Who are your spiritual fathers and mothers, those in whose debt you stand as a Christian? Every believer as a member of God’s family possesses a spiritual lineage. Mine includes my parents and my adoptive grandmother, but further back stands John Winebrenner (1797-1860). Others like Otterbein, Zwingli and Augustine came before him, but Winebrenner began the movement that is now my spiritual home and family. I am first generation CGGC as my family came to Christ when I was a child and joined the Church of God at Shippensburg, PA. Now my wife, Linda, comes from old CGGC stock as you may guess by the fact that one of her maternal great-great-grandfathers was named John Winebrenner Watson after you-know-who. What I’m saying is that John Winebrenner holds a place of high esteem in our family. He is and remains a spiritual father and the church movement he started is precious to us.

This past week on Tuesday, March 25 I celebrated Winebrenner’s 211th birthday with the Eastern Regional Conference heritage group who gathered at the Mt. Joy Church of God. After a fine church dinner we heard a talk on the theme: “Winebrenner: the Man and the Myth.” Everybody in attendance received a copy of Biographical Annals which includes four sketches of Winebrenner’s life and ministry by individuals who knew him personally—very interesting reading. I found it a most enjoyable time to be with God’s people honoring a man to whom we in the Churches of God owe so much. I’m not sure but that we actually ought not to celebrate his second birthday which occurred on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1817 in Philadelphia. Maybe if you missed his natal day, you might consider celebrating his spiritual birthday when as he said, “Jesus became the joy of my heart, and the centre of my affections.” That remains the witness of every born again believer and ought to be the testimony of the Churches of God as a whole!

Administrative Council (L to R):
Jim Monticue, Mary Lehman, Evenson Guerrier, Doug Nolt, Dennis Hamsher, Phil Wilson, Keith Raderstorf, Trevor Rosenberry, Tom Lucas, John Burns, Phil Scott, Lawrence Metzler and David Green

Earlier this month (March 10-11) our CGGC Administrative Council met in Findlay at the Church Center. As a group we prayed and wrestled with our mission and vision. Bottom line: the great commission (Matt. 28:16-20) remains our mandate for seeking more and better disciples. This fact resonates with Winebrenner’s three imperatives for the Church of God laid down at the inaugural session in 1830. As he said it, “The object contemplated by the present meeting is to adopt such a plan of cooperation as will most happily serve the cause of God in promoting 1) the conversion of sinners; 2) the establishment of churches upon the New Testament plan; 3) the supplying of the destitute with the preaching of the Gospel.” In the business session we rejoiced with the gospel work abroad (see the most recent Missionary Signal), but recognized that the church USA is not keeping pace. Many positive things are happening across the country, but the overall impact is stable, not expansive. I for one am not satisfied with a stationary witness. I pray the Lord may give the CGGC the “more and better” we seek in disciples, churches and leaders.

The Administrative Council at Work

At the meeting, as a part of the Winebrenner Theological Seminary report, we received the gift of a Winebrenner portrait from Pastor Denny and Jean Koontz.

The seminary plans to offer these beautifully framed prints to churches and individuals as a fund raiser and as a reminder of the passion of our founder to see people come to know the Lord. I praise God that this same passion still drives our mission and guides our ministry. I believe that if we stick together and keep lifting Jesus higher, we shall see the birth of a new movement of God in our time.

Pastor Ed