Jim Lyon, host of ViewPoint, is leading an Eye on the World trip to visit the Holy Land, January 4–15. Joining Jim for the experience are thirty-eight listeners from around the country. And you can be a part of this inspirational trip by reading their travel blog.

By Susan Kane
Church Multiplication

It has been docu-
mented that those who have a coach to walk alongside them report significantly better results than those who have to go it alone.

It was out of this dynamic that a group of individuals came together in December 2005 to provide this proactive approach to deal with escalating church health issues across the Movement.

By Pastor Drew Wilkerson

There are rare moments in this life when you realize that you are in the midst of a miracle. I know that every day is a gift from God, but then there are times when God shows up and we are amazed. That is what happened on a bright and beautiful Sunday morning in the spring of 2007.

Just before service, Don, the leader of our mission’s team, came to me. He said that he had openings he really needed to fill for the trip going to South Dakota. Every year we send a team to work with children on the Lakota Sioux Indian Reservation located in Allen. There was a group going out in June, but we were short two people. I told Don that I would make an announcement during worship and we would see what would come of it.

By Chad & Diane Davenport

Auckland, New Zealand—The new creative arts team has been busy the past few months. Recently, we’ve presented some special outreach Sunday services that would connect with young unchurched families, including Dr. Seuss Visits Westside Christian Fellowship (WCF).

Our first “family service” was titled “The Mythbusters’ Challenge.” Children were given the opportunity to pose questions to a panel of somewhat-dubious “experts.” After hearing the answers, the children were then asked to pick the right answer. Although there were plenty of humorous moments, this helped to crack some common misconceptions about Christianity, even among some of the visiting adults who do not attend church.

By Sherman & Kay Critser

The light has dawned on Mariam Lougue and she is no longer walking in darkness. A year ago November, this fifteen-year-old girl was rushed in a taxi to the local hospital for emergency surgery. She had peritonitis. After six months and three unsuccessful surgeries, Mariam’s health had deteriorated to the point that her parents had lost hope.

With intentional intervention, Mariam was diagnosed with tuberculosis and given treatment for six months. Within two months, she had gained eighteen pounds and the fissures had begun closing. A year to the month from when it all began, the last fissure sealed itself.

by Colleen Stevenson

The last weekend of November, the Women of the Church of God in Uganda held their annual Women’s Retreat at the CHOG headquarters in Kampala. Joining us were Rev. Arnetta McNeese Bailey, executive director of WCG (U.S.), Che-Che Mobley, incoming president of WCG (U.S.), and six other women who were dynamic in their relational skills, teaching, preaching, and singing.

The last day of the retreat was combined with the celebration of the Ugandan church’s twenty-fifth year of existence. Everyone was wearing bright yellow cloth printed with the “Church of God of E.A.(U) celebrates 25 years,” and the day began with a march around the village and headquarters with a band. The place was simply glowing with yellow.

It is with a very heavy heart that we inform you of the death of JoAnn Tate, Special Assignment Missionary to Trinidad.

JoAnn’s untimely death occurred December 20th at the Arima Hospital in Port of Spain, Trinidad shortly after returning there from overseas travel. The cause of her death is unknown at this time.

By Kelley & Rhonda Philips

In this time of uncertainty with the global financial crisis, war, social unrest, terrorism, and natural disasters, we need reminders that our celebration of the incarnation transcends the temporal. Two German pastors from the past and one bubbly blonde-haired German woman have served as reminders this Christmas.

December 1935: Georg Banasch, a Catholic priest imprisoned in Berlin, wrote the following about Christmas Eve while in SS detention: “Nineteen prisoners assembled around the simple fir tree in silence, since they were not allowed to speak to each other.

The headlines scream recession, layoffs, plant closures, bailouts, record unemployment, failing economies. What is a Christian to do? What is the church to do? Church of God Ministries is taking action by bringing the concern to the Lord.

Beginning January 21 and continuing for the next five months, the staff of Church of God Ministries (CGM) will have a dedicated day of prayer and fasting to lift up the financial crisis facing the United States and other countries of the world.

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?