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MARCH 2017

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GAITHER VOCAL BAND TO KICK OFF WICHITA CONVENTION By Carl Stagner Across the Church of God—more accurately, across Christendom—the name Gaither has become synonymous with the best of gospel music. With a sense of holy pride in two of its own, the Church of God has celebrated the extensive reach of Bill and Gloria Gaither for several decades. From “He Touched Me,” to “Because He Lives,” to “The Family of God,” several classics found in the Church of God hymnal have come to us from the pens of Bill and Gloria. The Gaither Vocal Band, featured on just about every one of the highly popular Gaither Homecoming videos, has touched audiences around the world with the hope of Jesus Christ set to music. Today we couldn’t be more excited to announce the Gaither Vocal Band as kickoff worship artists for Church of God Convention 2017 in Wichita, Kansas. Larnelle Harris, Gary McSpadden, Steve Green, Michael English, Guy Penrod, Marshall Hall, David Phelps, and Mark Lowry are just a few of the well-known artists to have comprised the Gaither Vocal Band since the 1980s. Today the roster includes Bill Gaither, Wes Hampton, Todd Suttles, Adam Crabb, and Reggie Smith. Tight harmonies, incredibly strong voices, and humble spirit characterize the group, which regularly tops the charts, and has even secured Grammy Awards. Whether one’s favorite style of music is rock, country, praise and worship, traditional hymns, or southern gospel, the Gaither Vocal Band’s eclectic style offers something everyone will appreciate. Most importantly, it’s all about the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. The Gaither Vocal Band will lead the Church of God in a powerful worship experience Tuesday evening, June 20, at 7:00 PM EDT. It will be the perfect opening to a convention that is already shaping up to be a historic event for the Church of God movement. Between speakers such as Nick Vujicic, Paul Sheppard, and Anita Renfroe, as well as top-notch breakout sessions and conferences, not to mention the long-anticipated release of the outcomes of the CHOG Tables of 2016, the entire convention is this summer’s priority—an experience you won’t want to miss. Then there’s the pivotal General Assembly that will celebrate one hundred years since its first gathering—clearly, Tuesday night’s opening celebration is just the beginning of what God has in store. Early-bird registration ends March 31 for Church of God Convention 2017 (June 20–23 at Central Community Church) in Wichita, Kansas! Register now at www.chogconvention.org, or call 800-848-2464. #Reclaim2017 WORSHIP LEADER BRINGS ECLECTIC STYLE TO CONVENTION 2017 By Carl Stagner “I grew up somewhat of a spiritual mutt.” The words of Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin make sense when you consider that, at the time she was introduced to the Church of God through Anderson University, her faith background had consisted of Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, and Syrian Orthodox experiences. Resonating right away with the AU freshman were the loving unity of believers and the strong emphasis on Jesus and his Word so central to Church of God teaching. Kerry Robinson of East Side Church of God was one of many influential pastors, while worship artists Jay and Amy Rouse were two of several Christ-centered musicians, who took time to invest in the rising leader. Rivaling only her journey of faith in all its diversity is the eclectic style this mother of five now brings to the body of Christ gathered for worship. You can be sure a blessing is on its way when Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin steps onto the platform at Central Community Church in Wichita, Kansas, for Church of God Convention 2017. Guitar. Flute. Ukulele. Accordion. It wasn’t uncommon to find Sarah in her parents’ music room tinkering around on any of these instruments and more. Her parents were steeped in music—her mother was a piano teacher and accomplished pianist, and her father owned a piano store, where he not only tuned pianos, but also restored them. Not surprisingly, piano would ultimately become the instrument of choice through which she would find pleasure and glorify the Lord. Combined with a voice both dynamic and

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smooth, Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin’s worship leadership goes beyond the norm, bringing in elements of classical and jazz music. These styles are a reflection of her childhood experiences. “It wasn’t unusual for us kids to run around [my parents’] various gigs, be it the Renaissance Festival, the church, the local jazz clubs, or just playing at Dad’s piano shop,” Sarah explains. “We were just immersed in music. I don’t remember my parents ever viewing music as a chore to practice in our house. For that reason, I don’t ever remember them telling me I needed to practice, either. We were all just playing and singing constantly because it was the fun thing to do and is who we were.” While a student at Anderson University, she helped lead worship at different points for Church of God congregations in town, including—but not limited to—East Side, Madison Park (then North Anderson), Sherman Street, Arrow Heights, as well as Church at the Crossing in Indianapolis. Since then, she’s also offered her God-given talent at churches beyond the movement. Wherever she has served, she’s helped to create an atmosphere of worship among the congregation. Her connection to Anderson University only grew stronger when, after graduation, she served nearly five years as worship leader for the school’s chapel services. Now she’s been invited to lead worship for the Church of God Convention, something she’s only imagined. “Honestly, I always hoped to have the privilege of serving in this very role someday!” she exclaims. Today Sarah wears several hats. Besides worship leader, songwriter, and gifted artist, she’s a talented blogger. Most important of all the hats she wears is that of wife and mother of four girls and one boy. Her husband Jeff plays the piano, too, but perhaps is even more well-known for his skills on the drums. Several Anderson University students have learned a thing or two about drumming from Jeff. Westfield High School in Westfield, Indiana, is blessed today to have him on the music faculty. Many may recognize Jeff’s brother’s name, too—Jon McLaughlin, national recording artist and songwriter. Out of this wide variety of roles, amazing family connections, and experiences, Sarah brings a style to match and a tender heart. “I’m praying and so hopeful that the worship at the convention feels moving, feels personal, feels diverse, feels accessible,” Sarah reflects. “I often feel like my role as worship leader is quite similar to that of the hostess of a dinner party—at God’s house. Someone is there to help everyone feel safe and welcome at the table. I don’t want anyone getting hung up on what fork to use. I want people to feel loved, to feel known, and to feel free to engage. We are putting together the final pieces of the band and it is going to be fantastic. I do hope there is an eclecticism to the group this summer that brings something new and different!” More information and Sarah’s blog can be accessed at www.sarahtunes.com. Register for Church of God Convention, June 20–23 in Wichita, Kansas, at www.chogconvention.org, or call 800-848-2464. Hurry! Early-bird registration ends March 31! JESUS MESSAGE SWEEPS ACROSS DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, THOUSANDS SAVED By Carl Stagner Though some might consider it overused, there’s likely no better word to describe what’s happening today among Christians in the Dominican Republic. Revival can be seen breaking out in churches, on street corners, in sports, in the media, and even in politics. Unconcerned with denominational differences and squabbles over style, churches are banding together under one unifying message—Jesus. Church of God pastor Juan Santos recently led his Santo Domingo congregation to participate in a weeklong evangelism initiative, a national effort which resulted in several thousand souls won to Christ. He’s delighted to report on the incredible impact of the experience and reveal insights into the cultural transformation permeating nearly every level of society. In 2006, the focused push began. It didn’t include events held in stadiums where people gather and a mass invitation is given. This is the church going to where the people are—into homes, hospitals, and even jails. Pretty much any place where people gather became prime settings for the churches of the

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Dominican Republic to share the gospel. During the second week of February, this National Evangelism and Discipleship initiative involved the greatest number of believers, across denominational lines, to date. While the actual event is just one week each year, the experience has spilled over into a passion to carry out the Great Commission throughout the year. More than ten years of churches practicing unity with a heart for the lost has had an observable effect on the culture. “In our community, we face really dark problems together, like crime, alcohol, and homes where the wife is left to raise the children,” Pastor Juan explains. “In many of the single-parent homes, they have a hard time understanding how God could be a loving heavenly father. We have to take the church out of the four walls and accomplish the mission for the Lord. So our church went on prayer walks around the neighborhood on four Tuesday nights leading up to the big week. Then, during the second week of February, our church split into small groups and we sent them out to take the gospel to the streets. Some of those who accepted Christ are already coming to church and we’re meeting with them and praying with them as they grow. We are preaching the gospel and praying for revival to take over the whole country.” In addition to the fruits of evangelism and discipleship, evidence of the spread of Christianity in the Dominican Republic is showing up among prominent national figures. Sports stars are coming to Christ, several celebrities have made confessions of faith, and the media has shown signs of being more open to faith. Of all the radio stations in the country, the Christian station is now the fourth most-listened-to on the dial. Recently, Pastor Juan began a new daily radio broadcast ministry on that same station. The highest level of government has not been immune to this wave of Christian influence. The president of the Dominican Republic assembled a group of pastors to serve as his prayer team, and Juan Santos is honored to be one of those pastors! Among the most interesting facts about Pastor Juan is that he’s a former candidate for political office. While he was not elected, the connections he made enabled him to reach hundreds of people for Christ. Looking ahead, there may be even more opportunities for Pastor Juan to influence his community and country for Christ, not only through ministry, but through government, too. None of this societal transformation would have been possible without the unity of believers. The focus was always on the gospel. The subject was always Jesus Christ. “Jesus is the center,” Pastor Juan explains. “We don’t question your practical technique. We just know that Jesus said go.” Please pray for the continued advancement of the kingdom in the Dominican Republic, Pastor Juan’s radio ministry, and guidance for opportunities that may come his way. Thank you! Did you know that A.One.8 will include training experience in the Dominican Republic? Learn more about what students will be doing this summer at www.chogy.org. YOU can be a part of what God is doing in the Dominican Republic. Donate online under “Dominican Republic” at http://chogglobal.org/latin-america/. Or, mail your donation to Church of God Ministries, PO Box 2420, Anderson, IN 46018. Be sure to write Project 42.30155 on the memo line. Learn more about Global Strategy at www.chogglobal.org. INITIAL REPORTS OFFER GLIMPSE OF FREEDOM SUNDAY 2017 IMPACT By Carl Stagner The Church of God first took a stand against human trafficking in India more than a century ago. With the inception of CHOG Trafficklight in recent years, the issue has returned to the forefront of ministry made possible only when Church of God congregations rally together. Once again, the Church of God is fighting side by side not only to raise awareness of trafficking, but also to attack the issue at its root. On March 5, 2017, Church of God congregations across North America and beyond showed the same video (https://vimeo.com/206077042) announcing the launch of Trafficklight 2.0. Many also gave financially to support the Church of God initiative as they renewed their commitment to engage the battle—even in

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front of screens both large and handheld. The Holy Spirit’s presence was palpable, and several churches have already shared stories of God’s hand at work. Nancy Klebaum of Riverbend Church of God in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, shares that the worship music, the prayer, and the message presented on Freedom Sunday was “sobering, but filled with hope at the same time.” The church welcomed a special guest from Hope Restored, a new ministry in Canada that offers a holistic approach to restoring victims of trafficking. “I am so excited to be a part of a tribe that, since its beginnings over a hundred years ago, has worked for social justice and the fight to end oppression,” she explains. Cypress Street Church of God in Monroe, Louisiana, also found that including a local component enhanced the Freedom Sunday experience. They invited one of the board members of Project 41, a local anti-trafficking ministry, to speak. Like last year, they split their Freedom Sunday offering between the local agency and CHOG Trafficklight. They also collected practical supplies to donate to Project 41. Though the church averages only about eighty in attendance, this year they once again cleared the $1,000 mark in donations! “It’s something our church has become very passionate about,” Pastor Neil Oldham explains. “In 2016, we addressed the problem of pornography along with trafficking, and now we’re seeing Trafficklight do the same. It’s an opportunity for pastors to address a difficult subject and help the church not contribute to the problem of human trafficking.” Church at the Crossing also recognized and acknowledge the dilemma of trafficking close to home. The Indianapolis congregation observed Freedom Sunday a few weeks early, but collected more than 160 gifts for a local outreach and featured guest speakers from local ministries pursuing freedom for the captive. Doug Anderson, outreach coordinator at Jones Chapel Church of God in Meridian, Mississippi, explains that their church has shown videos from each of the Trafficklight partners leading up to Freedom Sunday. In addition to a sermon on the subject of “hardened hearts,” as well as special prayer and offering, the church also showed a creative video from the Christian band Tenth Avenue North called “For Those Who Can’t Speak.” Doug reflects, “We’re grateful for CHOG Trafficklight and the opportunity for Jones Chapel Church of God to be a part.” Priceless, a film produced by the Christian band For King and Country, was a part of the Freedom Sunday experience for the Church of God congregation in Prestonsburg, Kentucky. Stories of impact were also shared and a substantial offering was collected. But most exciting for Pastor Jason Johnson was the young man who received ultimate freedom on Freedom Sunday—salvation. Jason emphasized the need for his congregation to be proactive instead of reactive in the fight against trafficking—as well as in living out the faith, in general. “Is your faith a steering wheel or a spare tire?” he asked. “Do you allow it to guide you to your destination, or only get you out once trouble has come? To work toward ending sex trafficking, we are proactively reaching out to stop it before it impacts our loved ones. By understanding that we need to stop the market, we will need to help bring about change in the hearts of men.” Have you registered for Church of God Convention 2017? The official rollout of Trafficklight 2.0 will take place at Freedom Summit at the conclusion of the convention in Wichita. Register at www.chogconvention.org. Did the Spirit move in a powerful way at your church on Freedom Sunday? Was your church especially creative in its approach to raising awareness of human trafficking? Visit www.chogtrafficklight.org to submit your story today! Thank you. Learn more and support the fight for freedom today at www.chogtrafficklight.org.

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FRIDAYS IN FORT WAYNE: CHURCH’S OUTREACH BEARS FRUIT (AND BREAD, TOO!) By Carl Stagner They’d say they’re just ordinary people doing some extraordinary things because of the grace of God. In fact, the pastor says there’s really no reason they should be doing it, especially considering the size of the church, the average age of many of the volunteers, and the budget (or lack thereof). But God said, “If you’ll trust me, I’ll use you.” And he is certainly using Tillman Road Church of God to accomplish things beyond their own abilities. The Fort Wayne, Indiana, congregation, with an average attendance of fewer than sixty, is touching the lives of nearly three hundred neighbors every single Friday. Bread and More, also known as B.A.M., is a ministry of Tillman Road that only started a year ago. When God laid the idea on the hearts of the congregation, it was met with some skepticism and even a few laughs. Of course the desire to meet a need in the community was noble; the problem was money, manpower, and a maturing congregation. Could the modest-size congregation handle the weekly responsibility? Would they have enough to give away? Or would people even come, especially since the church is not on a main road? For all of their questions, God had one answer: just obey. At first, the ministry offered one staple food—bread. After all, the church had to start somewhere, and they had to start with something that was sustainable. When only four families attended the outreach, taking at total of only seven loaves of bread, the church could have easily given up out of discouragement. Surely there were other ministries that would attract more people and offer more visible results! But God still had one answer: just obey. Tillman Road Church of God is located two miles from a food bank. The church started the Free Bread Friday by getting bread from them. Then one day someone came by and dropped off some miscellaneous food items and asked if the church might distribute it, as well. As word started to spread, the crowds started to grow. In June, the food bank stopped by and observed the success of the church was having with their food giveaway and brought up the idea of a partnership. Today the church does buy some meat and other products from the food bank, but much of what the food bank has to get rid of comes at no cost to the church. Additionally, the local Subway restaurant, which only holds their bread for six hours before having to discard it, now offers it to Tillman Road. And when the church needs additional dollars to cover shortages, inevitably a check will come in the mail with no return address. People have even walked in off the street and said, “How can we help you?” Amazing things happen when a church boldly steps out on faith to reclaim its neighborhood. “Unfortunately in the church you often see a lot of reaching inward,” Pastor Bill Bradley explains. “But when God called me into ministry, I wanted to be a part of a church that would reach outward. When God laid this on our hearts, I, too, kind of laughed at first. But here was a chance for us to reach outward and I knew we had to do this.” A year later, the church is grateful they persevered. From June through December, the church served 24,672 people and gave away 214,017 pounds of food. “To put that into perspective,” Pastor Bill explains, “that’s almost five semi-truck loads of food—just in our neighborhood!” One incident served as a vivid reminder of why the church keeps this ministry going, one which now requires at least twenty volunteers each week. Pastor Bill noticed a man sitting in the parking lot of the church eating the food which he had received from the giveaway. Bill asked the man why he was eating the food then and there. He explained that he knew that if he could just make it two-and-a-half more days and get to church, he’d be okay just a little bit longer. “Wow. And you know, I’m just a pastor and I’m not rich in a monetary sense,” Pastor Bill reflects. “Sometimes it’s bologna all week, so to speak. But I’ve never had to wonder if I’d be able to have a meal. As long as God gives us the strength to do it, we’re not going to let our neighbors down.”

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Pastor Bill Bradley believes so much in what they’re doing that he wants to make himself available to anyone who might be interested in starting a similar ministry and reclaim their neighborhoods in Jesus’ name. Contact Pastor Bill at Tillman Road Church of God at 260-447-3045 or by e-mail at pastorbill@trcog.com. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” —Ephesians 2:10 NLT In Fort Wayne, Indiana, across the United States, and around the world, God is on the move in the Church of God. Join the movement. Donate today at http://www.jesusisthesubject.org/join-movement/. MISSOURI CHURCH’S SPORTS OUTREACH A SLAM DUNK FOR LOCAL KIDS By Carl Stagner The first time they did it, 72 kids participated. The next year, 93 showed up. This year saw 153 local children! The Little Hoops basketball outreach of First Church of God in Doniphan, Missouri, has exceeded any and all expectations since that first bold attempt at something new a little more than three years ago. While sports ministries have certainly been around for a while, this is the story of a church that decided to do things a little differently. It should be no surprise then that this small-town church with a passion for reclaiming its community for Christ is winning both games and souls. Many churches utilize an effective nationwide program known as Upward. Upward has made it possible for churches to host incredible basketball ministries, but it’s not financially accessible for some. First Church of God faced that very dilemma. “There was an Upward program at Poplar Bluff, but that’s forty miles from us,” Pastor Larry Earl explains. “We even had fifty kids driving all the way over there every Saturday, so we knew we had to do something. We had people in our own church who could do this, and it was going to cost too much up front to go with Upward.” It didn’t hurt that the head basketball coaches for the boys’ and girls’ teams at the local school were members of First Church. The campus of the church already featured a family life center equipped with a regulation-size basketball court but, as is the case with many churches across the country, these resources weren’t being fully utilized. “The biggest thing was it didn’t cost our church anything,” Larry explains. “It’s so exciting because I see what an outreach it really is. We even gave some scholarships to kids that couldn’t afford to play. The Lord just opened that door, and I’m grateful that our people have been willing to step up and really be Jesus to those around us.” The Little Hoops season is from December through January. Monday evenings and Tuesday evenings in December were set aside this season for the children in the program to learn the fundamentals and improve basic skills. On Saturdays in January, teams went head-to-head in competition. Everybody plays, regardless of skill level. Players wear color-coded wristbands to indicate relative skill level and are matched up appropriately on defense. Sixteen coaches, including several assistants, are assigned to each team. Not every coach is experienced in basketball, but each offers necessary adult supervision and encouragement. Those with basketball backgrounds do the bulk of the technical instruction, but all of the leaders have the opportunity to witness for Christ. Students and adults memorize Scripture each week, testimonies are shared, and Christian songs are often sung at half-time. Prayer partners were assigned from the church to each team; each student was prayed for daily, by name. When the basketball season concluded, these secret prayer partners were revealed and led their assigned teams in a poignant moment of group prayer. Jesus, not basketball, is clearly the subject of the Little Hoops program. “I know not everybody is into sports,” Larry explains. “But it has been an avenue to share the gospel for us. We have sports-minded people, so we’re doing what it takes to reach them. Three years ago, I don’t

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think we could have ever dreamed of what this has become. At the end of January, we had so many coming, that we even had some of our seniors come out and help as greeters and parking lot attendants.” Up to five hundred people—parents, grandparents, siblings, cousins, and friends of the “star athletes”—crowded into the local middle school gymnasium on Saturdays in January after it was evident the games would attract more than the church’s family life center would hold. It’s important to the church that each child is introduced and honored individually, much to the delight of families. As a family-oriented outreach, Little Hoops only further strengthens the church’s rapport with the families in the community they’re trying to reach for Christ. The same can be said about the church’s adult softball and volleyball ministries. Your church may not be equipped with a family life center. Your local school’s basketball coach might not attend your church. Perhaps your congregation isn’t into sports at all. But sports wasn’t the point for First Church of God. Finding something the people already do and meeting a need in the community was the real goal. Utilizing resources already available to them, and not reinventing the wheel, was the strategy. It took effort, it took time, and it took intentionality. But they realized early on that all of us are God’s masterpiece, created to do the things he planned for us long ago. For First Church of God, Little Hoops was a slam dunk. And now the ball’s in your court. In Doniphan, Missouri, across the United States, and around the world, God is on the move in the Church of God. Join the movement. Donate today at http://www.jesusisthesubject.org/join-movement/. FIRST CHURCH OF GOD, MARION, SD: SMALL TOWN, BIG IMPACT By Emily Ploetz On a map of South Dakota, the town of Marion may not catch your eye. The whole community consists of about 800 people total. However, First Church of God in Marion, and its impact on God’s kingdom, should capture your attention. Out of the 800 residents of Marion, 125 of them attend the church! A church with an influence over the majority of a town isn’t something you see every day. The town and the church have a unique background and, because of some key decisions they’ve made, First Church of God continues to be a shining light. Marion has a long history as a German town. The German influences were evident, especially in the church. According to Pastor Scott Dent, First Church of God in Marion has been a part of the town for over 100 years. Originally, the services were once in the German language. After about fifty years, the church transitioned from German to English. As Pastor Dent says, “The willingness to change has been a key element into the success of this ministry.” The church not only decided to change languages, but also moved from the country to the edge of town. This flexibility has set apart the First Church of God in Marion from other churches in the area. One of the strongest focuses of the church is its programs for children and youth. In an age where younger generations seem less attracted to the church, Wednesday night children’s services are the highlight of the week. The church uses the Awana program that introduces children to new Scripture, while making it a part of their lives. Attendance for these services is typically between 50 and 65 kids from four years old to sixth grade. The church also has a second building across town that is the center of their youth ministry. These youth services are focused on reading through the Bible week by week and are Scripture-focused. This allows for youth who have never grown up with Bible stories to experience them for the first time. Typically, 35 to 45 youth show up every week. These numbers are significant to Pastor Dent: “For some, the 85 to 110 students may not seem that high. For us, it is amazing. Marion only has 197 students K-12 in our school system.”

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Leaders in the church are also active in the community. Some serve on the school board, teach, or serve as faculty members. Even the pastors coach local sports teams. Aside from a willingness to change, Pastor Dent believes community relationships play a great deal into the church’s impact. “We are also very active with every community event,” he explains. “We believe that it is vitally important for our community to see us every time they are out.” Recently, the church is working to become a D6 church, which means decisions are made on the belief that the church is a resource for spiritual growth that begins at home. The church’s ministry extends all the way to the Native American mission in Allen, South Dakota, located on the Pine Ridge reservation. The congregation supports the mission with funding and mission trips. Supporting this ministry continues to be a priority, especially since Pastor Dent works with the Domestic Ministry team of Church of God Ministries and as the regional coordinator for the American Indian Council. He hopes to spread awareness of this movement. The church must ask itself: How can we reclaim our neighborhoods and towns? First Church of God in Marion answers that question with another question: Are we more concerned with what happens inside the walls of the church or with reaching the lost? Pastor Dent chooses to ask leaders in his congregation what their hobbies are and “how can they use those hobbies to direct people to Christ. Not the church, but to Christ.” Reclaiming what hell has stolen always starts in the same place, whether your town has a million people or only 800. It’s starts with Jesus Christ. Jesus is the subject. In Marion, South Dakota, across the United States, and around the world, God is on the move in the Church of God. Join the movement. Donate today at http://www.jesusisthesubject.org/join-movement/. Emily Ploetz is Anderson University student serving as communication intern for Church of God Ministries. OKLAHOMA PASTORS UNLEASH LAY LEADERS, REACH MANY MORE By Carl Stagner The forces of hell have stolen a lot from God’s church over the years. One is the notion that the work of the local church is the responsibility of the whole congregation, not just the pastor. Indeed, the job of ministry does not rest solely on the pastor’s shoulders! Over time, many churches have fallen prey to the lie that the pastor is charged with doing just about anything and everything for them—after all, he or she does get paid, right? Inevitably we’re left with a shepherd on the verge of burnout, and a congregation devoid of disciples. But one Oklahoma congregation, in particular, is doing it right. The pastors of First Church of God in Nowata have unleashed their laypeople to reclaim what hell has stolen in their community. Over the past year, First Church of God has started an addiction recovery class, an outreach to female prisoners, and a grief support group—to name a few. Not one of these ministry initiatives was spearheaded by the senior pastor or the associate pastor. For some pastors, such a scenario is hard to imagine, but for Wendell Abbott and Jared Fields, it’s a refreshing reality. “It tells me that people are getting the message of what ministry is all about,” Wendell, the senior pastor explains. “The pastor’s true responsibility is to take care of the church family, be a pastor to them, teach them, and encourage them to go out and be the church. Often we see that people go to church, but aren’t so good at being the church.” Pastor Wendell took the reins of leadership at Nowata First Church nearly seven years ago, and made it clear then that, if the flock was just looking for a chaplain, he wasn’t their guy. Wendell was called to shepherd and lead the flock with vision and purpose. The message from the pulpit on Sundays has

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always been that coming to church is intended to help prepare believers spiritually to go out and be the church 24-7 in the community. “I think people were ready,” Wendell explains. “One of the very first things we did was put our name on water bottles and hand them out for free at all the major community events. People got to know us as the church that gives free water bottles away. Then we started giving away bread, too. In doing those things early on, it helped our church see how being active in the community has an effect on people. We’ve even had several people start coming to our church because we gave them water or bread.” Empowerment is key. But laypeople not only need to know they’re called to serve, but they also have to feel free to bring their ideas and talents to the table. “Not that they can do just whatever they think of, but they understand that they, too, are a vital part of the body. They don’t just get shot down when they bring their idea. There’s a sense of freedom, though they understand it’s under the leadership of the church.” When one member presented the idea for a narcotics addiction group, it was encouraged because it coincided with the vision of the church. The same thing can be said of the ministry to female prisoners. For too long, the county jail only benefited from a ministry to male prisoners. Now this ministry meets practical needs through relationships and gifts like shampoo and conditioner, but also plants seeds of the gospel through Bible studies and prayer. The ministry is both powerful and potent, and it’s neither led by Pastor Wendell nor Pastor Jared. “For me, it just shows that we are truly fulfilling the mission of the church, truly making disciples,” Jared, the associate pastor explains. “A lot of churches talk about getting saved and baptized but, a lot of times, that’s where the focus ends. We’re actually making disciples, and the proof is they are going out and being unleashed for ministry. It’s snowballing, and it’s pretty amazing.” While it must be noted that none of this took place over night, the congregation-oriented approach of First Church of God seems to be having a positive effect. Certainly, there is no quick fix. But when Wendell came to the church seven years ago, he was thrilled to see 75 in attendance. Now Sunday mornings average between 225 and 250. And it’s not because the pastor is doing all the work. He’s simply casting the vision and doing what shepherds are called to do. Souls are being saved, addictions are being broken, and people are being set free to disciple others. In Nowata, Oklahoma, across the United States, and around the world, God is on the move in the Church of God. Join the movement. Donate today at http://www.jesusisthesubject.org/join-movement/. HEALING, SALVATION FOLLOW INTENSE WEEK OF PRAYER AT CALIFORNIA CHURCH By Carl Stagner Have you ever launched a new Bible study, started an outreach project, or tried something totally new, only to see its initial success fall flat? Was there at time when you realized that all the strategic planning and quality efforts going into something just wasn’t leading anywhere? Has it been a while since a powerful move of the Spirit brought healing, salvation, and deliverance into your place of worship? Michael Guzman, pastor of the Church of God of Exeter in Exeter, California, knows the feeling. A week of intense corporate prayer, five times a day, was just what the Doctor ordered. “I was at a 3DM leaders gathering and they were talking about the analogy of air war and ground war,” Michael explains. “It was a reminder that we often don’t have success in ground war if we don’t have air war superiority. We need to maintain both air and ground war superiority.” It’s not that prayer wasn’t a part of the DNA of the Church of God of Exeter. It was and still is. But a jump-start was needed. The time had come to get back down on bended knee and appeal earnestly to God for revival. As it turned out, the church caught at least a glimpse of the incredible power of the Lord on display in the local church.

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Pastor Michael, who had learned about a yearlong prayer initiative that led another church to tremendous breakthrough. He realized it might not be sustainable for a year among the flock at Exeter, but he told his leadership team, “Let’s try it for one intense week and see where it goes.” Ignition Week, as it was called, involved special times of prayer scheduled at the church over five timeslots, directed by various leaders in the church, for five days in a row. Turnout to each timeslot was greater than leadership could have anticipated, and people have already asked when the church will do this again. Over the course of those five days, two people accepted Christ for the first time, a few were healed spiritually, and ten people received physical healing! Divine healing is part of our history as the Church of God, yet it’s not talked about as much as it once was. Perhaps it’s not happening as much anymore, or maybe God isn’t always given the credit he deserves. Perhaps we’re not fully in tune with what God is doing around us, or maybe we’re missing out on what God could do because we’ve become unintentionally independent of the miracle-working power of the Almighty. In any case, these ten healings were a reminder to the Church of God of Exeter that the Jesus who performed incredible miracles while he walked the earth is just the same today. “We used to wait on the Spirit for some things,” Michael reflects. “We used to rely on God. We used to really believe these truths! But I’m not sure that we would have seen all of this happen if we’d implemented this same prayer model five years ago. I think it has been the fruit of a long journey that God has been leading us on.” Michael shares his story of coming to the understanding that, though not born and raised Church of God, he is a part of a movement that truly believes in miracles. Though he’s experienced what seemed to be silence from God, he’s also learning to trust that God still heals. “I’ve had to teach a lot of people why we’re seeing all of this now and not before. Luke 9 and 10 have been key texts in all of that,” Michael reflects. “We don’t see 100-percent success, but we pray all the more. We’ve committed to pray until they’re healed in this life or go to Jesus and are healed that way. But we have so much authority as followers of Christ. We have to be willing vessels, willing to look a little foolish sometimes, as conduits of his love. We’re going to pray, ‘Your kingdom come and your will be done. We’re going to do this because we’re representatives of the kingdom of God.’” Of course, the Church of God of Exeter doesn’t sit idly by while God does all the work. He’s commissioned them to be conduits of Jesus’ love in their community. The Church of God of Exeter has accepted this challenge with bold enthusiasm. And that is yet another God-story! In Exeter, California, across the United States, and around the world, God is on the move in the Church of God. Join the movement. Donate today at http://www.jesusisthesubject.org/join-movement/. CHILDREN OF PROMISE ESTABLISHES ENDOWMENT WITH CHOG FOUNDATION By Carl Stagner This year, Children of Promise celebrates twenty-five years of forever changing the course of children’s lives around the world. Since the beginning, more than 12,000 children have received nutrition, education, medical care, and spiritual formation because of the child sponsorship ministry of the Church of God. Kicking off a year of celebrations that will give God glory for the past twenty-five years—and looking ahead to what God will do over the next twenty-five-plus years—Children of Promise established an endowment with the Church of God Foundation. The Sidney and Jean Ratzlaff Johnson Endowment will enable transformational ministry to continue for generations to come, all the while honoring the legacy of two exceptional individuals. FACT: There are endowments in existence today that were established prior to the American Revolution. FACT: Endowments established several decades ago are now distributing as much as tens of millions of dollars for ministry, charitable, and educational purposes. FACT: Children of Promise opted to work with

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the Church of God Foundation for their endowment because they believe it has the potential to magnify the ministry’s impact for the long haul. Kirk Bookout, development director for Children of Promise, explains that the low 1-percent annual fee through the Church of God Foundation is something you simply won’t find anywhere else. “The least I’m aware of is a fee of about 2.5 percent among other Foundations,” he explains. Also appealing to Children of Promise was the Foundation’s protections built in to the endowment, such as the retention of ownership of the endowment by Children of Promise and the flexibility of control over how endowment funds are invested. But most of all, Kirk says Children of Promise appreciates the opportunity to work with family. “We’re part of the Church of God family, and we want to function as family,” Kirk explains. “The board of directors of the Foundation include people who know the Church of God, who know Children of Promise. Many of our churches and institutions will want to invest in this endowment, and our overall dream is that over a long period of time the endowment will cover all of our operating costs so 100-percent of a sponsor’s donation can go directly to the child. An endowment has to be large to be effective, but we believe people will give, knowing that these children will be cared for generation after generation.” Sidney and Jean Johnson founded Children of Promise in 1992. When Children of Promise decided to create an endowment with the Church of God Foundation, there was no debate about what it should be called. “They’re our founders,” Kirk explains. “We want their names never to be forgotten. We are deeply appreciative of the Johnsons, and this is just one way to honor them.” Some 4,500 children are currently sponsored by Children of Promise. To make a 25th anniversary even sweeter, this year the ministry will enter its thirtieth country. Unlike other child sponsorship programs, Children of Promise does not employ employees throughout the world, but instead operates by a massive pool of Church of God indigenous volunteers on the ground, those who are most acquainted with the children and the culture. As a result, operational costs are kept very low and more funding goes directly to each child. Additionally, the financial accountability and inextricable connection to local Church of God leadership sets Children of Promise apart. “We go to the poorest areas,” Kirk explains. “We guarantee food. We cover medical expenses, large or small. We don’t do the work for the local churches, but we train and equip them to do it. The local Children of Promise ministries were founded by Church of God missionaries and national leaders. In terms of the stewardship of program dollars, no one can match what we do. And, to top it off, graduates from our programs around the world have gone on to do pretty amazing things.” Just a few of the amazing stories can be found at www.echildrenofpromise.org. Exciting events are in the planning stages to commemorate this 25th anniversary year, including a Children of Promise banquet scheduled for the Church of God Convention in Wichita, Kansas, in June. Stay tuned for details as they unfold. “As a former missionary in Haiti and Africa I have personally witnessed the wonderful ministry Children of Promise is doing in children’s lives,” Art Clawson, advancement director for Church of God Ministries explains. “I am thrilled that they have established this endowment that will provide a multigenerational investment in children who are the future of their local church and their countries. My hope and prayer is that people will leave a lasting legacy by contributing to this endowment.” Learn more about the Sidney and Jean Ratzlaff Johnson Endowment at http://www.echildrenofpromise.org/givingoptions/endowment/. Learn about the Church of God Foundation at www.chogfoundation.org. FROM THE ARCHIVES: MISSION AND MINISTRY IN FRONT OF OUR EYES By Jeff Frymire There are times when we need to stop looking at ourselves in the mirror and put up a window to the world and see what is really going on outside of ourselves.

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When God called Moses into ministry, he didn’t send him across the sea. He sent him back to his own people and to the land of his birth. His ministry had been right in front of him. God gave him a tool to use that would ignite amazing and miraculous events. The tool was the stick right there in his own hand. After God turned it into a snake and back again, Moses realized that, with God on his side, he had all the resources he needed right there in front of him. Isn’t it amazing how often the Scriptures remind us that mission and ministry are in our midst and not somewhere else? Jesus told parables using common, everyday images from the farm or the family to portray the reality of the great truths of God. As with the parable of the prodigal son, more often than not, Jesus let his hearers know that what they really needed had been right there in front of them all the time—right where they were. All they had to do was look. Chaplain Tom Fuller was going about his duties, not looking for a mission or a ministry event. He was simply inspecting a pump house when the neighbor came over to tell him about a need. Thousands of dollars and months of ministry time were invested in a need that met him right where he was. Travis Taflinger and Casey Cline were expecting to go to a major metropolitan center to find the needs that confronted them right there in their own small hometown. Ministry and mission are right in front of us. Bob Marvel had three goals when he started running. All three were about the idea of racing. None of them were about ministry. But ministry happens right in front of you. All the relationships, financial support, publicity for the church, and opportunities to witness to others—not to mention a dynamic bonding with his wife through the act of running marathons together—were never Bob’s goals in running a marathon. But ministry and mission are all around you. When you run the race, Jesus runs with you, and as long as you open your eyes and look out the window, God will allow you to see opportunities to minister in his name. Ministry and mission have a contagious effect. Like the laws of motion, ministry and mission usually come to us while we are in motion doing what God calls us to do. Once our motion is affected by ministry and mission, it creates further energy that then propels us forward to higher heights and greater distances. When Nehemiah came back to Jerusalem after the exile, he saw a city in disrepair. The walls of the city had breaches. Nehemiah organized families to mend the breaches in the walls. Well, if you mend the breaches, you have to fix the gates. And if you fix the gates, you might as well update the temple and retrain the people in what it means to be the people of God. Once you head down a path that God has opened, you may not know where that path may lead—that is up to God. Change is one thing, fix one breach, explore one new way of doing ministry, and Jesus will take you on a voyage of discovery. You don’t have to go all over the world. The ministry and mission Jesus found were always right there in his hometown—right in front of him. And that is where we can find ministry and mission, too. Stop looking in the mirror at your own needs, and take a peek out the window. Mission and ministry are right there—right in front of your eyes. With more than thirty years of pastoral experience in the Church of God, Jeff Frymire now also serves as associate professor of homiletics at Asbury Theological Seminary. Article originally published in the April-Mary 2006 issue of EXTRAvoice!, a supplemental resource of ONEvoice! Republished by permission. Across the United States, and around the world, God is on the move in the Church of God. Join the movement. Donate today at http://www.jesusisthesubject.org/join-movement/.

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