The Global Advocate - Sept/Oct 2023

Earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3b).

THE GLOBAL ADVOCATE (ISSN 0009-630X) is published bi-monthly by the Churches of God, General Conference.

Vol. 188, No. 5

Established June 5, 1835 as THE GOSPEL PUBLISHER, re-established on May 1, 1846 as THE CHURCH ADVOCATE, and re-established on October 1, 2019 as THE GLOBAL ADVOCATE.

Rachel Foreman, Managing Editor

The Global Advocate, official publication of the Churches of God, General Conference, exists to encourage members of the CGGC to maximize their collective potential for Kingdom impact.

Correspondence: Address correspondence to The Editor, The Global Advocate, Churches of God Publications, PO Box 926, Findlay, OH 45839, or email to RachelF@cggc.org

Periodical rate paid at Findlay, Ohio.

Postmaster: Send address changes to THE GLOBAL ADVOCATE, PO Box 926, Findlay, OH 45839.

© 2023, Churches of God, General Conference

Region by Region

The Western Region

by Jacob Clagg, Director of Communications

Distance is one of the most defining features of the western states of the U.S. Outside of places like the steppe territory in Eurasia, there are few places on Earth with such vast flat land as the center of the United States. The width and breadth of individual states in the West reinforce the idea of great distance. The relatively small population density in comparison to the eastern and western coasts, in combination with the flat land, gives the impression of an ocean of farmland that stretches on and on.

the late 18th and early 19th centuries, when settlers of the then newly established United States of America began crossing these great distances, communication and travel was often at the speed of horse and train. For settlers who had made it hundreds or thousands of miles from the eastern costal states, this distance was tantamount to isolation, in effect, cutting them off from the rest of the Union. In relative isolation, and in a different environment, cultural differences between western states and eastern states emerged rapidly. For organizations that were trying to maintain a sense of unity across the expanding territory, the distances became an immense challenge.

The Churches of God, General Conference (General Eldership at the time) had already developed a pragmatic rule for dealing with these great distances, specifically when it came to the business of the church. If a group of elders found themselves too far from another regional eldership to regularly do business, there was precedent for them to start an eldership of their own. C.H. Forney’s seminal text, History of the Churches of God in the United States of North America, states that new elderships like the Kansas Eldership or the Missouri Eldership arose for practical concerns over distance. The churches in Missouri were originally held under the Iowa Eldership while northern Kansas churches were a part of the Nebraska Eldership. The Missouri and Kansas Elderships each formed into distinct elderships because the distance made communion with Iowa and Nebraska too difficult. This is true of nearly every eldership that developed.

We may be under the impression that modern technology has erased distance. Zoom meetings, international phone calls, instant messages, modern highway systems, and airplanes have all made communication and travel much faster, but we should still recognize how geography and distance affects culture and identity. Even after the unification of separate elderships into a larger region in the early 2000’s, distance still plays a powerful role in shaping the culture and values of places like the Western Region. Encompassing the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma, the Western Region of the CGGC has a rich history and a unique cultural identity that stands out among the CGGC’s regions.

In this issue, we hope to highlight the good work of the Western Region, and how God’s mission for the CGGC is being carried out faithfully in churches all across the denomination. Churches like Bethel of Neodesha KS, and Firehouse in Moore, OK, are reaching outside of their church walls to make a powerful impact on their communities, while organizations like the West County Community Hope Center in Leadwood, MO are partnering with churches all around their region to serve people and bring them to Jesus. Across the states, across the regions, and across the globe, CGGC churches are partnering in God’s mission to make kingdom impact.

FIREHOUSE: There's Got to be More!

by Pastor Heather Boss

The Beginning

“There’s got to be more,” Pastors Daren and Denise Dabrowski (pictured at right) prayed over ten years ago while driving through the streets of Chicago. More to life, more to ministry, more to advancing the Kingdom of God. Little did they know how literal our God truly is. Just a few short weeks later they met a gentleman who was connected to the Churches of God, General Conference, and he told them about a church planting opportunity in none other than the City of Moore, Oklahoma. God had heard their hearts cry and opened the door for more in Moore!

Soon they began the process of applying to be the church planters for Moore. This involved application essays, interviews, and many prayers as there were many other church planters vying to have this same opportunity. The Western Region Administrative Council reached a decision and agreed that Daren and Denise were their choice to send to fulfill this mission and plant the church. The wheels were now in motion, and nothing could stop them from marching full force into the call of God on their lives.

Except an EF-5 tornado; or so many thought.

On May 20, 2013, Pastor Daren received a phone call from his daughter, who had already relocated to Oklahoma, stating she could see a massive storm building behind her as she made her way to work in Oklahoma City. Quickly another phone call came through from his frantic secretary urging him to turn on the T.V., and at their home in Chicago Pastor Denise watched the news in disbelief. All the while they were praying.

A massive, violent, deadly, and history-making EF-5 tornado plowed through South Oklahoma City and Moore for 40 minutes, leaving behind a 14-mile path of destruction, over $2 billion in damages and killing 25 people, including seven children, when it hit an elementary school located directly behind the location of their new church building. The City of Moore now looked like a war zone. The phone calls he received that morning were only the beginning. Calls began to pour in offering condolences and other locations within the CGGC that they could plant a church. The path the tornado was on surely had taken the building.

When the storm subsided, their daughter and her friend made their way to the church. They had to park a half mile away and walk as there was an excessive amount of debris in the streets. When they arrived to the property, they looked in awe. There in front of them stood the building, untouched by the storm. The home to the left had roof damage and a car on their property that once wasn’t there. The home to the right also had significant roof

and window damage. However, what would soon become Firehouse Community Outreach, was there as if the hand of God was shielding it from the storm the entire time.

Disaster Relief Era

What was planned to be a church plant, shifted immediately into disaster relief for the community in which the Dabrowskis were being sent. Pastor Daren drove through the night that same evening to arrive on scene and begin the recovery process. Love from all over the country poured in; from finances, to missions teams helping people throughout the city. For the next year the launch of the church was put on the backburner as recovery of this desperate city was most important at that time.

The Launch

In April 2014, Firehouse Community Outreach held their first Sunday morning service. The room was filled with people from the community who had been reached through disaster relief, with people who would become integral parts of the church in the coming years and people who believed in the vision since the beginning. Flowers had been donated for the first service and the fragrance filled the air. There were baptisms and people who gave their hearts to God.

Throughout the next years Firehouse remained extremely involved in community outreach and

ministering to community needs as they arose. Firehouse participated in community events, hosting events ministering to women who had experienced miscarriages or child loss, worship nights and even Passover celebrations! The church saw much growth and many people became disciples, being set free from drugs and alcohol, and other addictions.

COVID

Like many churches across the country, Firehouse Community Outreach had to close their doors for a period of time in 2020. Though they were not closed for nearly as long as most, the impact of COVID played a huge part in the size and operation of the church. With the doors closed Firehouse had to change how they reached the community and began to pre-record and do live services online; as well as doing many in home visits to ensure our congregants were doing well and staying connected.

Prior to COVID the age range of the church was mostly people over the age of 50. When the doors reopened that dynamic shifted as many older folks did not want to go out yet or felt more comfortable watching church online from home. Causing a decline in the attendance as we reopened the facility for in person meetings once again.

As things began to reopen and return to “normal”, Firehouse also saw an increase in attendance once again. This time however, the age range in the church shifted to mostly Millennials and GenZ and their children. With this shift a new community outreach opportunity opened up to the church.

Oaks Academy of Moore

After the tornado went through Moore in 2013 many families chose to move out of Moore. This forced the last Christian school in the city to close their doors forever, causing families desiring Christian education opportunities to look elsewhere. Fast forward to 2022, post-COVID and with the ever-increasing non-Christian worldview being forced upon students, the need for a Christian school was greater than ever.

In August of 2022 some of the families at Firehouse approached the leaders during a

discipleship class with a concern about the upcoming school year for their children. Hearing the need, the leadership team knew that it was time to start a Christian school to meet the immediate need of the community. However, the school year was beginning in just one week and they had no finances, no teachers, and no idea how to begin; but God!

As soon as the need was spoken volunteers began to step up to help see this much needed vision come to fruition and the school was beginning to form. Teachers volunteered their time to teach the students, unpaid, for the entire year, people donated money to help purchase curriculum and other school supplies and students began to enroll! In a matter of only two weeks Oaks Academy of Moore was brought to life inside of the church building.

The 2022-2023 school year, though full of many learning curves, was an extremely successful year with five full-time students enrolled. The 2023-2024 school year is starting off on a high note already with eleven full-time students enrolled at the time this article was being written.

Also, over the summer of this year, Oaks Academy was able to host the first VBS! There were 23 children in attendance over the course of the week and 19 of them chose to either rededicate their hearts to God or accept Jesus as their Savior for the first time. It was such a beautiful sight.

Ten Year Anniversary

This past May, Firehouse Community Outreach celebrated their 10-year anniversary! Many folks who had been discipled through Firehouse sent in video testimonies honoring the Dabrowski’s and their family, as well as came and attended in person. It was a beautiful day of remembrance and a celebration of what is yet to come. And though it is easy to look back and see all that God has done and how His Kingdom is growing in Moore, and beyond, it is hard to believe that it has already been 10-years since Pastor’s Daren and Denise and their family have arrived in Oklahoma.

Exponentially Moore

Over the course of the last year I was given the opportunity to participate in an Exponential Cohort. This experience was designed to take our thinking from adding disciples to multiplying them, and I know that it did just that. The group met three times to learn and discuss how to take what we were being taught back to our home churches, communities, and regions. During our time together we were also given time and space to create a vision for how and what we would do to begin implementing what we had been taught so we could multiply disciples back home. The first two sessions left me scratching my head at how or what we should implement at Firehouse to see multiplication taking place. It wasn’t until the third and final session when I felt like a light bulb went off and the Holy Spirit illuminated the answer to me.

After what felt like an easy download of information and writing as quickly as possible on the little sticky notes I had with me, the vision was clear. In order to establish a culture of discipleship and multiplication, Firehouse Community Outreach was to reimagine and relaunch under a new name with a new identity and new DNA woven into the heart of the church. This relaunch will remove the old identity of disaster relief the community has only known us for and switch us out of living in “crisis/ survival mode” into exponential multiplication. Returning home and sharing this vision with the senior leadership and the board of Firehouse allowed for them to see the heart of the vision. God was already speaking to them about shifting things at the church. This confirmation allowed for the first steps to be taken in that direction.

The Next 10-Years

Firehouse Community Outreach has made a massive impact in the Kingdom of God in the City of Moore throughout the last 10-years. Everyone who has been a part of this ministry in one way, or another has helped to share the Good New of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And for that we are forever grateful. With glad hearts we look back and thank God for allowing the Dabrowski’s and their family to plant a church in Moore. And with expectation Pastor’s Daren and Denise look ahead to the next 10-years as Firehouse Community Outreach transitions into the culture of discipleship and multiplication by relaunching under a new name and a new identity, allowing God to further grow our impact in this region.

Church of

God

How Bethel and Sincere Praise Ministries Feed their Community

by Pastor Charles Rice

Last year Pastor Charles Rice from Bethel Church of God in Neodesha, KS shared about how the feeding ministry at Bethel had grown, the way Bethel loved their community, and how they perceived their mission. Pastor Charles said, “God was sending us workers all along, but because they weren't ‘members’ of the Bethel congregation, we failed to see that through us God was touching lives.”

A year later, we’ve come back to ask Pastor Charles about the full story of Bethel’s feeding ministry, and how a small church is able to serve 19,000 people in a single year! What stands out the most is Bethel’s recognition that partnering and serving alongside other organizations is fundamental to allow them to have the massive kingdom impact that they are having. Read on for the full story.

I don’t imagine anyone would have been able to predict the impact that a small handful of people have made on a community. King Duncan’s amazing law of influence is certainly a reality in Neodesha, KS. The idea that “one life touches another, and potentially both lives are changed. One life touches another and potentially the whole world is changed” has become a lifestyle that the Bethel congregation understands.

In 2011, there were exactly eleven people in regular attendance at Bethel. The former pastor had pretty well left the remainder of the congregation disheartened and discouraged. The change in mindset was gradual from a condition of wandering in the wilderness of performance religion to one of actively looking for opportunities to serve and bless.

In 2012, Sincere Praise Ministries came on board. Clay and Pam Eury along with Cora Stokes operated a food ministry out of the Eury home. This was a 24/7 adventure which was funded out of their own

resources. Neodesha already had a food pantry, but it was only available for two hours, twice a month. The need for help was much greater than the available food pantry resources.

Congregational support for the food ministry began to grow as people realized that it was difficult to bless someone without receiving a blessing in return. The congregation’s regular washing of feet is a reminder of something Jesus said in John 13:17, “You know these things . . . now do them! That is the path of blessing” (NLT).

As the congregation got farther away from “doing” church and drew closer to becoming the Church, the Body of Christ, the spiritual growth was fantastic. They have truly become the physical embodiment of Jesus Christ in Neodesha. Not the entire Body perhaps, but certainly the hands and feet. Most have come to understand that as a Royal Priesthood they now have the opportunity to bless others.

Each month we see and hear a regular update on the number of people the food ministry serves in

From Pastor Charles Rice:

the community. For several years, Bethel supplied food to 90-150 families each month. In 2021, God opened the gates of heaven and poured out a tremendous blessing, and the folks at Bethel were up to the task.

With people out of work because of certain mandates, the need for assistance grew. Clay Eury and Dave Cashman made one or two trips a week to a distribution point 30 miles distant to haul produce back to Neodesha. Roughly half the load was dropped off at the Independence, KS, service center in exchange for several racks of bread products. The Bethel congregation mobilized to distribute the perishables as quickly as possible.

The Kansas State Department of Agriculture offered boxes of food and frozen meat products which we were glad to receive. The frozen items we were able to store in a walk-in freezer at the Independence Service Center until we could set up distribution. Once the Department of Agriculture became aware of a need, they helped with grant money to purchase three new freezers, two refrigerators and a 16-foot trailer to facilitate transportation of food and produce.

For all of 2021, it was business as usual. None of us had any idea the impact Bethel was having on the area. At the end of 2021, Bethel had supplied over

40,000 pounds of food, bread, and produce to some 19,000 individuals. To God be the glory!

The average age of the Bethel family is 69 years. We had been praying to the Lord of the harvest for laborers, but our ways are not God’s ways and our thoughts are not God’s thoughts. There was so much work and so few people, but the work always got done. God had sent the laborers, but it took a while to realize that those laborers didn’t have to be part of the Bethel family. There is now a distribution network that includes several outlying communities and people from several other church congregations.

While Sincere Praise Ministries is no longer involved in crisis mode, the blessings continue to roll. The Kansas Food Bank regularly calls with offers of produce. The Independence, KS Service Center regularly calls with offers of bread products which are gladly received and quickly distributed.

Through it all, the Bethel family has discovered the true joy of giving. They give of what they have, but more importantly they have learned to give of themselves. As their pastor, my joy is found in the joy they express in finding new and better ways to serve others. In twelve years the Bethel has grown from a “have to” congregation to the “want to” Body of Jesus Christ.

2 Happy Birthday to retired missionary Annie Avey! Blessings to her and her family this next year!

1 Be in prayer for Bryan & Katie and Elli Crabtree as they resume life and ministry in Thailand.

9 Be in prayer for the people of India & Bangladesh as the countries deal with ongoing COVID issues.

8 Remember Chaplain Byron Denman , his wife Christy, and their children as Byron serves in South Carolina.

7 Happy Anniversary to John & Toni Thumma! May the Lord continue to bless their marriage!

6 Ask the Lord for encouragement and favor with students for Matt Ginter and Josiah Parkhurst as a new school year begins at University of Findlay.

5 Pray for the safety of church planters and evangelists who travel to unreached people around the world. May God bless them with strength as they labor to grow the Kingdom of God.

4 Thank God for the privilege of earning a living and pray for all workers to do everything for God’s glory. (Labor Day)

3 Intercede on behalf of Global Reach as Ben Tobias prepares to return to the pastorate, and for God to raise up the next Director!

16 Praise the Lord for Affiliate Missionaries! The CGGC family is represented in over 40 countries!

15 On this First Day of Hispanic Heritage , intercede for the growing ministries among Latinos in the USA.

14 Appeal to the Lord that he would raise up strong leaders within Voice of the Gospel Ministries in Kenya.

13 Lift up in prayer the General Conference Staff as they seek to serve the CGGC in all its various ministries throughout the world.

12 Intercede on behalf of Dr. John Costa and ask the Lord to provide safety as he ministers to the people of Bangladesh.

11 Remember the Haiti Executive Team as they meet this evening. Pray for their wisdom and counsel to Project Help Liaison Denis Droicin .

10 Lift up in prayer Caleb & Christina Acosta and their family and ask that God provide rest and encouragement.

23 Thank God for the leadership of Pastor Maria Grigioni in Argentina .

22 Happy Anniversary to Caleb & Christina Acosta! May the Lord continue to bless their marriage!

21 Be in prayer for the people of Mexico, that they would see the living God through Jesus Christ!

20 Praise God for the good work being done in the Dominican Republic . Trust Him to provide continued blessings.

19 As the CGGC Administrative Council meets today and tomorrow, ask the Lord to guide our leaders with wisdom and clarity.

18 Intercede for divine wisdom and discernment for the Global Reach Commission as they have a meeting today.

17 Support CGGC Executive Director Lance Finley in prayer as he leads the CGGC ministries. Pray for his protection as he travels and for wisdom in his many decisions.

30 Lift up in prayer Dave & Kenda Kapaku and ask for the Lord’s wisdom in how to expand God’s Kingdom.

29 Give thanks for Field Leaders Denis Droicin and Milus Tilus in Haiti! Pray for their wisdom and financial support.

28 Unite in prayer for Brazil and ask God to provide peace and healing among a hurting nation.

27 Join together in prayer for Haiti and ask God to restore peace and end the turmoil among the people.

26 Pray for the Lord to send missionminded pastors to churches in pastoral transition.

24 Trust the Lord to provide health and safety Rod & Mila Ayers and their family. 25 Join together in prayer for the desire for God’s Word to increase in the Hooghan Nizhoni and Gamerco Churches as well as in the community.

Thursday

7 Remember Jacob & Haley Day in prayer as they build relationships within the Gamerco church and community.

6 Pastor Maria Grigioni serves as Field Leader for Argentina. Pray for her wisdom as she makes new connections.

5 Intercede for Pastor Victor Montalvo as he co-leads Latino Ministries and pastors the Palabra de Vida church in San Diego.

Wednesday

14 Happy Anniversary, Bryan & Katie Crabtree ! Pray for them and their growing family. (Katie’s expecting in November.)

13 Pray for Dominican Republic Field Leaders Fremio & Evelin Jimenez as they work with new church plants.

12 Pray for Chaplain Matthew Shenton as he and his family serve in Ft. Bragg, NC.

21 The Brazil Conference is led by Pastor Ernesto Nunes. Implore the Lord to revitalize struggling churches there.

20 Pray for Everett & Mary Teller as they reach their fellow Navajo in the Tsaile Church community. Seek the Lord’s direction as they navigate challenges.

19 Ask the Lord to direct the ministry of the churches in Mexico . Pray for perseverance and boldness as they face significant challenges from those who resist the gospel.

28 Pray the Lord’s Prayer with an emphasis on God’s Kingdom coming in specific ministries and missionaries.

27 Pray that many churches ask Jeff & Julie Burns to speak on missions. Pray for churches to be encouraged to form mission teams and support missions financially.

26 Ask God to raise up leaders for His mission in the U.S. and across the world.

4 Petition to God on behalf of Dave & Kenda Kapaku as the minister to the Kahana Door of Faith Church and the community.

Tuesday

3 Trust the Lord to provide direction for Rod & Mila Ayers and for God’s glory to be seen through all aspects of their lives.

Monday

2 Thank God for the direction and encouragement Kenya field director Pastor Joseph Mwaura gives local church pastors. Pray for wisdom and clarity in decision making.

Sunday

11 Pray for God’s blessings on the teachers and administrators of your local school district.

10 Trust the Lord to provide wisdom and guidance for Travis Helm as he works with the Bangladesh, India, and Thailand fields.

9 Lift up John & Toni Thumma and their ministry at Hooghan Nizhoni Church in NM. Pray that the Lord would continue to demonstrate His faithfulness through divine answers to prayer.

1 Remember in prayer Samir Singha as he leads in India, and for believers to be strengthened through the Word of God and prayer.

8 Uplift in prayer the children of India & Bangladesh as they haven’t been able to attend school in person in over a year.

18 Remember Christina & Caleb Acosta in prayer as well as all Latino Ministries pastors.

17 Be in prayer for Dr. John Costa as he is faithful in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the midst of much resistance.

16 Celebrate the establishment of the Southeast Regional Conference ! Pray for the leaders to be bold and engaged locally and globally.

15 Call upon the Lord and ask that he bring healing to the unrest and turmoil in Haiti.

25 Pray for Pastor Dave Odegard , Director of the Great Lakes Conference and President of the CGGC.

24 Seek the Lord’s will for your church’s involvement with global missions . Talk with your pastor about how to keep missions a priority.

23 Intercede on behalf of the churches and leaders across the world who are under personal and spiritual attack.

22 Life up in prayer Nicaragua and trust the Lord to continue to bless the good works that are happening there and for many opportunities to witness.

31 Pray against the forces of evil in the world and in our own lives. Seek God’s protection for all His Church!

30 Intercede on behalf of Venezuela for peace and sensitivity to God’s word.

29 Challenge your friends to get involved in ACTS Teams in 2024

! Information about opportunities next year is available at www.CGGC.org .

Building the Hope (Center)

by Jacob Clagg

with Ken & Betty McIntyre

When Ken and Betty McIntyre came back from Haiti after six years in the field, they returned to their home in Farmington, Missouri, to find poverty, hunger, and hardship not dissimilar to what they left in Haiti. “It really was in Haiti that [we learned] that basic lesson: you cannot throw money at the problem and fix it,” Betty told me. “You have to go to the root cause. The critical thing is when people lose hope.” And so, after filing the paperwork to create a faith-based nonprofit in 2019, a group of individuals, including Ken and Betty, established the West County Community Hope Center in 2020, just before Covid hit.

Despite claiming to be semi-retired, Ken and Betty McIntyre are still busy people. They have big goals for the West County Community Hope Center, and during our interview, Betty spelled out their plans for the Hope Center and only God can bring hope to the hopeless.

Feeding the Hungry

The whole idea for the Hope Center started in a small book study group when they were reading The Insanity of God by Nik Ripken and Gregg Lewis. The book basically asked, “What’s God asking you to do that is insane to other people?” The group felt powerfully that God was asking them to transform the West County community, a school district that encompasses three towns, Leadwood, Irondale, and Frankclay. Betty explained, “They were all mining towns that dried up. The communities have changed so much, and they aren’t the communities we grew up in. Before, there were things to do and places to go, but now they are pretty depressed communities. Our school district feeds kids breakfast, lunch, and dinner at school. If they go home, they probably don’t have anything to eat.”

Because Covid shutdowns were in full swing and summer was fast approaching, many kids were unlikely to see the regular meals they relied on. And that was their impetus, to feed the kids. Soon after, a local produce provider called Betty and asked if the Hope Center wanted to pass out food boxes. At first, Betty could only think of 15 people that needed help. After reaching out to other pastors in the area, she called back and I said, “I want 30 boxes.” After some more checking she called back again and she said, “I want 60!” They ended up distributing 250 boxes per week.

Initially, because so many kids and teachers were out of school, the Hope Center had extra hands to help distribute. When fall came back around and school was back in session, they still had people in need of help, but far fewer people to help. “We were running off of old people! Retired people were working the Hope Center at this point and once you get a foot of snow, they can’t pass out boxes,” Betty said. This is when the West County Community Hope Center began the next major part of their mission.

God’s New Direction

In the town of Farmington there is a state prison, and prior to Covid, prisoners who didn’t have a place to go were released to a community supervision center to help them reintegrate. But during and after Covid, many of those released had no place to go, and were released on “homeless” status, which, as most people understand, massively increases their chances

of substance abuse and ending up back in prison. So, in partnership with the Farmington community supervision center, the Hope Center in Leadwood was able to work with some of the released men, giving them opportunities to do community service and letting them work to better their community.

“It was not the direction we intended to go, but it became an integral part of what we do,” Betty said. She described the entire endeavor as a “God thing” because the Hope Center was connected with Victor Glover of the Southeast Region, who has been pioneering how to help men both in and out of prison put their lives back together and become successful in their communities. Victor came and prepared the Hope Center for what God had for their future.

Now, much of what the Hope Center does revolves around the men who’ve recently come out of prison. “As we share God’s word with them, he gives them purpose and meaning, and they are seen as essential workers to the community,” Betty said.

The community has come to find these once incarcerated men as invaluable. Betty shared a story of Renaissance Rescue Ranch for horses in Farmington, where horses that were going to be killed or euthanized are cared for. Some of “the guys,” as Betty calls them, help around the ranch, tending to the horses. “Some of the guys are very good at that,” she said. “They love the horses. The ranch would hire some of these guys in a minute.”

For the guys, the Hope Center offers community service opportunities, a 12 steps program, and GED

equivalency test. They’ve also partnered with other organizations like a job center, which helps the guys build their resumes to they can find more sustainable work and begin the process of gaining back their independence. Betty emphasized the importance of partnerships in the community and making connections for these guys. She said, “You have got to make connections with the services in your area. If they can’t get connected, they’re hopeless, they give up. They quit trying and I don’t blame them.”

On top of the social work, the Hope Center provides Christian services for the guys and their families including worship, devotionals, and baptisms, while making sure they meaningfully help the Buddhists, Muslims and atheists that also come through their doors.

The Hope Center provides these kinds of Christian services because they’ve recognized that the church building has become a barrier for many people. The building itself is intimidating, and the people in the church often don’t want them there either. “I’m not just talking about people in prison but people in poverty, who lack social skills,” Betty said. “People in America don’t understand that there are people that live so desperately. Many people in America and many church people don’t get that. There is a whole world of people that don’t know Jesus and won’t step into a church, but they will step into the Hope Center.”

On the other hand, Betty qualified her stance and positioned the Hope Center as a first step toward the church for many of these people. “This isn’t anti-church, this is walking with the church. This is how you get comfortable enough to walk in.”

The Future of the Hope Center

While the Hope Center’s plate is quite full with its community and religious work, Betty was excited to talk about their dreams for the future:

“We want to go into housing. That has been a goal since we first talked. But we haven’t been able to do anything financially. We want to refurbish old houses and make them available for families to purchase for the same cost that it takes people to rent. There are a bunch of slum lords that are just making money off of these people.”

Betty talked about the Hope Center’s push for grants that will allow them to build a duplex, then start buying and building houses. All of this is to revitalize the community, wholistically. “That would create stability, a win for churches, for the town, and for schools so kids aren’t dragged from school to school,” she said.

Betty’s excitement and intensity during the interview was palpable but Betty also doesn’t take herself too seriously. While laughing, she said, “I drive very fast. I don’t like to wait at stop lights.” Implying she can be a little impatient, she continued, “I get upset at times because people can’t see it (meaning, the solution). But, you know, it took me 70 years.”

Before rushing off to go do some more work for the Hope Center, Betty left with a call to action. “We’re not trying to get everyone to come to the Hope Center. We’re trying to get everyone to start a Hope Center.” Who are the hopeless in your community? Could they use a Hope Center?

Should we Consider an Interim Pastor?

by Dr. Don Dennison

Myjourney to serve the church in an interim pastor role took me to the southwestern suburbs of Tulsa, OK. This was my sixth church as an interim and my first outside of Ohio. One million-plus residents live in the scenic Tulsa metro area. Being among the 50 largest cities in the USA, it might be bigger than where you live. It had the feel of a vibrant city nestled in the countryside. I came to love the best of both worlds in that northwest corner of “the Bible Belt.”

No matter the location, churches go through transitions when their pastor leaves. I served as an interim to guide Sapulpa First Church of God (Anderson) through its transition period and prepare them for its next pastoral leader. Despite the presence of many churches, this area needs new churches as well as more churches with a renewed passion for reaching lost people. Over 25,000 people with no faith connection or involvement live within an 8-mile radius of this church facility. Furthermore, there is greater respect for and

receptivity to the gospel here than in many areas of our country. Do we need to be reminded of Jesus’ words: “…open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest” (John 4:35)?

The previous senior pastor served ten years. Studies have shown that unless a church brings in an interim pastor after a long-term pastor (10 years or more), 72% of the next pastors stay for just two years or less. That means the successor is an unintentional interim, a scenario that usually causes more harm than good. Other factors warranting consideration of an interim include when there is church conflict, a history of poor transitions, a vision shift, and avoiding the pressure to select the next pastor too quickly.

Pastoral transitions always create some level of anxiety. Members grieve the loss of a beloved pastor who either retires or responds to a call to serve elsewhere. Uncertainty about the future creates more anxiety: Can we find a capable pastor? How long will

it take? A shortage of viable candidates exacerbates this conversation. Will the absence of a pastor set up power plays between people in the church? If there is an obvious conflict, it’s far better to have an interim deal with it and assist with healing the body prior to the arrival of the next pastor. No matter what the cause(s) of anxiety, churches should not select pastors during this anxious period.

Unfortunately, some churches have a history of short-term pastorates. Transitions from one pastor to another have been rocky, at best. That’s more likely when the process has been rushed, only to discover (too late) that the last pastor was not a good fit to lead the church. When the next abrupt departure happens, why not take a step back and take the time to do it right? A skilled interim pastor can alter that pattern by giving the church more time.

Churches that have plateaued or declined (the majority of U.S. churches) could benefit from having an intentional interim while they work through a vision shift. Let’s face it: there is a natural life cycle in any organization, including churches. If a church does not periodically take steps to renew and readjust its focus, a downward spiral will inevitably ensue. The in-between-time of pastoral change is an ideal time to take inventory so the church will be better prepared to follow God into the future. That’s even more important if the community has changed, but the church hasn’t adapted to minister in that changing context. The

outside voice of an interim can help rekindle and nurture that vision.

Churches need to make good transitions when change occurs. Change is external. Transition is internal. Transition is the gradual adjustment that occurs inside of us as we adapt to loss and change. An interim period prepares a church to make a transition from anxiety to anticipation.

Excellent interim programs provide three benefits: (1) they are very intentional about helping the church plan for the future; they are not just about “filling the pulpit” with a capable preacher; (2) they build a process that moves the people from anxiety to anticipation of the future; and (3) they provide a seamless transition between the interim pastor and the next pastoral leader. The more seamless it is, the less anxiety there will be.

An essential part of the process of helping the church prepare for the future includes addressing needed changes before the next pastor arrives. A thorough assessment of the church’s ministry will help disclose what many people already know:

“We have deficiencies limiting our church from reaching its full potential. An effective interim pastor can assist the church in addressing those areas. This can be a very good time to make needed changes—whether they involve staff, facility, or program. Doing so then saves the next pastor from unnecessary criticism when promoting what should have been done long ago. Leadership boards have heard me say: “Tell the people to blame me! I can take it! I’m leaving soon!” My goal is to make the ride easier and smoother for the next pastor.

The North American church is going to experience a massive tsunami when the baby boomer generation of pastor retirements is fully realized. The Covid pandemic seemed to accelerate that exodus as pastors said, “Enough!” and stepped away to enter early retirement or change to less-stressful careers.

100% of churches in the Western Region—and everywhere else—will eventually lose their pastor. Why not accept that fact and have conversations about it well before a change occurs? Instead

Dr. Don & Phyllis Dennison

of mourning our losses, we should anticipate the future as people of faith and prepare with intentionality for it. In some cases, that would mean raising up pastorally-gifted leaders who can eventually step into that role.

Well-known author A.W. Tozer served many years in Chicago as a Christian Missionary Alliance pastor but spent his last years in Toronto, Ontario. Tozer had a reputation for being a spiritual heavyweight. Many of us have read and loved his books. Tozer once remarked that “leaving a church is like dying and going to heaven and looking back to see what kind of a fool your wife married.” For Tozer, the real question was not whether my wife’s new husband is better than me. Rather the question is, “How have I prepared my wife for life without me? And now that I’m gone, can I trust God to provide for her.”

Some churches are blessed to have a gifted staff member who has been groomed to move up to the lead position when the senior pastor retires or relocates. The people already know the person and (hopefully) have confidence in what they can provide. Having staff members move up can provide stability to the church…if he or she has the necessary gifts for that top leadership position. That kind of succession plan can work, but it is fraught with numerous challenges. Not every staff person or elder has those leadership gifts or has them developed sufficiently to be able to lead well.

In my two most recent interims, I helped the church navigate the waters of moving forward when staff persons seeking to become the next senior pastor did not have the gifts or personalities to do so. Neither person had the blessing of the church elders and/or leaders. One of the staff members remained; the other departed. Not everyone was happy with the outcome, but interim pastors aren’t there to make everyone happy.

One of the things I love about what I’ve been doing is that I get to help the local church understand

(1) who they are, (2) what God has called them to be and do, and (3) then guide them towards becoming a healthier church. At my age, I’m not interested in simply “filling the pulpit” for a church

in a holding pattern while they await the arrival of the next pastor.

Looking back on a previous interim, I’m thankful that in working with a motivated Transition Team, that church’s organizational dysfunction was repaired, the prayer ministry was strengthened, a gifts-based approach to serving in ministry was implemented, communication at all levels in the church was dramatically increased, mission and vision statements were updated, new ministries were launched, and “first impressions” were upgraded to provide a more positive welcoming experience for new families who arrived every Sunday. Those kinds of changes made the transition easier for the next pastor so he could hit the ground running!

When Ed Stetzer was interim pastor at the famed Moody Church in Chicago, they had a habit of saying: “Moody Church is not on pause; it’s on mission!” And so should every church whether they have a pastor they love or are in the in-between time.

That’s certainly a goal for the organization with whom I currently serve. NXTSteps Church Services (www.yourncs.org) assists local churches and leaders with a variety of services. One of the ways they do that is “to assist in the strengthening of the local church during transitions.” They are currently serving 30+ denominations. The process includes assessment, spiritual renewal, planning, and then the implementation of the plan tailored to the local church and facilitated by a trained Transitional Interim Pastor.

If your region has a functioning interim program, consider the benefits the next time your church has a pastoral vacancy. If no interim program exists, then I highly recommend this ministry. Review the NXTSteps website and/or contact me for more information.

Global Reach Updates

Thank you for partnering with our friends and fields in Global Reach. Many of our GR fields are entering the end of summer where they have struggled with oppressive heat. This has been especially difficult in many areas which are impoverished and that lack much infrastructure (like readily available water supplies and electricity). The following updates from our Global Reach fields are to be celebrated as what God is doing through the leaders there and through your prayers and giving. Please continue to pray for our leaders as they serve God and share the Good News with seekers.

Venezuela

The situation in Venezuela is still very unstable and difficult for the majority of the people who live there. Pastor Victor Montalvo was joined by Liarxis Alcala in the Dominican during the recent ACTS trip. They traveled to Venezuela after the ACTS team returned to the USA. Victor was able to meet and fellowship with the pastors of our Venezuelan field. He was astonished at what God is doing there through our leaders and the body. In spite of the social and political situations in Venezuela, the church community and leaders are involved in fruitful ministry from street preaching, relief efforts, children’s programs, and hospital prayer/visitation ministry.

Field leaders

Liarxis and Mara Alcala need continued prayer and support for safety, provision, stamina, and encouragement. This field is ripe for the harvest.

Bangladesh

Dr. John spends time traveling to the various areas of our Mission to have prayer meetings for specific districts and the communities they minister in. There is a time of teaching, worshiping, and encouragement for this specific district area leaders. He was also able to visit a church construction site to see the progress. This area has a vibrant Sunday School program for the community children and a church building provides a valuable hub for community ministry. Thank you for your gifts in providing these structures. Pray that God will continue using these buildings as tools for the Kingdom.

India

Pastor Phillip Das serves with our India Mission as an assistant to Samir. He spends time meeting online each month for devotion, study, and prayer with our workers in the west. This year, he is teaching through lessons on discipleship. To help them grow in the Lord, he provides a daily devotion study sheet for them to help them keep records of their daily Bible reading and prayer. Every Saturday he spends time praying with one of the fellowship leaders trying to understand the struggle they go through and praying for stamina and encouragement for them. Pastor Phillip is pictured in the two photos at left and right. Please pray for him as he mentors these young leaders in the west.

Thailand

Bryan and Katie Crabtree recently visited the USA for about five weeks this summer, visiting numerous churches in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Their meetings were well attended, and they shared a wonderful presentation about the ministry God has given them in Thailand. Please continue to pray for them and their girls, Elli and Ava. They also have a son on the way expected in November.

Dominican Republic

An ACTS team led by Pastor Victor Montalvo visited the Dominican Republic in June 2023. They were able to visit all the churches in the Dominican and be part of ministry happening at each location. The team served the communities in both physical and spiritual ways. Pastor Victor Montalvo reports that some members participated in teachings for children and adults. The team also helped with physical projects including painting walls, cleaning up, and installing flooring. Now they have a cement floor for worship.

The ACTS team shared much of their time with Pastor Fremio and Evelyn, Directors of the Conference in the DR. They also attended a children’s graduation ceremony from Biblical studies. During a pastoral meeting, it was discussed that a key need in the DR field is for leadership educational materials. Their desire is to be more theologically prepared as leaders and pastors so they can better disciple the body.

Thank you for all the prayers and support to send ACTS teams to the field and for all our brothers and sisters in our Global Reach fields.

700

Fax

www.cggc.org