Warner Pacific College recently canceled classes for an entire day—in the middle of the week! No, it wasn’t a snow day, and no severe weather bulletin had been issued. This was a planned day off for students, faculty, and staff, but not to observe a regional holiday or because the circus came to town. In fact, canceled classes did not mean a day for students to sleep in and play video games. Instead, more than 340 individuals from the Warner Pacific community set this day aside to work together on a variety of community service projects around the Portland area.

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The world has faced a startling number of deadly natural disasters—just in the past couple of years. Countless lives have been directly affected by earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and famine. The Church of God has decisively responded with hundreds of thousands of dollars in relief donations and countless hours of manual labor. Your prayerful, financial, and on-the-ground support have provided healing and hope in the bleakest of circumstances.

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October is Pastor Appreciation Month. If there are at least thirty-one flavors of ice cream, there should be at least that many ways a congregation could favor their pastor. Pastor Appreciation Month is just around the corner. The following ideas may help you express appreciation to your pastor(s) and get the creative juices flowing. Since October has thirty-one days, here’s thirty-one ways to show appreciation for the shepherd(s) responsible for your spiritual welfare!

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“A farmer went out to plant his seed…seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” —Luke 8:5, NLT

After nearly one hundred years, radio remains the world’s most accessible medium. Even today, more people can tune into a radio broadcast than can be touched by any other form of mass media. Which brings us to Christians Broadcasting Hope—CBH. Since 1947, CBH has been harnessing radio—inviting listeners to find hope in Christ. Now a global enterprise, our broadcasts are heard everywhere from houses on the River Thames in Britain to remote villages on the Amazon.

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Anderson University welcomes alumni, family, and friends back for fun and fellowship during Homecoming 2011, Oct. 21-22. Along with the annual homecoming football game and introduction of the homecoming king, queen, and court, there will also be opportunities to enjoy the RavenFest (rain or shine) that will again host Reunion Park, the Raven’s Nest Sundae for $1, and the new addition of a photo booth.

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“It was one of those days a pastor dreams of. I can’t explain that away other than God did it,” said Pastor Stuart Kruse of County Line Church of God in Auburn, Indiana.

The day was Sunday, August 28, when, at an outdoor service of about 1,400 people, 101 people were baptized.

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In Nashville, Tennessee, September 13–15, 2011, nearly 150 leaders of the Church of God gathered to shape the vision for the work of the church at large for the coming years. Held once every five years, this conference is an assembly of a diverse and committed leaders, consisting of senior pastors, associate pastors, regional pastors and overseers, and emerging church leaders, as well as members of the Ministries Council and Church of God Ministries staff. Over the three days of plenary sessions and small group dialogue, the leaders were charged with building on the current vision for the church and the Five Strategic Values of Ignite, Permeate, Free, Cultivate, and Refresh. Three important guiding principles aided the participants in their task: the necessity of hearing every voice, affirming common and complementary themes, and the need for dialogue that is grounded in prayer.

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Since Spread the Word was launched in 2002, students and their leaders have given over $550,000 for tools for evangelism around the world. Those funds have been sent to six continents and thirty countries. Spread the Word trips have been taken to various countries to witness how these funds have been used to reach the world for Jesus Christ. Most recently, forty students and adults traveled to Chelyabinsk, Russia to see Spread the Word in action.

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Anderson University (Anderson, Indiana) once again earned a place in the top tier among Regional Universities– Midwest in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2012 guidebook. The exclusive rankings, which include more than 1,400 schools nationwide, are available today online, and will also be published in U.S. News & World Report, on newsstands starting September 20. This marks the eighth consecutive year AU has been ranked among the nation’s best colleges.

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From forty attendees every Sunday up to nearly three hundred in less than a decade, the Hoopeston (Illinois) First Church of God has seen rapid growth in a small town thanks to its steady dependence on God. But it’s not just about numbers. “People are hurting, searching, and looking to see the church love and care for them,” says senior pastor Micah Mobley, who accepted the congregation’s call in August 2010. “Souls are being saved, lives changed, and revival is poised to happen in Hoopeston.”

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Separation of church and state? Not for Rev. Rochelle Robinson, of Douglasville, Georgia. She sees the church as a necessary support for government, not a hindrance. As she walks up and down the streets of her community, she lets her faith lead. If she’s sworn in, this Christian politician won’t leave God at the front door of city hall.

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The sign at the front of Great Trail Community Church of God says “Welcome.” And visitors indeed are welcome at the church ... if they can find it. “We’re in Paris Township,” said the Rev. David Guess, pastor. “We’re lost.”

Well, not theologically speaking. But geographically they are caught in a difficult area to locate — not a part of nearby Minerva, Ohio but divided from Paris Township and separated from the rest of Stark County.

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By Sam Collins

The whirlwinds of life do not seem to have the same effect on everyone. How is it that some people can stand in the midst of a maximum-strength emotional hurricane and barely get their eyebrows ruffled? Others are knocked head-over-heels into the next county if a baby bird of a crisis sneezes in their direction.

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Church of God Ministries (CGM) launches three initiatives this month to make its BRIDGES Sunday school curriculum more widely available.

Click here to find out how Church of God curriculum is expanding!

Joining the Church of God Ministries staff in Anderson, Indiana as chief of strategic communications is Mary Baker-Boudissa. Mary is a dedicated Christian, with Church of God roots going back three generations, and has been a member of Sherman Street Church of God and Arrow Heights Church of God. Her parents are Rev. Theodore Baker, Sr., and Rev. Mary M. Baker, who have served Anderson University and Christian Women Connection (formerly Women of the Church of God), respectively.

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Gardner College, freestanding ministry organization in the Church of God, is undergoing a time of transition. During this period, the Church of God in Western Canada celebrates the legacy of Gardner College as it looks toward what God has in store for the future.

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We are excited that you, as part of our family of churches, are a part of a united effort that reaches out for Christ at home and around the world through our Church of God family. As you prepare faith promise and other missions emphasis events, we want to help with some outstanding resources.

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The Pekin First Church of God closed its vacation Bible school, PandaMania, with the culmination of a summer-long project. The children’s ministry of the church has been promoting a toy drive for the patients of the Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria. A goal was set for 200 toys to be delivered to the hospital following PandaMania. The concept was birthed in the heart of Jessica Creasong, children’s ministry intern, and things did not look too promising for the children as PandaMania was beginning.

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Your ministry is a critical component of advancing God’s Kingdom. Thank you for the great effort that you put forth. In order to serve you through helpful reminders, please take a moment to look over the information below.

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There’s an old saying in Indiana that if you don’t like the weather, wait fifteen minutes and it will change. It seems that the same could be said of Congressional decisions and IRS changes. Let’s take a look at some of the most recent changes.

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Grandparents today are not the same as your grandparents. It has been said that there was a time when grandparents looked like their houses often smelled: old, musty, out of date, and out of touch. Some still might, but most do not. Today’s grandparents not only look younger than our grandparents, but they often act and think younger. That is, at least in part, because they are a part of a generation who managed to turn our country upside down when they were younger, and they are still doing it. Boomers and younger grandparents are a new breed, and they are doing things differently.

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Our church counts it a privilege and honor to support those who have followed the calling of God to the mission field. The Living Link program has been a valuable resource to us and so many other churches. The program gives us an opportunity to add daily to the kingdom of heaven through the lives that our missionaries have touched for Christ.

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“Veggies, chicken, soy, rice!” The race to pack five thousand meals to combat hunger was on. Their chant kept everybody focused on the goal as they poured heart and energy into the missions project. This was no ordinary church gathering. It was more than an opportunity for personal and corporate revival. The 92nd Southwest District Church of God Camp Meeting in Mountain Grove, Missouri, was about reaching out and carrying out the Great Commission.

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“Together our gifts can make a difference for the future of the Church of God. Together our gifts can accomplish more.” The sentiment of Margaret Dunn is clear—in order to accomplish more, we must work together. A minister in Texas, Margaret is living out her faith by her commitment to support future Church of God leaders. Her support—combined with your support—is making a difference and accomplishing more for the kingdom of God.

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A couple decades ago I wrote an article for a non-Church-of-God publication suggesting that sports might not be the most important enterprise in the universe. I insinuated that—what with wars, pestilence, and famine—God probably did not have much interest in manipulating box scores or first down yardage so that teams with the greater number of Christian players could shower themselves with imported champagne during championship celebrations.

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I was hired to teach in the Anderson University School of Theology in 1984, and have searched in vain for a good comprehensive textbook to use in my Christian education classes. Every new book that came along was either incomplete, or had a theological bent that was inconsistent with our Wesleyan holiness tradition.

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Veteran worship leader and recording artist Tommy Coomes and his band mates came to faith in Jesus in the early 1970s in Southern California. They formed the group Love Song and wrote and played contemporary Christian music before the genre existed. He's led worship across the globe, including traveling extensively with Franklin Graham and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

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A church on the brink of closure. An enticing opportunity to take the easy road. A diverse community with many needs. For Mountain View Fellowship Church of God in Reading, Pennsylvania, a major decision had to be made that would ultimately test the endurance of their congregation, change the direction of their ministry, and make an impact on the community around them. Their final decision would testify to the unifying power of Jesus Christ.

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What happens when top leaders within the Church of God movement are placed in the same setting as the next generation of leaders? The answer is life change. Leadership Summit stretched all those who attended in ways they had never experienced before. There were two events in particular that made the greatest impact on the lives of students and of those with whom they came in contact: cardboard testimonies in downtown Indianapolis and a community block party in Anderson.

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Over the years, people have asked us, “What impact is the Kima International School of Theology making? How is God using KIST graduates to change Africa?” In the sixteen years since its inception in 1995, KIST has produced leaders that are serving the church throughout Africa. Some of them are serving as pastors in local churches, some are serving in leadership roles within the General Assembly of the Church of  God in East Africa, some are leading AIDS education and relief programs, and others have started new ministries focusing on orphans—just to name a few.

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Dear Pastor,
 
I would personally like to thank you for your work in leading the unsaved to Christ and for helping Christians continually grow in their walk with God. What an awesome responsibility!

Thousands of Church of God pastors across the country have read these opening words to letters of encouragement written by one individual from Daytona Beach, Florida. Her name: Martha Black.

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A lady with a very short skirt, heavy makeup, tattoos, a revealing blouse, and defiant look walked up to the pastor working on the project and candidly asked him, “Why are you interested to work on a water system for this people?”
 
Pastor Pat answered the lady, with his usual calm voice, “I am part of this project, and I support it to show the grace of Jesus Christ.” Then he proceeded to explain his statement to a surprisingly attentive lady. She listened to him and a door was opened to her heart.

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It with mixed emotions that Church of God Ministries announces the upcoming retirement of Sharon Skaggs, Global Missions financial administrator. We celebrate her thirty-plus years of service to the missions work of the Church of God, and we will surely miss her valuable contribution. Sharon plans to retire at the end of January 2012.

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This week nearly one hundred young emerging leaders and adults from nineteen states and two countries converged on the campus of Anderson University in Anderson, Indiana, for Leadership Summit 2011. Leadership Summit began in 2001, and every other year since has provided a time of intensive, experiential, hands-on leadership development. This year marks the first time the event has taken place outside of Washington, DC.

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It would be hard to find a group of people more enthusiastic about why they attend a certain event than those who faithfully gather in Anderson, Indiana each July to sharpen their tools for ministry leadership. The In Service Training Institute (ISTI) recently convened for its fifty-fifth year—its thirty-second year in Anderson. The worship was inspirational, the fellowship was spirited, and the classes were packed with students who were very happy to be there! In fact, they weren’t thinking about lunch or recess! What is ISTI? And why is everybody so excited about it? The answer may be found in the hearts of the staff and students who come from across the country to attend.

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Dr. Duncan voiced the challenge to the church at each evening service: “Pull out your tear ’n’ share, leave a really good tip, and show our host community of Anderson the love of God.” He added, “Now if you’re not going to leave a good tip, then don’t leave the card!”

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“I want to know more!” said ten-year-old Toetu. “Please pray for me so I can stop drinking,” requested another young man named Suda.

These were comments heard at our Maundy Thursday Agape Feast, and Communion and Footwashing Service—comments that affirm the potential of our present location. Though at one time we felt it would be better to move to a more visible property, God has been opening up a new ministry for us right here in our neighborhood.

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The e-mail from Argentina brought news like we like to hear: fifteen persons have decided to follow Jesus as Lord! Evangelist and church-planter Ernesto Gonzalez says it happened like this...

Click here to read the exciting story!

In the midst of the social media explosion, the Church of God reformation movement is right in the thick of things with pages on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, Flickr, as well as the Church of God’s very own social networking site, MyCHOG.

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The Church of God is rich in diversity. The spectrum of backgrounds, cultures, perceptions, and ages is broad. In an effort to hear from those younger voices, Church of God Ministries (CGM) recently interviewed three pastors to gain their perspectives on the Church of God. Those sharing their thoughts and concerns are Jonathan Frymire (30), Erin Taylor (30), and Chris Denney (34).

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From Friday night’s kickoff presentation of the musical Paul, to the worship service illuminated by candlelight on Wednesday evening, the 125th North American Convention of the Church of God was a grand celebration of the unity of God’s children. The theme of the convention was Strategic Value Two, Permeate! Engaging every individual, church, and agency in the Great Commandments (Matt 22:37–39).

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From the opening greeting to the closing benediction, there was a spirit of celebration on Wednesday as the final evening worship service brought this year’s North American Convention to a close.

Rev. Jim Lyon, senior pastor at Madison Park Church of God in Anderson, took several minutes to recognize Pastor Andrei Kolekov and the Church of God congregation that has been established in Chelyabinsk, Russia. This endeavor began more than twenty years ago as a dream laid on the hearts of a few faithful individuals in North America. A team of thirty-three members from East Side and Madison Park Churches of God were also commissioned as they prepare to leave for a mission trip to Chelyabinsk later this week.

Click here to read more about Wednesday evening's service...

We asked six people who regularly attend the North American Convention why they attend, many of them year after year, and many of them from distant locations. Take a look at their responses:

“We enjoy visiting with family and friends that we seldom see otherwise. The Heritage Sing-Along is at the top of our list, as is the excellent preaching. We arrive on Thursday or Friday to be sure we do not miss the program hosted by AU. It is always very good. We find people to be friendly, kind, and helpful on the campus wherever we go. We plan to come for as long as we possibly can.”—Betty Tacia (West Side Church of God, Glendale, Arizona)

“I attend because it’s a good habit that rewards me well. The Word says we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves. I am enriched and encouraged by my brothers and sisters in the faith. I love the sense of belonging and community. I also enjoy the worship services and conferences. My kids enjoy the recreational facilities on the campus. I think NAC is an experience the whole church should enthusiastically embrace.”—Charles Myricks, Jr. (Arlington Church of God, Akron, Ohio)

Click here to read why more convention-goers attend NAC...

The Peace Fellowship of the Church of God has named Dr. Cole Dawson, vice president for academic affairs and professor of history at Warner Pacific College, as 2011 Peacemaker of the Year. For more than three decades, Dr. Dawson has taught college students to think and live in thoughtful and faithful ways that bring reconciliation, resolution, and peace to their world.

Dr. Dawson grew up, as Paul Simon wrote, “in the cradle of the Civil War,” Virginia, where memories of the war run deep. At Anderson College during another war, Dr. Dawson resolved to “study war no more.” Instead of teaching American history as the history of war, Dr. Dawson teaches the history of the impact of war on peoples and nations in order to help young people think carefully and intelligently about war as a (non-) solution to anything.

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Sometimes people tell me, “You are always remembering the past.” My response goes something like this, “There is no need to remember what is in process at present! I have no idea how to remember anything in the future, so, I guess I’m stuck with remembering the past.”

My memories of the Anderson Camp Meeting (still easy to call it that) and the North American Convention are alive and well. My first such meeting was shortly after high school graduation in 1948. The Rev. Okey B. Hamon and his wife were kind enough to take me in their new bright blue truck. No chair, cushion, inner tube, or padding of any kind to sit on. Just the hard steel bed of the truck.

Just me and the fresh country air, and lots of wind and sun in the back of the truck with my new JC Penney suitcase and graduation suit. There was a canvas tarp. I’d pull it over my head when the sun got too hot and when it rained. It did plenty of both.

Click here to read more reflections by William Ellis...

What does a Church of God congregation fully engaged in missions look like? On Saturday, Global Missions hosted a conference called “One World, One Mission: Missions on the Edge,” at Park Place Church of God. Pastors Mark Shaner, of East Side Church of God, Anderson, Indiana; David Colp, First Church of God, St. Joseph, Michigan; and Steve Carney, First Church of God, Germantown, Ohio each shared how God is using their respective churches in powerful ways because they are fully engaged in Living Link (missionaries), Project Link (mission projects), and Eye on the World (mission trips). Through these combined connection tools, called the “missions triad,” these pastors discussed the blessings that their congregations experience because of their support of Global Missions.

Testimonies were shared about how God is using these three ministry tools to make an impact in the world for Christ. Bob Edwards, director of Global Ministries, also encouraged participation in the upcoming Global Gathering, a coming together of Church of God people from around the world that will take place in Anderson, Indiana, June 22–25, 2013.

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By Carl Stagner and staff

Individuals and Native American ministry leaders gathered to attend the Native American Ministry conference on Monday during NAC. John Newton, Church of God Ministries liaison to Native American ministries, hosted the event. Representatives from the American Indian Council, Alliance Indiana Mission, and Klagetoh Shelter Mission discussed the importance of, as well as the unique facets of, ministry to Native Americans. Individuals, who have been on work camps to Wounded Knee Church of God, as well as others, spoke on behalf of that powerful ministry in South Dakota.

At Pass Creek Church of God, Pastors Barry and Shelly Bentley lead a mission outpost and church on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. They are supported by those who have chosen to partner with them through donations to serve the Lakota people. This ministry helps to create youth programs designed to develop indigenous youth leadership, weekly Bible study, vacation Bible school, and work camps.

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By Carl Stagner

Over the last year-and-a-half since a powerful earthquake left unprecedented devastation in its wake, the Church of God has shown genuine love for God by demonstrating tangible love to the people of Haiti. The Church of God responded by sending dollars, resources, and work teams to rebuild and bring hope. The disaster relief effort would not have been successful if it had not been for the grace of God, and the wisdom and leadership of Phil Murphy, Art Clawson, and Ruben Schwieger. On Wednesday during NAC 2011, the General Assembly publicly recognized the courageous efforts and incredible accomplishments of these three men.

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Dr. Melissa Pratt of Teays Valley Church in Scott Depot, West Virginia, challenged the 2011 General Assembly (GA) of the Church of God to “stay in the middle” of God’s activity. She urged church leaders to follow the example of Israel’s priests, who stood in the middle of the Jordan River while their people crossed into the Promised Land. It was an apt beginning, because the Assembly dealt with several important transitions now underway:

• The Assembly authorized further research into changing the location and/or frequency of the North American Convention (NAC). The GA stated that it intends to vote next year on whether to make such changes.
• A Global Gathering (formerly World Conference) of the church will be held in Anderson in June 2013. Although this meeting will take the place of NAC, a straw poll found that Assembly members wish to hold their annual GA meeting at its conclusion.
• The Assembly ratified Dr. Ronald V. Duncan for another five-year term as General Director of Church of God Ministries, Inc. (CGM). Dr. Duncan indicated that he plans to retire before that term is completed, so the search for his successor will soon begin.

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“It will change your view of missions forever,” Marshall Lawrence predicted, prior to presenting “America's Invisible People,” a conference at NAC 2011. Rev. Lawrence led class participants on a whirlwind, ninety-minute journey into an unseen world most people know almost nothing about. There they encountered a mission field unseen and untouched by the church—the largest unreached people group in North America and the most spiritually-neglected people on earth.

Who are these invisible people? “The Deaf community,” states Marshall, “which, in America, is an estimated six million people.” Less than 2 percent of Deaf people profess Christ as Savior, and fewer than 4 percent of churches offer Deaf ministries. “Do they deserve to be told of God’s grace?” Marshall asked participants. “If so, why doesn’t the church reach out to them?”

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We are grateful for another wonderful national gathering of the Church of God women that make up Christian Women Connection. We kicked off this week’s events with a connector rally at Madison Park Church of God. We had important discussions on hospitality and various areas of ministry.

On Monday morning, we met for our annual assembly. It was an opportunity for us to celebrate the ways in which God has been faithful to this ministry throughout the last year, as noted by our National President, Che-Che Mobley, in her national report. Don Deena Johnson, our guest speaker for the annual assembly, brought a beautiful and challenging message, reminding us that true hospitality is sacrificial in nature and is especially given to those who seem hardest to welcome.

Click here to read more about how CWC connected...

The Church of God Foundation’s Board of Directors heard the exciting news that the Foundation’s efforts to serve the church have resulted in a growth of nearly $1 million in the last year. This positive report was received during the annual business meeting, held on June 25, 2011. The growth was attributed to the ever-increasing number of congregations that have partnered with the Foundation to establish endowments to support their local ministries.

Kenneth Hatch, secretary-treasurer for the Foundation, informed the directors that the Foundation’s gift-planning advisors have been working with more than twenty-five congregations to develop endowments that will provide the local church with a means to support the ministries of today and tomorrow.

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We’re down to the final day of NAC 2011, and the powerful moving of the Holy Spirit among us has been evident. There are still many great opportunities to connect with one another, learn about what God is doing around the world, get equipped for local ministry, and worship the Lord. Check your program book for details. One event you definitely won’t want to miss is tonight’s grand finale worship experience, complete with candlelight and voices lifted toward heaven.

The Wednesday evening worship service has long been a celebration of the unity of God’s people as we symbolically shine the light of Christ together for all to see. What a joy it is to gather with the multitudes at the North American Convention and join as one to worship the Lord. As the light is passed from candle to candle, more and more darkness is overcome. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it,” John 1:5 (nlt). That’s how it is with Jesus Christ. He brings light to the dark places of our lives and in our world. The breathtaking view of thousands of candles lifted heavenward, and what it represents, is truly unforgettable.

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Youth and adults motivated to share God’s love and the message of the gospel in practical ways gathered this past Saturday to minister to residents of two retirement communities and to walk the streets of Anderson, Indiana picking up and disposing of litter. They responded to the call for NAC attendees to love our neighbor—not just talk about it. This was Project Permeate!

Catherine, of West Side Church of God in Glendale, Arizona, found two dollars near a gasoline stop while picking up litter. She gave the money to the attendant on duty, who reported that a customer had jokingly asked if Catherine was picking up litter because she could not pay for gas. Catherine then had the chance to tell the attendant that she was “with the Church of God convention, helping the community with some cleanup.” Catherine says, “I said that I had found a couple of dollars along the guard rail and that she could have it. She gladly accepted the money and turned to her customer to brag that she just got a tip for doing nothing!”

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Have you ever wondered what would happen if one were to take a bunch of pastor’s kids and throw them in a bag with a bunch of missionary’s kids? The battle of the century! Shrieks and cries of defeat filled the air, but could not compete with the shouts of victory paired with a fist pump or a happy dance at X-Site, a laser tag center in Indianapolis, on Tuesday during NAC 2011.

Generally there aren’t many pastor’s or missionary’s kids in one congregation, which can be rough on those who frequently endure long hours at the church office, extended time away from parents and friends, or unwanted spotlight.

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The much-anticipated report from the North American Convention (NAC) Study Committee on the viability of the annual convention was presented to the General Assembly on June 28, 2011. The in-depth research project, conducted in part by the Indianapolis-based Shank Public Relations Counselors, sought to be inclusive in scope, giving all Church of God individuals, groups, and geographic regions of North America opportunity to participate. They also sought to be diverse in methodology, again to insure inclusiveness and to enhance reliability of the results. After careful review of the research data, the committee concluded that additional study was needed to further examine the ramifications of altering the frequency and/or location of the convention.

The North American Convention (NAC) is mandated by the General Assembly (GA) to be conducted annually by the Ministries Council.

The methodology for the research project included a highly-promoted online survey, telephone interviews designed to ensure key demographic sectors having opportunity for participation, a town-hall style meeting during NAC 2010, an in-person focus group with key church leaders, and three telephone-based focus groups [senior pastors, young ministers under thirty-five, and regional pastors and overseers (area administrators)].

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The Peace Fellowship conferences during NAC 2011 focused on what it means to love our neighbors. Two sessions were led by Dr. Carl and Carolyn Caldwell, who shared their experiences of teaching in 2009–2010 at the American University-Sulaimani, an English language university in northern Iraq. They challenged the group with questions such as, How can I be a neighbor when “the other” hates me, has practices that I find deeply offensive, and pushes for a type of polity that undermines the basic premises I hold dear? Besides Islam and Judaism, Iraq is home to many different groups of Christians, some of which are ancient sects that trace their beginnings to the earliest days of Christianity. The Caldwells spoke about the challenges that arise as Kurdish, Arabic, and Assyrian young people—whose cultures and beliefs may sometimes conflict—study side-by-side and build relationships. Most of these students have lived with war their entire lives; many have lost family members and homes to conflict. The Caldwells shared poignant stories of the impact of violence on these young people about whom they learned to care deeply.

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A large-print edition of the BRIDGES adult curriculum will be available for the 2011 fall quarter, beginning September 1. Both teacher and student books will be published in the new large-print format. The regular digest-size edition will also continue to be published by Warner Press, Inc.

“Each morning, I perch a prayer list on the counter while I shave. Over time, I’ve found myself periodically bumping up the type size,” says BRIDGES adult editor Sam Collins. “Maybe, like me, some of our readers need print that’s a scosh larger than what they customarily see. I think they’re going to like our new large-print edition of BRIDGES curriculum.”

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Children attending Kid’s Place and Little Kid’s Place at the NAC this year took a missions journey to Germany. They heard traditional German stories: Snow White, Grimm’s Fairy Tales, and others. They painted wooden eggs and fasching masks. They cooked and ate spaetzle. They attended a home and school learning center where they ate schultuete (a cone with goodies that German students receive on the first day of school) and learned the alphabet in German.

Jael Tang, who spent a year in Germany learning their culture and working with the church there, led the children in worship. She taught them about German history and the destruction of the wall between East and West Berlin. In this center, the kids simulated the fall of the wall as they literally tore it down.

Click here to learn more about Kid's Place 2011...

In July of 2010, over five thousand students gathered in Orlando, Florida to experience the power of God through one simple word: Love. Matthew 22:37–40 was the anthem of the 2010 International Youth Convention of the Church of God as students experienced loving God, themselves, others and the world. Church of God youth have another opportunity to let God make an impact on their lives so that they can make an impact on the lives of others. The next IYC will be held in Denver, Colorado, July 4–7, 2012. IYC 2012 (www.IYC2012.org) will inspire students to truly live! With a focus on Romans 8, students will be challenged to live free, awakened, empowered, and connected.

IYC is an incredible opportunity for Church of God youth to come together as one voice and one body to worship God. IYC is a just one part of the overall vision of the North American youth ministries. The vision of IYC is to be a catalyst to raise up a new generation of Christ-centered leaders by reaching, discipling, and empowering youth. IYC’s overriding purpose is to create moments for life change. Everything that happens at IYC is put through one simple test: Will it help create a moment for life change?

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Imagine a worship service filled with believers from all over the world. Picture a forum composed of representatives from countries near and far in which the Church of God has a presence. Try to envision the magnitude of multitudes of people connected in person and via the Internet, worshiping the Lord in unity, hearing the stories of the global church, and equipping each other for transformative ministry.

Something is coming that may shatter the most inspiring images your mind can grasp. An event—perhaps an ongoing vision—is on the horizon, and it’s closer than you may think.

Click here to read more about the Global Gathering...

Twice on Saturday at the Children’s Ministry Fair and then again on Tuesday for the general attendees of NAC, Tina Houser presented a workshop called “Easter-rific!” which is also the title of her latest book published by Warner Press. This coming week is significant in the retail world, because Christmas decorations and supplies go out on the shelves. Yes, it’s July! So much attention is focused on Christmas, yet very little is done for Easter—the foundation of our faith. The attendees of the workshops were challenged to do something about this! They were given ideas they could use as they teach children that would help them more intentionally teach Jesus’ final days leading up to Calvary, and in so doing, elevate Easter!

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A pair of ninety-minute conferences, held on Monday afternoon, gave NAC attendees the opportunity to learn several Bible study techniques, and to apply them to challenging passages of scripture, all in a group setting. Each conference attracted around thirty-five people, with about fifteen attending both conferences. Above all, these two conferences emphasized the importance of understanding the context of difficult Bible stories. To help prevent the forcing of scripture to say what we want it to say, we should learn to ask helpful questions about the text and search for answers—a process known by the term exegesis.

The Old Testament conference, led by Shannon New-Spangler and Adam Harger, focused on Ecclesiastes 7:15–18. This passage appears to suggest that we should strive to avoid too much foolishness, but at the same time, avoid too much wisdom. Generally, Christians approve of avoiding foolishness, but this passage is hard to understand because it tells us to not be too righteous. How can this be, especially since we belong to a movement that emphasizes personal holiness?

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Love and passion through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit spur Christians to become disciple-makers in today’s world. That truth repeatedly surfaced in the “Communicating Christ in a Postmodern Culture” conference held on Monday afternoon during NAC 2011. It was led by the National Association of Evangelism at Park Place Church of God. The presenters were Lila Clay, senior pastor of First Church of God in Marion, South Dakota; Yoshiki Hosoda, pastor of Japanese Outreach Ministries of Kentucky-Ohio; and Woodrow Wilson, senior pastor of God’s Community Outreach, Chillicothe, Ohio

Since we are living in a postmodern culture, Hosoda warned that Christians have to be careful about powerful influences (11 Timothy 3:1–5) in every aspect in our lives. “God commands each of us to pass on his love and the way of salvation to others,” he explained. “We really need to stand on the Word of God by listening to his voice and practice our daily lives upon it.”

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The North American Convention provides time to connect for many groups throughout the Church of God, including the wives of pastors. This important group always looks forward to this annual gathering. Clergy wives from across North America met Tuesday for the annual Clergy Wives Tea and conference. The day began at the annual tea, held in the Church of God Ministries auditorium. The tea annually provides an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new acquaintances. The group enjoyed a delightful breakfast, was led in worship by Luciana Schulle (worship arts music director at the Church at the Crossing in Indianapolis, Indiana), and was encouraged and inspired by Melanie Thigpen, talented speaker and clergy wife from Anderson, Indiana. The tea concluded with a number of door prizes awarded from various central Indiana businesses.

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Worshipers filled Reardon Auditorium on Tuesday night of the 2011 NAC to hear a message on “Love for Family,” delivered by Rev. David Colp, lead pastor of First Church of God in St. Joseph, Michigan. He pointed out that today’s families should be raising young people who are totally sold out on their faith. However, 85 percent of youth who come from Christian homes do not hold a biblical worldview, and more than 8 million young adults will no longer be active in the church by the time they reach thirty.

“Many of today’s youth cannot articulate their faith in words,” Rev. Colp said. “They believe that God exists, but is only involved in their lives to solve a problem or to make their lives better.”

Click here to read more about Tuesday night's worship service...

For the third year in a row, the North American Convention of the Church of God will be hosting the Global Communion Service. During the Tuesday evening service congregations from all over the world will eat of the bread and drink of the cup together as the united body of Christ.

In North America, entire congregations will join in the event, while some groups will gather with local churches of other faith backgrounds to share in worship. In some countries, the difference in time zones will mean that believers meet in the middle of the night, while others will gather on Tuesday evening and worship and pray together for several hours prior to taking Communion. It is an experience of unity on the grandest of scales, yielding praise reports and compelling testimonies from the churches that have participated, and we think it’s a tradition worth continuing.

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It was the mid-1950s. Millions of baby boomers were nearing adolescence. Never before had there been such an influx of young people, an influx destined to drastically shape the culture. The church was unprepared for this sudden influx, and it had no real strategy for ministering to these teenagers.

They represented a vast untapped resource for the church, and some people began to work nationally at convincing church leaders of the day that youth ministry was vitally important. These entrepreneurs created a sense of urgency among churches about reaching out to this young generation before it was too late. Parachurch organizations such as Youth For Christ, Campus Crusade, Young Life, and others sprang up and started to influence churches in the ’50s and ’60s.

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For the second consecutive year, a Hot Topics conference was held on Monday morning of the North American Convention. These conferences focus on contemporary topics that are often thought to breed conflict. This year, the conference was titled “Christian Ethics and the Church of God.” The hour and a half conference was attended by more than fifty people.

The purpose of the Hot Topics conference this year was to help those attending think more critically when confronted with ethical quandaries. While the conference consisted of a brief lecture followed by two case studies, a unique aspect of the Hot Topics conference, however, is its emphasis on discussion. All in attendance were given an opportunity to have their voices and opinions heard. Approximately half of the conference consisted of open discussion.

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Church of God Ministries has negotiated an advance screening of the movie Courageous during the 2011 North American Convention of the Church of God. The purpose of the screening is to provide pastors and lay leaders with the opportunity to view the film and consider how it might be a resource to support their local ministry. The movie is scheduled for nationwide release in theaters on September 30, 2011. The advance screening will be held on June 29, 2011, at 2:00 pm in Byrum Hall on the convention grounds.

Four men, one calling: To serve and protect. As law enforcement officers, Adam Mitchell, Nathan Hayes, and their partners are confident and focused. They willingly stand up to the worst the streets have to offer. Yet at the end of the day, they face a challenge that none of them is truly prepared to tackle: fatherhood.

Click here to read more about the film Courageous...

Grand fanfare and a parade of flags signaled the start of the commissioning ceremony during the Monday evening worship service. Bob Edwards introduced those who would be sent out to be light in the world. In a poignant moment, Edwards, the missionaries to be commissioned, and the congregation voiced a litany written by the late missionary to Japan, Cheryl Johnson Barton. The litany challenged not only the missionaries but everyone in attendance to shine the light for all the world to see. Please pray for these families and individuals as they seek to carry out the Great Commission.

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By Linda Teeple

Can you name the third most commonly used language in North America? Here’s a hint: ASL. American Sign Language is not only the native language of the Deaf, it is also being taught to children with autism and in other situations where visual learning is easier than aural training.

Jamie and Rachel Biser, ministry assistants with Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries, have taught beginning—and intermediate-level ASL classes and are back by popular demand. Participants in their classes were excited about what they were learning and begged the instructors for further education. Rachel Biser also teaches ASL classes at Horizon Christian School in Indianapolis.

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By Glenn E. Hall

Michelle Parker and Cassandra Tyson appeared on local television on the evening of July 27 to discuss an opportunity for area at-risk children to get involved with something positive in the community. They had brought Kid’s Place to Meridian, Mississippi.

Michelle Parker, director of Kid’s Place at the annual North American Convention of the Church of God, directed Kid’s Place in a vacation Bible school format at Eighth Avenue Church of God. Her husband, Duane Parker, pastor at First Church of God in Laurel, Mississippi, conducted daily music and devotions during the event. Eighth Avenue Church of God’s Christian education director, who used to write children’s curriculum for Warner Press, served as coordinator for the overall program.

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Eighteen convention goers attended a Monday conference led by Dr. John Aukerman, professor of Christian education at Anderson University School of Theology, “Dealing Redemptively with Conflict in the Local Church.”

Aukerman stated that it is not helpful to talk about “conflict management,” because there is no way to manage individuals, let alone the conflicts that arise between them. Rather than thinking about conflict “management,” pastors and church leaders need to accept the reality that conflict is a normal part of life, and that the best they can do is to deal with it redemptively, in the love of Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

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By Joanie Frymire

The Society for Church of God Worship is holding its sixth annual luncheon on Wednesday, June 29, at noon. It is being held in the auditorium of the Church of God Ministries Building. Rev. Chuck Myricks will be our guest speaker. (Cost of the luncheon is $12.00. Annual dues are $10.)

Rev. Myricks is a graduate of Anderson University and has earned a master’s degree in homiletics from Ashland Theological Seminary. He has experience in the music industry as a performer, writer, and producer. He currently serves as minister of finance and development at Arlington Church of God in Akron, Ohio, and as chief operating development officer of the National Association of the Church of God.

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The Children of Promise conference “Hope Realized” took a personal twist on Monday afternoon. Rather than just talking about sponsored children, prerecorded Skype interviews were shown to the enthusiastic audience. Over the last ten days, six young adults who grew up through the program were interviewed by Dr. Paul Maxfield, executive director. The young people discussed such things as the impact of the program, which benefits were most influential, the importance of the relationships with the sponsors, and how the love and sense of belonging provided by the sponsors gave them a sense of hope in the midst of extremely difficult circumstances.

Click here to read what the young people said...

Monday night’s service opened with the Parade of Nations as Bob Edwards, director of Global Ministry Group at Church of God Ministries, helped commission those families who soon will be spreading the gospel around the world in new mission assignments. A stirring video presentation was then shared showing how contributions from around the globe have provided much-needed relief in areas around the world that have been devastated by recent natural disasters.

Click here to read more about Dr. Hawkins' message.

Cheryl Johnson Barton (1955–2011)

The staff of Church of God Ministries and our missionaries serving around the globe mourn the passing on Sunday, June 26, 2011, of our sister and colleague Cheryl Johnson Barton. A lifelong missionary to the country of Japan, she loved the people, their language, and their culture, she and longed and prayed for the day when they would turn to the Lord in large numbers. She loved the whole of the Asia–Pacific region. Cheryl had a passion for telling great stories in written form. Some stories were her own, but most were the wondrous and amazing stories of God’s activity in and through the wide variety of God’s global children.

Click here to read more about our sister and colleague, Cheryl...

This year’s convention is focused on the theme “Permeate.” But what does that mean, and why is it important to the Christian walk? “Permeate” is one of the five strategic values of the Church of God. It is one small word with a big connotation—employing the Great Commandments in our everyday lives.

Matthew 22:36–40 says, “‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments’” (niv).

This is the heart of our ministry; this is the heart of our mission. Jesus calls us to be more like him as we love one another. In the Gospels, we are given numerous examples of Jesus’ love for us, including his acceptance, encouragement, compassion, grace, and ultimate sacrifice of dying so that we might live.

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Church of God people have a rich heritage, not only biblical but musical. Our faith has been sung down though the years by young and old alike. As you enjoy and take in all that this year’s convention offers, why not take in the annual Church of God Heritage Hymn Sing on Tuesday, June 28, in Reardon Auditorium?

Many hymns and gospel songs that have been a source of encouragement and strength to countless saints will be shared by one and all. Your own soul will be renewed as songs of salvation, unity, and holiness are sung—songs that remind us that we are a holiness people who belong to the Lord and that we have much to share with a lost and dying world. Worship leaders and accompanists from across the movement will participate in this event of renewal.

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Our children learn best by example. If we want our children to talk, we should talk to them. If we want them to learn to read, we should read to them and around them. If we want our children to be daily in God’s Word, we should allow them to see us daily in God’s Word! In Tina Houser’s conference “Family Devotions Made Fun,” you’re sure to learn a thing or two about modeling a strong relationship with God through family devotions!

You may be afraid to start family devotions if you haven’t implemented them in your family yet. You may be afraid your kids will have questions for which you won’t have answers. You may even be a little worried that you will actually learn something alongside your children! Tina is a mom herself, and when she says it can be intimidating to try to answer your kids’ questions, you can trust that she knows, because she has felt that discomfort. When Tina introduces you to fifteen tips on how to make family devotions work, you can expect that she’s been there, done that!

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The palm trees were swaying in Anderson, Indiana, on Sunday evening at the North American Convention of the Church of God. No, this was not the result of global warming and the introduction of subtropical plants into the Midwest’s heartland. Rather it was the result of the wardrobe choice of the convention’s worship leader. With palm trees decorating his shirt, Mick Gilliam at times swayed in beat to the music in a way that caused the fabric palm fronds to move with vigor.

The speaker for the evening was Stephen Arterburn, bestselling author as well as founder and chairman of New Life Ministries. Arterburn also hosts the nationally syndicated radio program New Life Live! He is a nationally known speaker and has appeared on such television shows as Oprah, Inside Edition, Good Morning America, and CNN Live.

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By Guy Brewer

“Oops! Ugh! Aha! Whee!” That’s how you preach a narrative sermon according to Dr. Jeffrey Frymire, a homiletics faculty member at Princeton Seminary and one of several presenters at the Preaching Clinic held Saturday as part of the 2011 North American Convention. More than forty pastors and laypeople filled Miller Chapel for the daylong workshop. They gathered to hear a slate of scholars share their insights about preaching in the twenty-first century. Dr. Guy Brewer, associate professor of pastoral theology at Anderson School of Theology, began the day by promising attendees that they would hear no “longhorn sermons” during the workshop. “A longhorn sermon,” he explained, “Is a sermon with a point over here and a point over there and a ton of bull in between.” Brewer kept his promise as he delved into the subject of pastoral preaching and ways that preaching is a means of soul care for hurting persons.

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Sunday afternoon might ordinarily mean a nice, long nap—but not during the North American Convention of the Church of God! There’s no time for shuteye when gospel music echoes through the convention grounds. The southern gospel concert at NAC 2011 was a toe-tappin’, foot-stompin’, hand-clappin’, hankie-wavin’, chandelier-swingin’, runnin’-the-aisles event (some folks more than others)!

Click here to read more about the southern gospel concert...

On Saturday, in the conference “Understanding the Muslim’s Mind: Not Living in Fear,” a veteran Christian worker who has resided in the Middle East for over three decades presented three main points: The rapid growth worldwide of Islam and its well-financed scheme of mission strategy, facts about the Quran and Muslims, and questions frequently asked by Muslims.

The purpose of this conference, organized and sponsored by National Association of Evangelism, was to help individuals understand the Muslim mind and equip us as Christians with some steps on how to be a more effective witness among Muslims. The speaker shared not only theory but from life experiences among Muslims. Those who attended learned more about the fears that haunt Muslims, fears that motivate them to practice their religion. Attendees also gained insights into the fears of those who have chosen to follow Christ.

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Nancy Warren, children’s minister of First Church of God in Lagrange, Indiana, has a passion for communicating effectively with children and preparing them for a lifelong journey with Christ.

Warren was called to ministry in her early forties, earned a bachelor’s degree in Bible and binistry from Bethel College, and was ordained through Indiana Ministries of the Church of God.

“It is during these crucial eight years that lifelong habits, values, beliefs and attitudes are formed,” states Barna, founder of the Barna Group, a research company focused on how faith and culture intersect.

Click here to read more about storytelling for twenty-first-century kids...

By David Neidert

The Republican Debate in New Hampshire opened the next seventeen months of political races in the United States. Wikipedia notes that November 6, 2012, is the fifty-seventh presidential election, which will “coincide with the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives elections to seat the 113th Congress.” Countless state elections will also be contested in the year ahead.

Americans will soon be inundated with commercials, editorials, and mail flyers extolling why their vote should be cast for an individual or party. Some advertisements will be informative, while others will be filled with disrespect, incivility, and falsehood.

What are citizens to believe and how are they to vote?

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So, is SHAPE going to be around after the Lilly money is gone?” “Oh, I’ve heard everything there is to know about SHAPE.” “Is there really anything new in SHAPE?” I hear questions regarding the ministry of SHAPE (Sustaining Health and Pastoral Excellence) on a regular basis and am always happy to reply that the ministry of SHAPE is alive and well and growing in scope and impact.

SHAPE will launch its fifteenth and sixteenth regions by the end of the year as more pastors are provided the opportunity to join in clusters for inspiration, instruction, and encouragement that lead to greater personal health and pastoral effectiveness. A member of the National SHAPE Leadership Team commented at their annual meeting during the first week of June, “I don’t know why anyone wouldn’t want to be in SHAPE!” Another pastor recently commented, “SHAPE is the best thing that has ever happened for me in ministry…”

Click here to read more about what's new in SHAPE...

Plan to attend the Native American Ministry conference on Monday, June 27, at 1:00 pm, in Fine Arts 269, and learn more about the unique aspects of ministry with our Native American brothers and sisters. John Newton, Church of God Ministries liaison to Native American ministries, will be available to answer any questions you may have. You may even have the opportunity to visit with individuals who represent these ministries at the conference. Perhaps your congregation or ministry would like to support Native American Ministries. This informative conference will give you the opportunity to learn what God is doing in each of the following locations and how you can best support them:

At Pass Creek Church of God, Pastors Barry and Shelly Bentley lead a mission outpost and church on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. They are supported by those who have chosen to partner with them through donations to serve the Lakota people. This ministry helps to create youth programs designed to develop indigenous youth leadership, weekly Bible study, vacation Bible school, and work camps.

Click here to read more about our Native American family...

Service. Giving. Stewardship. Are they the same? Are they different? Are they connected? How do we approach these timeless truths in the “new economy” of the twenty-first century? How do we preach these truths in a relevant fashion? These are some of the questions which will be addressed in Monday’s conference, “How to Preach Stewardship Effectively,” led by Kerry B. Robinson, pastor of East Side Church of God, Anderson, Indiana.

The task of preaching in a rapidly changing culture is always a challenge. The task of preaching about the values of life in that culture raises the challenge to an even higher level. While no conference setting can provide all the answers for any subject, there are some foundational concepts that allow those of us called to communicate God’s truth to do so with effectiveness.

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My favorite verses in the whole Bible are found in Psalms 139. They tell me that I was “fearfully and wonderfully made” and that even before I was born God ordained all of my days and wrote them down. I don’t know about you, but I want to know what God planned for my life. I want to know how he knit me together in a unique way to fulfill his plan for my life. I know that part of his plan for me was to be saved, because I am, and God’s Word tells me that when I received Christ as my Savior, I was given at least one spiritual gift that I am to use to serve others.

Galatians 1:15 says it this way, God, in his grace, chose me even before I was born, and called me to serve him.”

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Yesterday members and other interested individuals gathered for the annual meeting of the Church of God Historical Society. The society was founded eleven years ago to encourage the collection and preservation of documents and artifacts related to the Church of God, promote research and writing in Church of God history, and provide a forum for people interested in furthering the study of the movement’s history.

This year’s meeting highlighted three important development: David Neidert introduced the society’s new website (accessible at www.choghistoricalsociety.org). Archivist Vivian Nieman displayed electronic access to early volumes of the Gospel Trumpet now available online. Finally, those in attendance listed to a presentation by Douglas Welch and Dale Stultz on their soon-to-be-released book recounting the first eighty years of the Church of God: The Gospel Trumpet Years. Welch and Stultz have previously collaborated on The Book of Noah and Old Main. All three books are Historical Society publications and available for purchase through the website. The society also publishes a newsletter, Church of God Historian, three times a year. Membership in the society is open to all interested persons; annual dues are $15.

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Ever wonder where your favorite hymns come from or what inspired them? Christians Broadcasting Hope (CBH) is pleased to introduce Hymns and Stories from the Chapel with Jim Lyon! Join us at the North American Convention to experience this unique concert. The event will take place in Reardon Auditorium at 9:00 pm, following the Sunday evening service.

Hymns and Stories from the Chapel was originally performed at the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in North Carolina. It was so well received that they decided to do it again. This live performance features six well-known hymns and presents the stories of how they came to be written.

“Everybody has a story, and every song has a story,” said Lyon. “I’m very excited about the way in which the stories and the music will be woven together and will actually move the audience. And I am convinced that the audience will be moved.”

Click here to read more about Hymns and Stories from the Chapel...

To help convention attendees revitalize their engagement in the Great Commandments, the Transformation Teams are offering a special series of Permeate conferences that will present the deeper meanings and implications of this value. The conference series will follow two tracks, comprising four conferences each.

The first is the congregational track, which revolves around the four Ps: Prayer, Prepare, Practice, and Post. The leaders will encourage the church as the body of Christ to better understand what God’s calling is for the life of the congregation and what it takes to become a Great Commandment church.

Click here to learn more about this series of conferences

Pose the question to your congregation, What should pastors do to keep their ministry strong? and you’ll probably hear folks insist that they faithfully study the Bible, spend hours in personal devotion and prayer, and practice other good habits that keep their spiritual fitness in check. But how much emphasis ought to be placed on the emotional health of our pastors? Perhaps this question makes more sense when we consider how the emotional health of pastors directly affects their spiritual health and their ability to minister at church and at home.

Not only will Stephen Arterburn—radio personality, public speaker, and bestselling author—speak at tonight’s worship service, but he will also lead a conference on Monday on the emotional health of pastors.

Click here to read more about keeping pastors fit...

Come and hear about “Go and See, Go and Do, Go and Teach” trips through Eye on the World (EOTW). Led by Don Smith and Ruben Schwieger of Global Missions, this conference promises to spark the enthusiasm of the church for mission partnerships through trips and support. This year, the conference will be presented twice.

The first segment, “Cutting Edge,” will be a final update on the work accomplished in Haiti through the disaster relief efforts. Phil and Lonnie Murphy, Art and Suetta Clawson, John and Jodie Ackerman and others who played a major role will be present. The great effort and partnership shown by numerous Church of God organizations, congregations, individuals, and work teams with Church of God Ministries Disaster Relief demonstrates what can be accomplished together and is something we will celebrate.

Click here to learn more about Eye on the World trips...

Join us on the Mall for pre- and post-evening service activities at the Gazebo, Saturday through Wednesday. From 6:00 to 6:30 pm, come and enjoy music with an international flavor as you make your way to the evening service at 7:00. Stop by after the service to greet that evening’s speaker.

Each pre-service event will feature music from various cultures, giving convention attendees a taste of music from the five regions around the globe where there is Church of God presence.

The Gazebo is located at the center of convention activities, on the pedestrian mall, and just a few steps away from the evening service venues at Reardon Auditorium and Park Place Church of God.

During each worship service at NAC, we will hear from God’s anointed speaker for the hour. This year, the following speakers will bring the word of God and focus on the convention theme, Permeate!

Stephen Arterburn will speak on Sunday evening on the topic of self—how to relate the love of God to loving ourselves. He is a radio Let Us Worship Together! personality, public speaker, and bestselling author. He is the founder of the Women of Faith conferences; the founder and chairman of the New Life Ministries broadcast, counseling, and treatment ministry; and the host of the New Life Live! radio program. Steve is also currently a teaching pastor at Heartland Church in Indianapolis.

Dr. Steve Birch will speak at the Monday morning service on Love for the World. Steve has been a pastor since he was twenty-three years old. He began as the lead pastor of Clearwater Church of God (now Bayside Community Church of God) in Clearwater, Florida, where he served for fifteen years. He then served for eighteen years as the lead pastor of Eastland Church of God in Lexington, Kentucky. He is currently the lead pastor of White Chapel Church of God in South Daytona, Florida.

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“It [hospitality] is an adventure that takes you where you never dreamed of going,” say Daniel Homan and Lonnie Collins Pratt in their book Radical Hospitality: Benedict’s Way of Love.

I invite you to join Christian Women Connection (CWC) on an adventure of hospitality during the 2011 North American Convention. We will explore biblical hospitality, contemplative hospitality, and practical hospitality through specially planned conferences and events.

On Monday morning, we will begin our adventure with the Annual Assembly (8:30–10:00 am, Miller Chapel). Our national president, Che-Che Mobley, will share about the ministry of Christian Women Connection, and missionary Don Deena Johnson will speak about her experiences and travels. On Monday afternoon, join us back in Miller Chapel for the Women’s Preaching Forum (4:00–5:30 pm). Gifted and inspired women of God will share sermons on the theme of hospitality throughout Scripture.

Click here to read more about this journey of hospitality...

In Anderson, Indiana, the month of June commonly offers two types of weather: heat and humidity that could wilt the steel girders of a multistory building or thunderstorms and torrential rains that threaten to wash North American Convention of the Church of God visitors back to their places of origin. At times both sorts of weather conditions make an appearance on the same day—not infrequently within the same hour.

Fortunately for this year’s convention-goers, Saturday evening proved to be mild and pleasant as men, women, and children gathered to raise their voices in praise to God and hear what the Lord had placed on the heart of the evening’s speaker.

Click here to read more about Saturday evening's worship service...

“Transforming Culture by Being the Body of Christ.” These words are the vision and mission that have helped shape the theme of this year’s North American Convention of the Church of God, which opened on Friday evening. “This year we will focus on what it truly means to love God and love each other,” shared Dr. Ronald V. Duncan, general director of Church of God Ministries, as he opened the evening service. “We want to love our neighbors and take the gospel to them because we care so much about them.”

This theme was continued as convention-goers were provided the opportunity to experience Paul: A Musical Journey, written by Dr. Charles Myricks, Jr., Anderson University alumnus and pastor of finance and development at Arlington Church of God in Akron, Ohio. “The message we share is the most powerful the world has ever heard,” said Dr. Myricks. “When you join that message with song, the most powerful medium, you have ‘Powerful-powerful.’ This message is life-changing, and if he can transform Paul’s life, he can transform our lives.”

Click here to read more about this event...

Loving God and loving each other is what we are called to do, and this is directly related to mission work. At this year’s North American Convention, representatives from the Global Missions team will be present to talk about the work they have done and what they hope to accomplish, as well as how you can get involved.

During the convention there will be excellent conferences available to provide information about the outreach happening throughout the world and in our own neighborhoods. These include “One World, One Mission”; “Muslims in Your Neighborhood”; an update on the events taking place in Haiti and Japan; “Meet Your Missionaries”; and “Who Wants to Be a Missionary?”

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I am so glad you have joined us for this 125th North American Convention of the Church of God. This year we will continue our in-depth exploration of our vision and mission: “Transforming Culture by Being the Body of Christ.” Specifically, we will examine our second Strategic Value—Permeate—which calls us to engage in the Great Commandments (Matt 22:37–39). I encourage you to use this time to worship our Lord, grow in the Spirit through the conferences and inspired preaching, and share with one another.

What a joy it is to gather together with our brothers and sisters from across the country and around the world. The convention offers something for everyone. Be sure to review the program book, where you will find a complete listing of all conferences, services, and activities. Most of the events, exhibits, and activities are conveniently located in close proximity to “Main Street,” where you can pause to reflect, relax, or fellowship with one another.

Click here to read more of Dr. Duncan's welcome message...

By Carl Stagner

It’s something your whole family will enjoy! On Saturday, June 25, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, families from near and far will descend on the grassy area by the Fine Arts Building on the Anderson University campus. Aptly dubbed Family Day, this event will feature activities geared toward children, youth, and their parents and grandparents.

Children will love the five giant inflatables. There will be slides, bounce houses, and two obstacle courses to challenge both mind and body. One of those obstacle courses taunts its challengers. It’s called Adrenaline Rush.

Click here to read more about Family Day 2011

New books will be signed by authors or their immediate families in the Warner Press booth in the exhibit tent after each evening worship service of the 2011 North American Convention. This is an opportunity for convention-goers to have personal contact with well-known leaders of the church. Each book will have a special convention discount of 30 percent, available only at the Warner Press exhibit during NAC week.

After the service on Saturday evening, June 25, Dr. Andy Stephenson will sign copies of the new Ultimate Adventure Remix youth discipleship series. Dr. Stephenson is CGM coordinator of youth and family ministries. He co-authored the Ultimate Adventure Remix with Richard E. (Rick) Winford and Jim Davey.

Click here to read more...

Picture a giant tent filled to the brim with people praising God in song. Imagine hearing an impassioned sermon, followed by an invitation. As you look around the crowded space, you hear individuals who have risen to their feet to share testimonies. Then a quartet moves to the platform to proclaim the gospel message through song. Finally, the event is concluded with fervent prayer. Sound like a tent revival from the early twentieth century or a camp meeting service from a bygone era? Actually, you can experience this every day during NAC at the LIVE Ministries morning services.

Click here to find out who will  be speaking in the tent this year.

What would it look like to be a Church of God congregation fully engaged in missions? How can a Church of God congregation be more fully involved in the global mandate of world evangelism and discipleship? Can Global Missions provide a platform to help you and your church live missions on the edge, entering the flow of what God is doing in the world? Yes, Global Missions can!

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What would happen if during the North American Convention, Church of God people did more than show up, worship together, and leave? Imagine the impact we could have on the community if we demonstrated the love of God to Anderson, Indiana, while we were all convened in one place. Anderson, Indiana, has long been the host community for the North American Convention of the Church of God. This year, we’re going to put into action the convention theme: “Permeate! Engaging every individual, church, and agency in the Great Commandments (Matt 22:37–29).” Join us for several opportunities to love God and neighbor right here in Anderson!

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The North American Convention of the Church of God offers the unique opportunity for us to come together to corporately worship our Lord. During each service we will hear from God’s anointed speaker the message he has given. The music, prayer, and spoken word will guide us to moments of reflection, growth, and surrender. And through the experience we will seek the face of our Savior, find peace through praise, and offer thanksgiving to the Lord.

Click here to read about this year's NAC speakers.

This year marks the 125th annual North American Convention held in Anderson, Indiana. In years past, people have come from all over to fellowship with one another, hear inspirational speakers, and join in worshiping our God. This year will be no different.

Last year’s convention marked the beginning of a new series of themes based on the five strategic values of the Church of God. The theme for this year’s convention is Permeate—Engaging every individual, church, and agency in the Great Commandments; loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matt 22:37–39).

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A large-print edition of the BRIDGES adult curriculum will be available for the 2011 fall quarter, beginning September 1. Both teacher and student books will be published in the new large-print format. The regular digest-size edition will also continue to be published by Warner Press, Inc.

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Church of God Ministries has negotiated an advance screening of the movie Courageous during the 2011 North American Convention of the Church of God.  The purpose of the screening is to provide pastors and lay leaders with the opportunity to view the film and consider how it might be a resource to support their local ministry. The movie is scheduled for nationwide release in theaters on September 30, 2011.  The advance screening will be held on June 29, 2011, at 2:00 PM in Byrum Hall on the convention grounds.

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The ministry team in Tanzania not only focuses on their assignment to coordinate ministry but also strives to help each of the ministries work together and complement one another. A great example of that collaboration is a former Children of Promise-sponsored child and graduate of Aldersgate Secondary School, Joachim Nahumu. Joachim lost most of the use of his legs from a battle with polio at age three. He lived with his grandmother and used a stick to get around while attending primary school in a remote village. Joachim’s options for secondary school were limited, and it was the sponsorship through Children of Promise in Tanzania that enabled him to attend the Aldersgate Education Center, the Church of God private Christian school in Tanzania.

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Anderson University will host Paul: A Musical Journey to kick-off the North American Convention of the Church of God at Reardon Auditorium on Friday, June 24, at 7 PM. The musical, written by Anderson University alum Dr. Charles Myricks, Jr. is the life changing story of the Apostle Paul. The show has garnered rave reviews and received standing ovations at every performance since it opened in Akron, Ohio, in January 2005. It has been called “infectious” by the Cleveland Plain Dealer and “jam packed with soul satisfying music” by the Akron Beacon Journal.

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