Obituary of Margaret Helen Gaines

~~Margaret Helen Gaines, 85 was born to John W. Gaines and Margaret Faith Piper Gaines on December 2, 1931 in Anniston, Alabama.  Raised by missionary parents, Margaret was reared in a home that was centered on prayer and ministry.  At the age of 14 during a service at the 16th Street Church of God (now Harvest Church of God), Margaret dedicated her heart to the Lord, was baptized in the Spirit, and later enrolled in Bible Training School in Sevierville, Tennessee. She graduated from Lee Academy in 1941 and Lee College in 1951.  She is also a graduate of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.  After her time at Lee, Margaret was invited to join Sis. Josephine Planter in Tunisia to assist in the ministry efforts there.  After being refused by the World Missions Board to be supported as a missionary, she journeyed to Tunisia on her own, served Planter for a year, then continued to plant the Church of God Tunisia for the next nine years.
            The World Missions Board finally appointed Margaret as a missionary in 1956. After ten years in Tunisia and a brief leave of absence due to political turmoil, Margaret was appointed to Jerusalem, Palestine.  She overcame many obstacles and proved to be a huge asset in Israel as she established a church and school in the village of Aboud.  Margaret also served as pastor of the Aboud Church of God until 1992.
Having dealt with a serious heart condition over the years, Margaret relocated to Pell City, Alabama in 1996.  However, she continued her ministry to the people of Aboud in an administrative and advisory capacity.  Although her membership was at Harvest Church of God, in Anniston, Margaret regularly attended Harvest Center Church of God in Pell City. She stated “God has shortened my cord and has placed me here.  I hope to be a support.”  Margaret consistently supported many in her home as well as in the community.  She shared a passion to revitalize the work in Wattsville, a small community outside of Pell City.  She pastored the Wattsville Church from 2010 through 2014, focusing mainly to reach those who were struggling with addiction.
Margaret has received numerous awards in recognition of her dedicated ministry: the Spirit of Azusa Award in 2011, the first Circle of Global Impact Award in 2014, and the Lee University School of Religion Distinguished Alumnus in 2015. She also has authored several books including:  Of Like Passions, Small Enough to Stop the Violence, Meditations on the Advent Wreath, and I Will Go. Her latest and last final work which is in its final stages of publishing is  Aboud:  Joshua’s Family Creed.
Margaret Gaines is survived by several nieces, nephews as well as a multitude of great and great-great nieces and nephews.  She has been a spiritual mother to many, a friend and confidant to others, a forerunner in ministry and a faithful follower of the Lord.

The family will receive friends Sunday, November 26, 2017 from 4:00 until 6:00 P.M. at the Harvest Center Church of God in Pell City with the service at 6:00 P.M., and on Monday, November 27, 2017 from 12:00 until 2:00 P.M. at Harvest Center Church of God in Anniston with the services beginning at 2:00 PM.  Rev. Paul Lett and Rev. Ron Martin will officiate.  Interment will follow in Anniston Memorial Gardens. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Church of God World Missions-Aboud, P.O. Box 8016, Cleveland, TN 37320.

Usrey Funeral Home, Pell City, will direct the services.