Peace Dale Church of God (Rhode Island) elders in fellowship.
By Angela Sagesse
The Church of God in New England consists of ten congregations dispersed between Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. All six states that comprise “New England” consistently are ranked within the top ten of the nation for having the lowest church attendance, thus making this the least-churched area of the country. Yet, the New England Church of God is wanting to turn that around! Continue reading
Comments Off on Rejuvenating the Church of God in New England
Posted in All Church of God, Northeast
Tagged Angela Sagesse, diversity, mission, multi-ethnic, multicultural, New England, Northeast, northeastern, Peace Dale, Peace Dale Church of God, region, regional, regional ministry, rejuvenation, revitalize, Rhode Island, RI, state ministries, turnaround, unity, update, vision
The congregation at their centennial in 2017.
By Carl Stagner
In August 2008, Bobby Washington returned as senior pastor to East Denver Church of God in Denver, Colorado, along with his wife Regina. In the mid-1990s, they’d given pastoral leadership to the youth ministry there, soon after graduating from Mid-America. It’s not been easy doing ministry in the heart of the city, but it’s been a tremendous blessing. It’s also not been easy being bivocational, but they’ve found the payoff to be both eternally rewarding and incredibly practical. Meanwhile, the church continues to reach across the cultural spectrum, with flexibility otherwise unavailable if Pastor Bobby had insisted on a full-time position. Continue reading
Comments Off on A Multicultural Colorado Church’s Bivocational Advantage
Posted in All Church of God, Give Life, Western
Tagged Affordable Computer Solutions, bi-vocational, bivocational, Bobby Washington, CO, Colorado, community, computer, Denver, diversity, East Denver Church of God, food bank, food distribution, Godside Ministries, IT, life skills, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multiethnic, outreach, racial reconciliation, Regina Washington, unity
Nora and J. R. Stepp in scenic Alaska.
By Carl Stagner
One year has passed since J. R. Stepp became the first black pastor of a predominantly white congregation in Palmer, Alaska. But to Palmer Church of God and Pastor J. R., it’s really no big deal. While they certainly acknowledge the effective witness of multicultural ministry, they’re most concerned about the advancement of the kingdom. Simply put, they’re too busy preaching the gospel in word and action to spend time thinking about their unique situation. As the Spirit convicts and compels the Church of God movement to reconciliation and greater unity, Palmer Church of God offers a glimpse of what it looks like when Jesus is truly the subject. Continue reading
Comments Off on All About Jesus in Alaska: Palmer Pastor Celebrates Unity, Mission
Posted in All Church of God, Give Life, Western
Tagged AK, Alaska, community, ethnicity, J. R. Stepp, Jesus Is the Subject, Jim Lyon, Leonora Stepp, love, missional, multi-ethnic, multicultural, Nora, Northwest, outreach, Palmer, Phoenix Regional Convention, race, racial reconciliation, unity
Pastor Dick Ogle
By Carl Stagner
Dick Ogle’s preferred daily dress is clerical attire—characteristic among some denominations, but certainly not common in the Church of God. Funerals are one of his primary methods of outreach—unusual, but surprisingly potent. Perhaps the most unconventional thing about this eighty-eight-year-old pastor is that he came out of retirement at age seventy-seven to plant a church in Hoisington, Kansas. Today, First Street Church of God is a healthy, growing, multi-ethnic congregation that proclaims the gospel with boldness, and sings straight out of the hymnal. Continue reading
Comments Off on The Clerical Collar-Wearing Pastor Who Planted a Church at Age 77
Posted in All Church of God, Central, Give Life
Tagged age, Chaplain, choir, church planting, clerical attire, clerical collar, community, creativity, Dick Ogle, diversity, First Street Church of God, funerals, Hoisington, hymns, Kansas, KS, multi-ethnic, multicultural, outreach, prison ministry, retired, retirement, Richard Ogle, senior, traditional, unconventional
Photo: Multinational prayer at the gathering.
By Carl Stagner
Across much of Europe and the Middle East, evangelical Christians compose only 0.25 to 4 percent of the population. While young Christians in North American have been given the opportunity to experience worship and fellowship with thousands of other believers—such as IYC—many Christians across European and Middle Eastern countries have never been in the same room with more than a dozen young adults who share their faith. The presence, support, and comradery of other believers is often a breath of fresh air among those for whom isolation is the norm. The second gathering of the Three Worlds Leadership Network commenced in beautiful Switzerland in early May this year, bringing with it that much-needed breath of fresh air. Continue reading
Comments Off on Gathering Connects, Trains Young Leaders Across Europe, Middle East
Posted in All Church of God, Global Strategy
Tagged 3W, 3W Leadership Network, 3WLN, Audrey Langford, Christy Kihm, community, cross-cultural, Daniele Santonocito, Europe and the Middle East, Europe-Middle East, gathering, Global Strategy, Greg Weins, international, Joe Webb, Ken Oldham, Matt Anderson, Missionaries, missions, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multinational, Switzerland, Three Worlds, unity, young adults
By Carl Stagner
Some had likely never worshiped in Spanish before. Others had probably never experienced firsthand the high-octane energy of urban gospel. History suggests that few had likely ever been in a setting where three cultures converged in the name of Christ. But that’s exactly what happened at the first-ever ONE event, which took place at Church at the Crossing in Indianapolis, Indiana, on April 21 and 22. The result was a glimpse of heaven and a renewed desire to change the world together. Continue reading
Comments Off on ONE Gives Students Glimpse of Heaven, Desire to Change the World Together
Posted in All Church of God, Youth Ministries
Tagged Adam Rentas, Andy Stephenson, CATC, Church at the Crossing, community service, Concilio Hispano, convention, diversity, Gleaner's Food Bank, high school, Hispanic Council, Humberto Mena, IN, Indiana, Indianapolis, International Youth Convention, IYC, Kevin Earley, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multiethnic, National Inspirational Youth Convention, NIYC, ONE Event, Ramon Rivera, students, teenagers, teens, Tim Quainoo, unity, worship, youth
Photo: Pastor Trey locks hands and hearts with basketball ministry youth.
By Carl Stagner
The culture of your community has shifted over the past five, ten, perhaps twenty years. The shift may have been gradual, but somehow you feel blindsided. Your church probably has three choices: adapt with the culture, relocate to another culture, or continue a futile fight against it. Adapting to the culture doesn’t mean changing the message or compromising principles; only the methods change when Jesus is the subject. Crossroads of Life Church of God in Byram, Mississippi, had to make a decision as they watched their community’s culture shift dramatically, largely over the past decade alone. But they’ve chosen to stay put, and they’re certainly glad they did. Continue reading
Comments Off on Mississippi Church Adapts to Cultural Shift to Reach Community
Posted in All Church of God, Southeast
Tagged basketball, Byram, change, community, cross-cultural, demographics, diversity, family, gym, Jesus Is the Subject, leadership, Mississippi, MS, multi-ethnic, multicultural, multiethnic, outreach, sports, Trey Hammond, unity, visitors, welcome
By Carl Stagner
It’s at the core of who we are. We preach about it. We sing about it. We read books about it by pioneers of our movement. But we don’t have a flawless record of living it out. The perfect love which unites us all in Jesus must translate to how we function as individual churches and as a movement. A new generation is rising up in the Church of God less connected to “the way we’ve always done it.” They are challenging the status quo; they are daring to do things differently. They’re setting the example for the rest of us as they come together in Indianapolis, Indiana, April 21–22 to worship under one roof. No, it’s not the International Youth Convention. No, it’s not NIYC. And no, it’s also not a youth convention of the Concilio Hispano. It’s ONE gathering, hosted by all three groups, that your church’s youth group won’t want to miss. Continue reading
Comments Off on Youth to Participate in Historic Unity Event this April
Posted in All Church of God, Youth Ministries
Tagged Andy Stephenson, CHOGY, Church at the Crossing, Concilio Hispano, conference, convention, functional unity, high school, Hispanic Council, Indiana, Indianapolis, IYC, Kevin Earley, middle school, multi-ethnic, multicultural, NIYC, ONE Event, Ramon Rivera, relational connectivity, student ministries, students, together, unity, youth, youth ministries
Photo: Gathering Place Church of God marriage retreat.
By Carl Stagner
Remember that slogan? “A United Church for a Divided World.” Sounds good, doesn’t it? But it doesn’t have to be just a slogan, and it doesn’t have to only represent a theme of days gone by. For The Gathering Place Church of God in Fairview Heights, Illinois, it represents present reality. They’re the product of two churches coming together; that is, a predominantly black church and a predominantly white church. While the rest of the world is busy arguing over this, that, and the other, this unified church across the Mississippi River from St. Louis is preoccupied with communicating Jesus to a lost and hurting community. Continue reading
Comments Off on A United Church for a Divided World: An Illinois Snapshot
Posted in All Church of God, Central, Great Lakes
Tagged Eric Livingston, ethnic, Fairview Heights, Frederick Wright, functional unity, Gathering Place Church of God, Illinois, Jesus Is the Subject, merge, merger, multi-ethnic, multicultural, race, racial unity
Photo: Pastor Bryndon Glass and Pastor Josh Deeter
By Carl Stagner
It’s been on the news. It’s all over social media. People are talking about it. Matters related to race are once again hot-button across the country, whether or not we want to admit it. Lives have been forever altered on all sides of the issue. The headlines elicit disgust, disbelief, painful sorrow, and sheer outrage. The pundits and politicians are quick to air their opinions, but we the church know that the wisdom and solutions for such a complex subject can only come from above. After the tragic events unfolded in Minnesota, Louisiana, and Texas over the first week of July, Pastor Josh Deeter of First Church of God in Tallmadge, Ohio, knew the church could not stay silent. By the end of the month, this resolve culminated in an event at the church that brought together a predominantly white church, a predominantly black church, and the community. Continue reading
Comments Off on Neighboring Churches Partner to Host Town Hall on Racial Unity
Posted in All Church of God, Great Lakes
Tagged Bryndon Glass, community, First Church of God, forum, Josh Deeter, multi-ethnic, multicultural, Ohio, race relations, racial unity, racism, Reconciliation, SPAN Ministries, Tallmadge, Town Hall
