By Mary Stephens

The air was crisp and the trees were covered with red, gold, and auburn leaves as nearly nine hundred women and a few men arrived in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for the 2008 Church of God Women’s Convention, October 16-19. The women and men came for different reasons. Some had been to previous conventions and wouldn’t dream of missing another. Some were coming to their very first convention and had no expectations. Others were strongly encouraged to attend by friends and sisters in Christ. Despite the varied reasons for attending the convention, everyone left with the excitement and sense of purpose that comes from experiencing the Holy Spirit.

By Brian Seidel

We have seen God work in some amazing ways in the past few years in our church as well as in our youth ministry. One of the most notable successes has been our Sunday morning program Youth Café. This new means to reach teens has really produced some significant results.

Anderson University recently announced that Dr. Carl H. Caldwell, vice-president for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, will retire at the conclusion of the 2008-09 academic year.  Upon retirement, Dr. Caldwell will conclude a distinguished career of 38 years in academic and administrative leadership.  He has served at Anderson University since the spring of 1996.

Sustaining Health and Pastoral Excellence (SHAPE) continues to positively affect those pastors involved in the program. But the impact transcends the individual participant and extends to their family and congregation, all enhancing ministry. And the impact continues to expand as the number of pastors involved, as well as the number of SHAPE clusters, continues to grow.

By Susan Kane
     Church Multiplication

Many people associate Sunday morning with worship services, Sunday school classes, and fellowship with other believers. However, not many people associate a church experience with Thursday evening. There is a congregation in Indiana that is setting out to change all that.

First Church of God, located in the small southern-Indiana town of Vincennes, was established more than 110 years ago. Styles have changed over the years, but holding weekly worship services on Sunday mornings has not. The church has grown and attendance has remained strong. Currently, there are more than 450 filling the pews on Sunday morning and participating in various ministries that take place during the week. But Pastor Debbie Salters, minister of Christian education, realized that there might be more to winning souls for Christ than holding the traditional service on Sunday morning.

The 2009 North American Convention will be like none other. This year we will celebrate in a spectacular way the one hundred years of the Church of God’s sending missionaries out to reach the world for Christ. Together, we will remember and honor the work of the Church of God around the globe. You won’t want to miss it.

But it is not history alone that we will celebrate at the North American Convention. This year’s convention will also serve as the launch for a new era of intercultural ministry (missions). New strategies and visions will be unveiled at the convention. This is a moment in time when pastors, leaders and congregations can see the vision and talk with those from around the globe about our collective ministry through missions.

Church of God Ministries (CGM) has obtained an updated assessment on the extent of damages to Church of God congregations in Texas from Hurricane Ike. Damages vary from congregation to congregation and range from $5,000 to $40,000. However, reports have not yet been received from Beaumont, Texas, the area hit by the brunt of the storm.

Rev. Tim West, area administrator for Texas, provided the following consolidated assessment of damages.

Lake Wales, FL— Warner Southern’s Fall 2008 Career Fair will take place on Tuesday, October 14 from 3–6 p.m. in the Rigel Center. The Career Services Department planned the event, which is open to students, alumni and members of the community. Exhibitors include Polk Works, Rita Staffing, Bright House Networks, H & R Block, Enterprise, Walgreen’s Management, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Polk County School Board, Homeland Security, Mid Florida Credit Union, Lake Wales Medical Center and YMCA of Lake Wales.

As part of his estate settlement, Malcolm Gardner expressed in his last will and testament a desire to recognize his mother’s love for the Church of God. Malcolm directed a significant donation to the Church of God Foundation be made in honor of his mother, Mary (Daglian) Gardner.

Joyce Seccia, Malcolm’s niece, described her grandmother Mary as a humble but influential Christian woman. “She had serious heart problems but lived strong because of her faith and work for the church,” said Joyce.

The First Church of God in Sumter, South Carolina, recently passed the one-half million dollar mark in giving to Church of God Ministries (CGM). On Sunday, September 14, Rev. Kirk Bookout, representing CGM, presented Rev. Ron Bower and the congregation with a plaque to commemorate this milestone.

“This plaque represents the constant and faithful giving in partnership with our Church of God family of congregations from across the nation as we come together to conduct the many ministries of the church,” said Bookout. “The plaque represents the ministries accomplished, the lives touched, both at home and through the national work of the church.”