As part of his estate settlement, Malcolm Gardner expressed in his last will and testament a desire to recognize his mother’s love for the Church of God. Malcolm directed a significant donation to the Church of God Foundation be made in honor of his mother, Mary (Daglian) Gardner.

Joyce Seccia, Malcolm’s niece, described her grandmother Mary as a humble but influential Christian woman. “She had serious heart problems but lived strong because of her faith and work for the church,” said Joyce.

For the eighth time in its history, Warner Pacific College is searching for a new president, and I am asking you to prayerfully consider what role you might play in this transition.  Maybe you know an ideal candidate that you could encourage to apply, possibly you are feeling called to apply for the position yourself, or perhaps you will join us in prayer for God’s wisdom, leading, and direction during this important process.

In recent years, Warner Pacific College has established financial stability unprecedented in the institution’s history, and has begun the process of enhancing the College’s reputation in the Pacific Northwest.  After several years of financial challenge, Warner Pacific was able to retire all of its long-term operational indebtedness in February of 2007.  For the first time since 1940, the College is in the position to plan for the future without the encumbrances of the financial challenges of the past.

Anderson University will receive $375,000 from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc., for a sustaining proposal to provide students more opportunities and incentives to keep them in Indiana upon graduation.  The Anderson University sustaining grant proposal approved by the Endowment is entitled, INvision AU.  The grant comes from the Endowment’s “Initiative to Promote Opportunity through Educational Collaborations.”

By Susan Kane
Church Multiplication

But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. (Jeremiah 20:9 niv)

I love a good fire! I love watching fires. I love sitting by fires. Actually, I love starting fires, but that is a whole other story. (Sorry, Dad and Mom!) There is something about a fire that has always drawn me towards it. And I don’t think I am all that different from most people. Fire draws a crowd. That is just what fires do.

It is time to honor our congregational shepherds and servants of the church. October is Pastor Appreciation Month, a time to express our appreciation for our pastor’s selfless service to the ministry of the Father. These servants have responded in obedience to God’s call to serve in his kingdom as they give leadership to their local congregations.

The challenge of ministering to many different people and communities has a way of leaving them emotionally, spiritually, and physically depleted. Tangible acts of appreciation and gratitude help to strengthen and encourage the pastor and their family.

Efforts continue at Church of God Ministries (CGM) to obtain detailed assessments on the extent of damages to Church of God congregations affected by Hurricane Ike. While some churches have been able to provide initial assessments, contact has remained difficult with several congregations in the most severely affected areas due to power outages, closed roads, and downed phone lines.

“Contact with the Churches of God in Port Arthur, Orange, and Beaumont, Texas, has been difficult,” reports Robert Pettit, hurricane relief coordinator for our churches in Texas. “They were hit hard, and at this time we are unable to make contact to assess the situation. As soon as information is available, we will be able to have a better understanding of what type of response to initiate.”

The following is a letter of update provided by Pastor Don Bergstrom, Houston First Church of God regarding their experience and situation following Hurricane Ike.

Dear Church Family and Friends,

Houstonians who stayed in town will never forget the night of September 12, 2008.  We went to bed (well, some went to bed) not knowing what the morning would bring.  Hurricane Ike was coming, and all we could do was wait…and pray.  Around 1:00 a.m. our power went out (and would remain out for the next ten days, but we were just one of some 8 million homes from the Gulf Coast to Canada that would experience power outages due to Ike).  The sound of wind that rattled our house through the night is permanently etched in my memory!  I’ve been through a few earthquakes.  They hit and then it’s over.  I now know that hurricanes hit - and continue hammering!  I wondered throughout the night if it would ever end. 

Leaders, pastors, and lay workers from eight different faith communions within the Holiness tradition met on September 23 at the Madison Park Church of God, Anderson, Indiana, for a day of discussion and networking, focusing on “Holiness in the 21st Century.”  The event was described as a day to engage the minds and hearts of leaders in our common call to holiness in fulfilling our mission.

With 235 representatives in attendance from the Brethren in Christ, the Salvation Army, the Wesleyan Church, the Evangelical Church, the Free Methodist Church, the Church of the Nazarene, the Christian and Missionary Alliance, and the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), the day was packed with times of worship, reflection, and thought-provoking presentations and discussions.

A few months ago, Church of God Ministries sent a simple and free gift to your congregation via e-mail that you could use in your worship: PowerPoint slides for welcome and announcements. The response was very positive. Good news! We now have a new set of slides that you can use. Simply click here to download, from the Church of God Ministries Web site, new announcement slides for use in your worship. It’s a great way to have professional slides for your worship service and identify with the Church of God family.

Church of God Ministries has advanced Rev. Tim West, area administrator for Texas an emergency distribution of funds to assist our congregations there following the devastation caused by Hurricane Ike. But more money will be needed for the relief and recovery operations.

Rev. West has been in close communication with Rev. Obadiah Smith, coordinator for compassionate ministries at CGM. In spite of the difficulties with communications due to phone lines being down, West was able to provide an initial report of the damages from a few churches affected by Ike: