A new pastor in Red Level is working to grow attendance, and invites hunters to attend church tomorrow in camouflage.

“All hunters are welcome,” Phillip McCollough said. “And the best-dressed camouflage can put a pie in my face.”

McCollough recently replaced Anna Weaver as pastor of Red Level First Assembly, following her retirement. So far, he’s seen an increase in attendance.

“We are running anywhere around 20 to 25 people, from around four when I started,” McCollough said. “It’s through the grace of God that we continue to grow. We could probably fit in about 100, and are looking to bring in more.”

McCollough said Weaver had served the church for more than 10 years before he came, and he praised the great of a job she did during her years of service.

The Red Level First Assembly is a Pentecostal church where followers believe in sanctification and the baptism of the Holy Ghost, with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

McCollough came to Red Level from the Dozier First Freewill Baptist Church in October, and at Freewill he also saw exponential growth.

“When I began at Freewill there were only nine people, and when I left we were running 35 to 40 people,” he said.

One of his visions, he said, is to see people saved, sanctified and filled with the Holy Ghost, and to see God move and grow.

“We have started a kids’ ministry, and do kids’ Sunday school and children’s church,” McCollough said. “They have their own lesson in there so they can understand the Bible. We also do activities and have refreshments for the kids.”

McCollough is currently attending Global University through the Assembly of God District of the state of Alabama, and has finished his certified credentials this month. He said he would start his license credentials in January through the Assembly of God.

The church will be holding a special service tomorrow, in which McCollough encourages worshippers to attend services in camouflage.

The church is located at 6357 Stough St.
 in Red Level, with Sunday school beginning at 10 a.m., morning worship at 11 a.m., Sunday night services at 5 p.m. and Wednesday services at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call 334-504-1330.