KEEP PRAYING!
New opportunities and ministries are coming to the CGGC!
At its meeting on Monday and Tuesday this week our administrative council set several ministry initiatives in motion. The search for a new ministry staff person to serve in the area of Church Development overseeing CGGC work in areas of planting and church wellness is to begin in October. The goal is to have this new director in place early in the new year. The planting and church wellness commissions will be meeting in October to strategize for the future in preparation for the selection of this new ministry associate. In other action, the board approved the creation of a leadership development commission. This ministry team would be charged with helping pastors and local church leaders build up their leadership skills as well as creating opportunities for new leaders to be identified and mentored. Please pray for these new initiatives.
Around the world the Lord is at work through CGGC missions. In India the ministry has expanded from one to five districts. There are now a dozen churches and 25 preaching stations, as well as two new schools and a child development center. During the past three years the conference in Bangladesh grew from 62 to 90 churches. The Bogra hospital serves 130,000 patients annually and the eye clinic another 65,000. There are also nine primary schools, several schools for the blind, a secondary and high school work, etc. Haiti now counts 28 churches with 17 primary schools. The work in Brazil spans three states and continues to grow. The work in Moldova, Sweden and the southwest USA also are seeing measured success. In addition, it looks like the CGGC may be opening several new fields of ministry in the coming months. Please pray for all these opportunities.
The board took time to consider IMPACT ’07 and the future of this event. The responses were generally positive and the board affirmed it for 2008. It was also decided to plan the 2010 CGGC General Conference sessions in conjunction with IMPACT. Currently, 2008 ACTS Teams are in the planning stages for Haiti (May), Southwest (June/July) and a Pittsburgh work camp (August). Women’s Ministries continues to serve the church. They set a triennial theme, “In the Potter’s Hands,” to focus their ministry and encourage spiritual development among women. The 2007 Thank Offering amounted to $22, 526.64 which was distributed to various CGGC ministries. Please continue to pray for our children and youth across the church, our women’s ministry groups and that the Lord will resurrect our men’s work.
The fall gathering of the Ad Council was a time of celebration and prayer. We have many reasons to give thanks in the CGGC, and much to uphold in prayer. Keep praying Church, in everything!
Ed
Administrative Council Members present on September 19, 2007
Back Row (l to r): Pastor Keith Raderstorf, Pastor Jim Monticue, Pastor Lawrence Metzler, Pastor John Burns, Pastor Evenson Guerrier, Dr. Thomas Lucas, Pastor Edward Rosenberry, Pastor Trevor Rosenberry, Pastor Philip Scott, Pastor Robert Eatherton
Front Row (l to r): Pastor Douglas Nolt, Pastor David Green, James Booser, Pastor Dennis Hamsher
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Meet Your Administrative Council
In the coming weeks, we will highlight members of the CGGC's administrative council. Please remember to keep these men and women in your prayers as they seek the Lord's guidance in leading the Churches of God, General Conference.
Pastor John Burns is the president of the California Eldership and the senior pastor at the Wheatland Community Fellowship Church of God. The youngest of nine children, he was born and raised in the Churches of God and both his grandfather and father were CGGC pastors. John has been preaching nearly 20 years. He enjoys hunting, fishing and horseback riding. He and his wife, Anita, have two grown sons, John Jr. and Mike.
