Eight thousand Boomers turn sixty everyday. By 2011, the oldest Boomer will reach sixty-five. When the Boomer generation becomes sixty-five years of age and older, the older population in the United States will more than double, from thirty-five million in 2000 to seventy-two million in 2030. What does this mean for the church? Will we find effective ways to minister to and with those in this generation?

By Dwayne & Kara Goldman

Chelyabinsk, Russia—Although Thanksgiving is a traditional American holiday, there is a Thanksgiving or harvest celebration that the church in Russia celebrates each year. Usually held the last week of September, everyone is invited to bring a representation of the bountiful harvest from their gardens. Apples, potatoes, carrots, beets, greens, gourds, and flowers decorate the front of the auditorium. With such a representation of the bounty God provides from nature, the day is very festive and full of rejoicing and praise.

By Susan Kane Church Multiplication

Ontario, Oregon, is a small community situated approximately half way between Portland and Salt Lake City, Utah. It boasts more than eleven thousand residents and is home to the Heinz Frozen Food Company, producer of more than six hundred million pounds of potato products annually. Also nestled in this small community is Origins Faith Community Church, a newly-planted Church of God congregation.

By Carl Stagner

It’s a scene all too familiar in many churches across the country: plenty of pew space but only a few occupants. New Beginnings Church of God in Meadville, Pennsylvania, was a church struggling to see Sunday morning attendance reach twenty. In the face of certain demise, God stepped in and showed he’s still active in the local church today. As is often the case, he used an unlikely character to lead a major turnaround at New Beginnings. Once a congregation on the brink of defeat, New Beginnings Church of God now sees regular attendance in excess of one thousand. Like a giant, the enemy was set to declare victory over this church; like David, Pastor Harold Ferraro obeyed God’s call and took a stand.

By Susan Kane

When Pastor Jorge Palacios came to the Bensalem Iglesia de Dios Shalom church in 2001, he did so with a heart for reaching the lost and bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to the Philadelphia community. Now, seven years later, he is still on fire with a desire to see unbelievers come to know Christ as their Savior.

Church of God Ministries is pleased to announce the appointment of Aaron Varner as a new career missionary to Germany. Aaron will be assigned to the Gateway Berlin Team and help establish a European team that will work in the Berlin area to plant an international church there. The new work will also serve as a launching point for the training of leaders and the development of healthy churches in the region.

Anderson University (Anderson, Indiana) recently announced a search for the role of Vice President for Academic Affairs and invites applications and nominations for the position. The university is sponsored by the Church of God, Anderson, Ind., with roots in the Wesleyan/Holiness tradition. It enrolls over 2,700 students, has a faculty of 145 FTE and has an annual budget in excess of 63 million. The university is composed of two colleges, and three schools offering a full range of undergraduate programs as well as graduate programs in business, music, nursing and teacher education and a graduate School of Theology. It is primarily a residential institution but has a growing program in adult and continuing education. It holds accreditation from ACBSP, ATS, CSWE, NASM, NATA, CAATE, NCATE, HLC-NCA and CCNE.

By Dr. Paul L. Maxfield

His story could be the story of millions of children throughout the world. His father died when he was very young. He and his siblings were raised by his mother until her death. Then they were given to an auntie to be raised. There simply wasn’t money for school fees, uniform, or supplies. Food was a luxury. He had little hope for a life beyond the small two-room mud-brick hut and the other chains of poverty.

The Board of Pensions (BoP) of the Church of God recently completed a comprehensive research project to determine the opinions and attitudes of BoP members and potential members on several key issues. The research project, which included a survey of more than 1,200 individuals, was conducted this summer. The findings from the project will better assist the BoP in planning to service the current and future needs of their members.

“We are committed to serving those who serve the church,” said Jeff Jenness, executive secretary–treasurer of the BoP. “It is so important for us to know the thoughts of our members as we develop the plans or programs to help improve their financial security.”

The Spread the Word (STW) program, funded by offerings from the youth of the Church of God, provided $20,000 to Kima International School of Theology (KIST) to purchase a much-needed van. The recently purchased van is already making the rounds in the East African country of Kenya, helping to spread the good news of Christ.

“It has already been a great blessing!” said career missionary Don Smith, principal of KIST, in speaking about the van. “So far the van has been used to transport our students on five or six evangelistic trips.”