Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of
Israel in mount Ebal,
As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the
children of Israel,
as it is written in the book of the law of Moses,
an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath
lift up any iron
and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the
LORD. And sacrificed peace offerings. And he
wrote in the presence of the children of Israel
(Josh. 830-32).

Further biblical emphasis for a marking program
is clearly seen in

Habakkuk 22,3 And the LORD answered me, and
said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon
tables, that he may run that readeth it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but
at the end it shall speak, and not lie though it
tarry, wait for it because it will surely come,
it will not tarry.

In order for people to understand the reason for
the marking program,
it is necessary for people to understand the
definition of the word
mark in the Bible.

It means to show plainly, or make clear.
When summed up, it proves to be Gods plan for
pointing out
and calling attention to His divine principles
and purposes.

When people can see this,
they will better understand that the support they
are giving this auxiliary
is being used for the cause of finishing up the
work of the Lord.
(CPMA Leaders Handbook, pgs 9,10,11)

68
FUNCTION AND OBJECTIVE
69

What is the function of this auxiliary today?
To build, beautify, and maintain
Church Markers local churches,
State/National/General Headquarters buildings and
properties.
To keep the vision of the church as revealed to
A. J. Tomlinson June 13, 1903 clear in the minds
of our people.

To make all men see (Eph. 39)
the mystery of The Church of God.
To be living markers or testaments of Jesus
Christ and promote the perfection of the Church
..his wife hath made herself ready (Rev. 197).

To preach and teach the history, purpose, and
doctrine of the past, present, and future.
To boost CPMA membership and organize fundraising
plans to promote monthly offerings.

The CPMA has proven to be a great blessing to the
Church in helping her draw closer to fulfilling
the Great Commission.
We can see that this auxiliary has been given by
God to help direct the Church in accomplishing
the intended goal - -
the perfection of the saints.

Since God has given this auxiliary to us,
its success depends upon the dedication,
and inspiration of those responsible for it.

The challenge for our CPMA leaders is
to become truly inspired with an anointed plan
to accomplish Gods divine purpose.

We must press toward perfection.

An old slogan for us to considers is,
Being ready for the Lords return is have the
work all done.
(CPMA Leaders Handbook, Pgs 7-12,22,23)

A NOTE AND WARNING CONCERNING LEADERS,
PAST
PRESENT AND
FUTURE

Never place your confidence in Man,
man may fail but God never fails.
No matter how the Lord uses a person, or what
GOOD that person has done,
or how the Church was blessed by what they may
have done.
We must ever be on guard for our souls sake
else one could be exalted, and lose his own soul.

The Church of God is going to perfection.
Align yourself to its doctrine.
Dont try to align the Church
to your own imaginations.

I Corinthians 1436,37, What? Came the word of
God out from you? Or came it unto you only?
If any man think himself to be a prophet, or
spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things
that I write unto you are the commandments of the
Lord.

Galatians 63, For is a man think himself to be
something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth
himself.

Matthew 1626, For what is a man profited, if he
shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul?

83
WINGS OF PROPHECYWHITE ANGEL FLEET

From the Memory of
Clinton E. McGriff

During the 1940s
Bro. Kent and his zealous workers would drive
around towns
preaching, teaching, promoting the Church of God,
and the CPMA program,

using loud speakers on top of their little White
Nash Rambler Station Wagon

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87

The Vision Speaks,
printed on its sides along with the CPMA logo,
CPMA WINGS OF PROPHECY,

This logo was also a patch worn on the sleeve of
the pilots uniform.

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90

They also sold Eternity Bonds to raise the
necessary funds to promote the CPMA program, the
Fields of the Wood and the Wings of Prophecy.

They passed out papers showing the need for
contributions for the Wings of Prophecy urging
those to give,
To Develop Mighty Airplane Program

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93

Fliers were passed out in the towns where
Revivals were to be held
announcing EZEKIELS CHERUBIMS at AIRPORT
promoting an Air Show
while Tracts (the word of God) were being dropped
from the Wings of Prophecy airplanes from the air.

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95

Isaiah 608, Who are these that fly as a cloud,
and as the doves to their windows?

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98

It was a beautiful sight to see the tracts as
unto a colorful ribbon flowing down
and then disbursing as rain drops in all
directions as the wind carried them.

99
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100

These Airplanes were painted White
and on both sides of the cowling a Trumpet
preceded the words,
A BIRD OF THE AIR which circled the Church Flag
(and scripture reference Psalms 604).

101

The pilots name, C.P.M.A. and his position or
where they were from was printed on the doors.
Printed on the fuselage were the WINGS OF
PROPHECY.
The scripture references
Ecc. 1020, Isa. 608, and Rev. 14.6 were also
printed on the airplane.

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103

In 1948, Brothers Grady R. Kent, and D. H.
Queener visited our local church in Chicago, IL.
Promoting CPMA, the Fields of the Wood, and the
White Angel Fleet.
During that service Bro. Kent told me that maybe
someday I might be able to become a White Angel
Fleet Pilot.

104

At the ripe old age of 9 year old,
I became inspired and excited about the CPMA
program and the White Angel Fleet. (especially
the flying part)
To be a White Angel Fleet Pilot was indelibly
printed in my mind.

105

A few months before turning 13,
I began working at the Harlem Airport in Oak
Lawn, IL.,
I was offered flying lessons instead of being
paid a salary
(flying lesson were 12.50 an hour with an
instructor and 7.50 an hour solo).

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109

I made my solo flight on my 16th birthday
and received my Pilot License on my 17th
birthday,
(that was before I knew how to drive a car or
have a drivers license).
My parents thought it to dangerous to drive.

110

My mother once wrote
The most dangerous thing about flying is the
ride to the airport.

111

My Mother was my first passenger, and my Father
the second
this was the first airplane ride in their life.

112

June 16, 1957,
I enlisted in the U. S. Air Force,
after basic training and being trained as an
Aircraft Electrician,
my first assignment was Greenville, MS..

113

My prayer was answered
I was stationed where there was a church,
even though I wanted it to be somewhere in
Europe,
but God knew the future, that is why we should
also pray
Not my will, but thine be done.

114

To be a White Angel Pilot was soon to be a
reality.
Also later, my other hearts desires were to be
answered.
Its good to be in the Lords will.

115

Immediately upon arriving in Greenville, MS.,
I began to look for the Church of God,
not finding it in the phone directory or anywhere
else,
I began walking down the side streets and asking
everyone I met.

116

About a few blocks from downtown (which wasnt
very large)
there in all its Glory was the Church Flag
brightly adorning a house window.
This was the parsonage for the Church of God.
I had found the Church of God.

117

The Deacon of the Church, Bro. Andrew Cook,
and his Brother James, also a pilot,
was in charge of the Mississippi State White
Angel Fleet Airplane.

118

I was now a White Angel Fleet Pilot.

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120

The Air Force (with the help of God)
allowed my time off to fly to the General
Assembly, State Conventions,
and drop Tracts at Revivals.

121

I remember a special Crusade (one of two to be
held) was at Bessemer, AL.,
where I met the General Overseer, Bishop M. A.
Tomlinson,
and Bro. Harry Lee Moore,
(Bro. Moore was Bro. Tomlinsons personal pilot,
flying to State and National Conventions or
whatever function the General Overseer needed to
attend).

122

Pilots representing various States flew in for
this Crusade.
It was a beautiful sight to see the White Angel
Fleet,
all with uniform paint, lettering and scriptures
lined up at the airport.

123

The Alabama folks met us at the airport and
carried us to the State Headquarters
in a parade of cars with joy and excitement,
honking horns, waving Church Flags and praising
the Lord.

124

Another memory and privilege,
I was finally flying with Bishop D. H. Queener.

125

Each day before and during a Revival in
Greenville, MS.,
Bro Queener and I would meet at the airport.
Brother Queener flew his Super Cruiser,
the door was removed to accommodate a large loud
speaker
so he could preach and announce his revivals.

126

I was flying an Aeronica chief which was the
Mississippi State Airplane.

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128

Flying at an altitude of about 500 feet,
we would make several passes over the city
while Bro. Queener announced the Revival to get
the peoples attention.

129

We would then drop the tracts
and Bro. Queener would start preaching.
Oh, what a feeling as the Holy Ghost would fill
the cockpits.

130

The people below us would excitedly run, pick up
and sometimes even catch the falling tracts as if
they were dollar bills.
They would wave at us and listen to Bro. Queener
as he preached and announced the revival.

131

Each night the church would be packed
some even bringing their tracts just to listen
and see what was going to happen next.
The Holy Ghost was present while Bro. Queener
preached anointed messages.
What a glorious time!

132

The General Assembly of 1958,
this is where two of my other hearts desires
would be answered.

133

I was privileged to fly the Mississippi Airplane
to the General Assembly
because Andrew Cook, James Cook or Johnny Croon
for various reasons couldnt fly to the Assembly.

134

During the Assembly all the pilots met at the
airport
discussing who would take the lead flying in
formation
while dropping tracts over the Tabernacle during
the CPMA program.

135
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136

The fastest and first airplane was Harry Lee
Moores,
then the others followed according to their
airspeed, down to the slowest (which was mine).
This was OK with me since I could see when they
dropped their tracts
it was truly a beautiful sight to see the Word of
God fall as rain upon the earth.

137

It was wonderful to know and feel the presents of
God knowing that,
WE WERE ACTUALLY FULLFULLING PROPHECY.

138

We also dropped tracts over the Fields of the
Wood.
This was especially exciting to me
for this was the first time I had seen the Fields
of the Wood and especially from the air.
I had seen the drawing of the aerial picture, but
this was the real thing.

139

Flying in at an altitude of about 3000 feet
I could clearly read the Ten Commandments, on the
one side of the mountain,
Prayer Mountain on the other,
with all the people and cars in the middle.
At a lower altitude we began to unload our
precious cargo and could see the thousands of
people below waving, shouting and praising the
Lord.

140

This General Assembly changed my life forever.
There, behind an Auxiliary Booth stood a young
lady.
She was my answer to much prayer and fasting.

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142

I knew at that very moment she was to be my wife,
so I boldly walked up to her and asked her to fly
to Chicago with me after the Assembly to meet my
parents.
She politely said, NO,
but December 5, 1960 in Orange, Texas, she said,
YES,
and became my wife.

143

My flying career ended, at the close of the 1959
State Convention in Eupora, MS.,
in an unusual airplane accident.
The airport was a cow pasture airport.
A cow charged the airplane head on during take
off
The cow lost, destroying the airplane,
neither Maurine Dykes (which was then known by
all as Shorty) or myself was hurt.

144

This was Maurines first airplane ride and last
for many years following.

145

A note of mention that my daughter Twana Mack
reminded me to tell
A few weeks before this unusual airplane
accident.
I had landed at this same cow pasture airport, to
spend a few hours at the State Headquarters
Office,

146

Upon returning to the airplane,
I found this cow licking the side of the
airplane.
(I had forgotten how cows love the taste of
fabric)
This happened once before in Illinois,
one of our airplanes ran out of gas and made a
forced landing in a cow pasture.

147

By the time my boss and I got to the airplane
with fuel.
All that was left was the steel skeleton of the
airplane
with only small ribbons of fabric left on the
very top of the wings.
A few cows standing on their hind legs were
trying to get to the last of the fabric.