Every plant begins with a seed. Courtyard Church (Tulsa, OK) began four years ago as a dream in the heart of Melissa Smith. Through her prayers and the prayers of her family, this seed was nurtured and began to grow. Rachelle Nelson, wife of Courtyard’s preaching pastor, Todd Nelson, shares her thoughts about how this church plant began as a seed in 2005 and continues to thrive today:

Todd and Doug and Melissa Smith became acquainted at a church planters boot camp at Southpark Community Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 2005. It was during this boot camp that God began to knit together the hearts of these families and the dreams God had given them for his kingdom.

On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed the Tax Extenders and Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act of 2008, which extended an excellent charitable planning opportunity for both 2008 and 2009. The IRA rollover provides an excellent means for individuals to support any of the ministries they love, for example, their local church, state, or national ministries, missions, Women of the Church of God.

Lake Wales, FL (October 28, 2008) – Warner Southern College, the Christian liberal arts college founded in 1968 on the western shore of Crooked Lake, is now Warner University. “The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change the name effective October 28, 2008,” President Greg Hall said. “The change comes at a pivotal time in our history. We have been a four-year college for 40 years, have offered master degree programs since 2001 and have greatly expanded campus facilities over the past 15 years. The name change broadens the institution’s image to more accurately reflect the quality and diversity of our people and programs.”

By Jenny Peter

MONROE CITY, IN—The parishioners of the First Church of God here won't be sitting in their regular pews this morning [Sunday October 12, 2008]. Instead, you'll find them out running the streets.

More than 150 parishioners from the church, located at 4930 S. DeBord Road, are participating in Faith in Action Day, a national event where parishioners abandon their church buildings and look to serve God by serving their neighbors.

Petersburg, IN—The First Church of God celebrated their one hundredth year of serving the Lord,  October 5, 2008. A special service was conducted for a crowd of more than 125 people. The service included special music, remembrances from former pastors, a slide show of historical pictures, a reading of the history of the church, and other special events.

The congregation commemorated the occasion by dedicating a centennial stone inset in the church’s entrance and taking a photo of those in attendance. Following the services, a carry-in dinner took place; it featured a special cake decorated to celebrate the event.

By Mary Stephens

The air was crisp and the trees were covered with red, gold, and auburn leaves as nearly nine hundred women and a few men arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the 2008 Church of God Women’s Convention, October 16-19. The women and men came for different reasons. Some had been to previous conventions and wouldn’t dream of missing another. Some were coming to their very first convention and had no expectations. Others were strongly encouraged to attend by friends and sisters in Christ. Despite the varied reasons for attending the convention, everyone left with the excitement and sense of purpose that comes from experiencing the Holy Spirit.

By Brian Seidel

We have seen God work in some amazing ways in the past few years in our church as well as in our youth ministry. One of the most notable successes has been our Sunday morning program Youth Café. This new means to reach teens has really produced some significant results.

Anderson University recently announced that Dr. Carl H. Caldwell, vice-president for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, will retire at the conclusion of the 2008-09 academic year.  Upon retirement, Dr. Caldwell will conclude a distinguished career of 38 years in academic and administrative leadership.  He has served at Anderson University since the spring of 1996.

By Susan Kane
     Church Multiplication

Many people associate Sunday morning with worship services, Sunday school classes, and fellowship with other believers. However, not many people associate a church experience with Thursday evening. There is a congregation in Indiana that is setting out to change all that.

First Church of God, located in the small southern-Indiana town of Vincennes, was established more than 110 years ago. Styles have changed over the years, but holding weekly worship services on Sunday mornings has not. The church has grown and attendance has remained strong. Currently, there are more than 450 filling the pews on Sunday morning and participating in various ministries that take place during the week. But Pastor Debbie Salters, minister of Christian education, realized that there might be more to winning souls for Christ than holding the traditional service on Sunday morning.

Church of God Ministries (CGM) has obtained an updated assessment on the extent of damages to Church of God congregations in Texas from Hurricane Ike. Damages vary from congregation to congregation and range from $5,000 to $40,000. However, reports have not yet been received from Beaumont, Texas, the area hit by the brunt of the storm.

Rev. Tim West, area administrator for Texas, provided the following consolidated assessment of damages.