The Global Advocate - May/June 2024

The GLOBAL ADVOCATE

Region by Region

Eastern Regional Conference

by Pastor David Robinson

Railroad by Jacob Clagg

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. 189, No. 3

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

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© 2024, Churches of God, General Conference

The Eastern Regional Conference

by Jacob Clagg Director of Communications

At last, we come to the final and first region in the Churches of God, General Conference (CGGC). Like most of our regions, the Eastern Regional Conference (ERC) was not born with the name “Eastern Regional Conference” but was, at the outset, plainly, “The Church of God.” Names are often retroactive, and because of this, pinning down a date for something like the creation of the ERC becomes a subjective question as much as an objective one.

Take, for instance, the fact that the CGGC as a whole has decided that the birth of the denomination began in 1825. If we could ask John Winebrenner himself in 1825, he probably would have contention with the idea that he had just begun a new denomination. It was, after all, explicitly not his intention to found a new denomination. C.H. Forney, in his book, History of the Churches of God in The United States of North America, quotes Winebrenner as saying he “had not the beginning the remotest idea of organizing a distinct or separate body of people.”1 His goal was to reform and to go back to the historic and biblical definitions of church, creating, he hoped, an umbrella beneath which all other tribes of Christianity might fall.

The Church of God, as a distinct denomination, began not with the declaration of a new denomination, or even a new eldership, but with revivals and tent meetings, as C.H. Forney puts it, “at Harrisburg, near Shiremanstown, at Lisburn, and Linglestown, at which point [John Winebrenner] labored as a Reformed minister, and where some hundreds - “multitudes” - were converted before a church was organized.”2 This is to say that, even before there was a region or an eldership, there were hundreds of believers. While we might pin down the first eldership to 1830, or the moment this first eldership was retroactively referred to as the East Pennsylvania Eldership to 1845, the more important historical fact is that the heart of the CGGC, as it still beats today, was birthed here. And it was born in the true conviction and conversion of men and women who had spiritual transformation. They had neither contemporary nor traditional liturgies but had authentic religion with God through revivals and prayer. While liturgies have certainly changed in the 199 years since 1825, the ERC maintains its desire for authentic religion. In this issue about the ERC, you’ll read all about new ways that our churches are reaching deep into their communities, experimenting with new forms of worship, or perhaps, like Winebrenner himself, uncovering old ways of being the Church of God.

1 Forney, C.H. The History of the Churches of God In the United States of North America, Publishing House of the Churches of God, 1914, pg. 20

2 Ibid.

Correction:

It has been brought to our attention that I (Jacob) made an error in an article in the January/February 2024 issue of The Global Advocate In a reflection on the life and ministry of Dr. Earl Mills, former Executive Director of the Great Lakes Conference, I mistakenly mentioned that Earl “baptized babies.” As most of our readers well know, the CGGC does not endorse infant baptism, and neither does Dr. Mills. During our interview, Dr. Mills spoke about how he was involved at every stage of the life of the church, from child dedications, to baptisms, to funerals. While paraphrasing, I mistakenly (and thoughtlessly) attributed infant baptism to Earl. I have since apologized to him for the oversight, and we appreciate those individuals who brought this issue to our attention, so we could address it here. It’s our goal at the CGGC to publish engaging but accurate stories, but we are grateful for those who hold us accountable and point out places where we’ve missed the mark.

Jacob Clagg

Asking (and Answering) the Right Questions

by Pastor David Robinson

“R

enovating an old house is way easier than building a new one” … said no contractor ever. Taking an existing building that was built with a particular purpose, style, and taste, and changing it into something based upon a different purpose, style, and taste is not an easy venture. Issues like the quality of past workmanship, age, and condition of the existing structure, damage, location and, of course, cost are all things that ought to be weighed when considering renovating a building. Usually, complete renovation costs more – more time (destruction comes before construction), more money (who knows what you are going to find once you start ripping things apart), and usually more headaches (see prior parentheticals).

As you may have surmised, this article is not about houses at all, at least not in the literal sense. Rather, it is about the story of one church’s continuing journey for relevancy – striving to answer the questions:

Who are we?

Why do we exist as a church?

Are we truly impacting the lives of those in our fellowship and community?

Are we doing this church thing “the right way”?

This is no easy list of questions, especially if you really are looking for answers. In seeking answers to these questions, we have had to continually answer two more difficult questions throughout the process:

What are we willing to let go of and what are we willing to cling to as we become the church Jesus is calling us to be?

This article is about the insights I have discovered while helping lead the Elizabethtown Church of God’s transformational journey from a body of believers who followed a “traditional” American way of “doing church” to a more “traditional” first century Ancient Near Eastern way of being the church through Church Houses.

A brief warning before you read any more of this article: 1. This is an extremely condensed summary of our church’s journey because of space constraints. 2. This was not a linear journey with clear answers and total unanimity among the people who comprise the church. 3. This was and continues to be a process where discovering purpose among equals is as valuable as the “final product.” 4. The views I have expressed are my synopsis of our church’s unfolding story that took the giftings and talents of many people, not least of which was a dynamic and wise church council. 5. This is the answer for our church, not necessarily your church… but it may be!

The Elizabethtown Church of God has been in decline for decades. Attendance was down, giving was down… any metric that churches usually care about were consistently down. I remember the laments, “What used to work back in the good old days does not work now,” and “Something has to be done differently, because what we are doing is not working!” as appropriate summaries of what many people were thinking and feeling. The problem was no one knew what that “something” was.

Over a period of three years and with the help of a myriad of people, resources, influences, and the Holy Spirit, God led us to that “something” – Church Houses, also known as house churches or micro-churches. Rather than focus on the “how,” I will focus on the “what” and “why” by providing answers to the questions posed above.

Answering the Questions:

Who are we?

We knew what the Bible taught about who the Church is – the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:12), the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), the redeemed people of God (1 Peter 1:18), and members of God’s family (Ephesians 2:19) to name a few, but who were we, the Elizabethtown Church of God? How did we incarnate these biblical teachings in our community? In our families? In our fellowship?

Whereas many of us could answer these questions with the correct biblical answer, we all knew that something was missing. Had we become that church that is content with our own circle? That church that has a weekly “service” where people sit, sing songs, usher the kids off to a program, and listen to someone talk at them because that’s how “church is done”? Was church – despite our head knowledge of the contrary – simply a service that we were laboring to attract others to through various “outreach” efforts so we can get the “lost saved” while helping to balance our budget? Is that who we were? Is that who we wanted to be? Is that what God wanted us to be?

As you can see, the more you seek answers, the more questions arise – and harder questions at that!

Why do we exist as a church?

Hmmmm. A “correct” answer is… To represent Jesus to all through our words and deeds and to complete the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19) by expanding God’s Kingdom. Now, why did we exist? Again, while many could give a great biblical answer, I’m not sure how many really knew what the answer was. Did we exist to sustain a building? To hand out food to the hungry? Offer programs to children? Pay the pastor and staff? (Again, more questions!) While none of these things are wrong in and of themselves, they become so if they are the reason(s) why our church existed.

Are we truly impacting the lives of those in our fellowship and community?

With regards to those who attend our church, aside from the usual church things like Bible studies, Sunday school, and everything that is involved in putting together a Sunday service, there were not frequent or consistent happenings that truly

grabbed you by the shoulders and demanded a life change. (I can think of a few, but I am talking about a sustained impact). Yes, biblical lessons and stories were taught and learned. Friendships were made and maintained. But at what level? At what depth? What change was taking place? I would say a minimal amount.

In terms of community impact, for a small church, we fared better here due to a thriving food pantry that not only has helped people with physical needs but acted as a catalyst for others in the community to come to know Jesus by getting to know us. Several benefactors of the pantry’s ministry would consider Etown “their church” and more than a few have become part of our Church Houses. But how were we impacting the community in other ways—ways where people didn’t have to come to us, but rather we went to them? (Again, with more questions!)

Are we “doing” this church thing “the right way”?

This is a faulty question. It assumes that someone “does church” and that there is a " right way” of doing it. One does not “do church,” rather one is part of the church. Church is about identity first, actions second. Of course, actions and deeds are a crucial part of the Church and one’s life—but these actions flow from who we are, they are a result of our identity in Christ. More pertinent to this topic though, is how we organize together as a body, how we structure ourselves as a local congregation, how we gather corporately to worship, how we truly make a lasting impact with those within our congregation and those within our community. The more we looked at these issues, the more we realized the answer to the above question was, “No.”

Which leads to the final gut-wrenching questions to answer: What are we willing to let go of and what are we willing to cling to as we become the church Jesus is calling us to be?

Let’s break that down into three questions:

What kind of church was Jesus asking us to become? What was essential in making that a reality? What were we willing to do about it?

What kind of church was Jesus asking us to become?

Church Leadership discerned that we were called to be a church that valued intentional community, growth, and service. We wanted to truly live and learn the Gospel among a group of Christians that would journey through life together and help each other mature in our faith. We desired to take the priesthood of all believers seriously and not rely solely on clergy to “do ministry.” We needed to impact our community in more personal and meaningful ways.

In order to do this, we decided to hold on to the following: The priesthood of all believers mentality, more meaningful and intentional relationships through small groups we call Church Houses, discussion-based learning, relational evangelism, and intentional leadership development.

We decided to let go of the following: Clergy-centric ministry, church “services,” a centralized church building, and a “come to us” ministry ethos.

There is much more to this story than what I have written here. We are by no means a “finished product.” Our renovation is on-going and worth all of the time, effort, and energy as we continue to learn the “best ways” of expressing our faith, living it out, and sharing it with others. The Elizabethtown Church of God is now in the capable hands of Pastor Andy Wiedemann and his team of co-leaders, as they continue to build, tweak, and improve our newly renovated church. Whereas I am no longer the pastor of this church, I resigned in December of 2023 after accomplishing what I was called to do here as Pastor, I am still active in the church as a House Leader with my wife Nicole.

In closing, some advice for those who see and feel the need for change in your local church… there is no pattern or model, by itself, that you can copy that is going to fix your problems. The long and hard process of seeking God, being patient, having genuine relationships with your leadership team, and figuring things out one step at a time is vital. The hard work and process done within the context of genuine loving relationships is the key (1 Peter 4:8).

For more information on The Elizabethtown Church of God’s ministry and Church Houses, Visit: www.etownfirst.org.

David Robinson has been married to his wife, Nicole, for over 26 years and is a father to three awesome children, Caden, Ellianna, and Christian. While he has been “in full-time ministry” for over 23 years, the last seven of which were pastoring at the Elizabethtown Church of God, he is now taking a respite and drives professionally for Amazon. He loves spending time with his family, his dogs, outdoors, movies, and marital arts and can't wait to see what God has in store for him next.

Harrisburg and the Underground Railroad

by Jacob Clagg

Itjust so happens that while the instrumental people, institutions, and networks of the Underground Railroad were being put in place, the Churches of God was also being established. The Churches of God’s creation was entirely a reformist movement by John Winebrenner and those who supported him, but we cannot miss the significance of the CGGC’s historical penchant for social involvement, or put another way, for how Winebrenner believed the Churches of God ought to play a part in societal reform as well as religious reform.

A number of our earliest churches (and many which still stand today) run up and down the Cumberland Valley. This valley is shaped by the North and South Mountains which bend and snake across four states: Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Towns like Hagerstown, Chambersburg, Shippensburg, and Carlisle were natural stops along the road, and all lead up to or away from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital. Harrisburg was built upon the Susquehanna River, a natural transport highway, and likewise, by the end of the 1830s, the city was connected by a railroad to the rest of the country. By the 1850s, Harrisburg had become a hub for rail traffic, and would become a nexus of Union supplies during the Civil War. A freedom seeking slave from the South might reasonably pass by a number of these towns in hopes of making it to Harrisburg, and eventually taking road, rail, or river to any number of locations, like Philadelphia to the East, Pittsburgh to the West, or Canada to the North. It was common knowledge that if one made it past Harrisburg, they would effectively be untraceable, and therefore safe from slave catchers.

Compiled from "The Underground Railroad from Slavery to Freedom" by Wilbur H. Siebert, The Macmillan Company, 1898.[1], Public Domain.

Despite this corridor’s prevalence, anthropologists and historians have known for a long time that stories of the Underground Railroad are just as likely to be unverifiable folklore as they are legitimate historical facts. The “holy grail” of any historian interested in the Underground Railroad then is to find verifiable evidence that a physical location was used to harbor, hide, or help freedom seeking slaves. One account from the History of the Salem United Church of Christ, previously the Salem Reformed Church that John Winebrenner served at, tells an oral history of the church cellar, through which “fleeing black slaves were warmed, clothed, fed, and sent on their way.”1 Just after this though, the authors put the story in doubt, saying that the church, largely of GermanSwiss descent, was unlikely to have taken a position on the issue of slavery. The difficulty of evaluating the veracity of oral story telling is put on display.

There are multiple reasons why strong evidence is so difficult to come by. The most significant reason is the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, which required law enforcement in all states to aid in the capture of runaway “fugitive” slaves, and which made it a punishable offense for free civilians to aid these “fugitives.” Accusations made under the Act required no evidence besides the testimony of the prosecution, and “fugitives” were unable to speak in their own defense, resulting in a kangaroo court given that commissioners tasked with carrying out the arrests made twice as much from guilty verdicts as non-guilty ones.

On the other hand, the Fugitive Slave Act also galvanized abolitionist societies. The Act was met with much uproar, particularly in Northern states, who reacted by creating or doubling down on Anti-Slavery societies, publishing papers, tracts, and other materials, and, occasionally, civil disobedience. One famous story from Harrisburg in 1851 resulted in the unfortunate capture of three black men who were accused of being runaway slaves. The three men were subjected to a complicated trial and became the center of a riot outside of the Harrisburg jail. Free black and white abolitionists came together and went toe to toe with a smaller group of southern slavers. One of the defendants escaped in the scuffle but the other two were re-arrested, along with many of the rioters. Anti-slavery individuals signed a petition pleading for the two black men to be released and freed, the names of those individuals are still available, and some of which were part of the Salem United Church of Christ, Winebrenner’s first pastorate. Unfortunately, the petition went unheard, and the two black men were unjustly taken to Virginia.

1 A History: Salem United Church of Christ (German Reformed) Harrisburg, Pennsylvania from 1787 to 1988, by Joseph J. Kelley, Eleanor E. Kelly.

The Salem United Church of Christ in Harrisburg, PA

The lamentable Act did have a couple of additional unfortunate impacts. As Todd Mealy points out, “The many stories that were kept in personal diaries were destroyed after 1850 for fear of that law.”2 Likewise, it was this law that drove so many helpers of the freedom seekers truly underground in the first place. The result is that much of the evidence for antislavery activity does not come in the shape of secret tunnels, but in public facing activism. If we accept the idea that the Underground Railroad was as much about public support for freeing slaves as it was providing the means of escape, as Todd Mealy suggests, then John Winebrenner’s own contribution to the Underground Railroad is obvious.

John Winebrenner was a founding member of the Harrisburg Anti-Slavery Society (HAS) in 1836, which made it their object to see slaves “instantly to be set free and brought under the protection of the law.”3 Likewise, the HAS was not interested in compensation to slave owners for the freeing of their slaves, and instead desired to see the compensation given to the “outraged and guiltless slaves, and not those who have plundered and abused them.”4 At time of signing, these were contentious positions to take, even among abolitionists, who were likely to hold a spectrum of beliefs about the best way to abolish slavery without collapsing society writ large. Winebrenner continued to be active with the group, and simultaneously began a long printing campaign, using the The Gospel Publisher (a previous name of this very periodical) to consistently report on local, national, and international concerns about slavery, news about slave legislature, biblical understandings of slavery, the church’s stance on slavery, and featured other abolitionist thinkers, and occasionally stories of slaves, including injustices perpetrated on black men and women. Winebrenner’s publications loudly, and sometimes contentiously, published the church’s stance on abolitionism, in one issue saying, “It is the imperative duty of every minister of Christ and all Christians to bear their testimony against this sin [slavery], and to use all righteous means in their power for its total extinction.” This was a resolution passed by the Eldership in 1845.

The Gospel Publisher’s anti-slavery rhetoric was noticed far beyond the borders of Pennsylvania when in Charleston, South Carolina, riots broke out from the increasing frustration of pro-slave southerners who were fed up with the amount of abolitionist tracts that were making their way south. One quote from the Charleston Courier reads that the rioters, “seized the bags containing abolition tracts and made a public bonfire the whole last evening.” Apparently, The Gospel Publisher was among the burned tracts.

Despite the controversy, Winebrenner never saw the abolition of slavery as a necessary pretext to war and despised the idea of civil wars in general. Sectarianism in general was an anathema for Winebrenner and his stance on Anti-Slavery was to hold slave owners close, in the hopes of changing their hearts and minds about the issue, particularly if they were of Christian conviction already. Like most people, it seems unlikely then that Winebrenner would have broken the laws of the time to bring about his Anti-Slavery desires. Instead, Winebrenner worked within the confines of the law, doing all he was legally able to do to bring about an end to slavery. Unfortunately, John Winebrenner never lived to see the full fruits of his labors in this area, having passed away on the eve of the American Civil War. Yet, Winebrenner’s legacy is one that stands alongside staunch Black and White abolitionists who endeavored to create the Underground Railroad.

2 Biography of an Antislavery City: Antislavery Advocates, Abolitionists, and Underground Railroad Activists in Harrisburg, PA, Publish America, Baltimore by Todd Mealy, 2007, Pg. 104

3 Proceedings of the Harrisburg Anti-Slavery Society, pg 3.

4 Ibid.

John Winebrenner in 1849

Love Thy Neighbor

with Donna Sturr by Jacob Clagg

Donna Sturr, 77, has taught within the church since she was 14 years old. Donna has served as an organist, pianist, choir director, youth and young adults Sunday school teacher, Bible Quiz coach, youth leader, and young adult leader. Her husband, Phil Sturr, was a CGGC pastor from 1971-2005, serving York First Church, Harmony Bethel Church, Hillcrest Church, and Mt. Pleasant Church, through 35 years of ministry. Phil and Donna have had a lifetime of ministry together. Donna still works full-time as the Assistant for Leadership Development with the Brethren in Christ Denomination, serving over 500 ministers with their credentialing and education.

In February of 2022, Donna lost her husband, Phil, after 54 years of marriage. It was a life altering loss, but it wasn’t the only large change Donna was hit with. A year later, in June of 2023, Donna was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite her need for an oxygen tank, this diagnosis didn’t slow Donna’s ministry down. She still works full-time, and in fact, new opportunities have opened up. To hear more about it, we asked Donna for an interview to share about how she continues to make disciples.

We heard you’ve recently started a new ministry with your neighbors, what motivated you to do this?

After Phil passed away in February 2022, the Lord laid on my heart a burden for my neighbors and I wanted to share Jesus with them. I knew some of them by name but only a few because of working full-time and not being home a lot. My goal was then to eventually have a Bible study in my home for those who may want to attend. In November 2022 I prepared half sheets of paper with an invitation for a “meet and greet” at my house on a Sunday afternoon. Fourteen neighbors attended. It was great for all of us to get to know our neighbors and chat for almost 2 ½ hours. After the meet and greet I recorded all their names (including children) on my daily prayer list and I pray for each of them, by name, most every day.

What opportunities has God made for you to minister to your neighbors?

Since I can’t walk into a store, as I am on oxygen and my levels go too low with any exertion, my neighbors often contact me and say they are going to a store, and they’ll ask if they can bring me anything. I often let them bring me an item or two as they then come into my home and sometimes will sit down and talk. I have learned to listen to my neighbors’ struggles and hurts and offer to pray for them, which they gladly accept. Some of them have noticed and ask me about how I am handling my diagnosis so well. This provides opportunity to share about Jesus.

Since the meet and greet in November 2022, I have had opportunities to sit down in my home with five individuals or families from my cul-de-sac and get to know each other better. The one neighbor is a very strong Catholic but that seems to be where her focus is – on the Catholic Church more than Jesus. I have had opportunities to share the need for a personal faith in Jesus with her. Another neighbor, who is totally unchurched, is going through testing right now for a possible cancer diagnosis and is struggling. I have had the opportunity to pray with her in my home. Another neighbor in his 80s

Donna

takes my trash to the curb every week. I invited him and his wife over for dinner a few weeks ago and we played some games together. At the close of the evening, I had an opportunity to ask about their faith background. Several of the neighbors have brought me leftover food from their meals or they would make extras for me. This gives me the chance to engage with them.

Is there something about our relentlessly busy lives that makes us ignore our neighbors? Why do you think we struggle to make connection with people who live next to us?

We are so inward focused, I think, and we come home tired, and all we want to do is rest, get supper for the family, and start the day over again. I needed to create space in my life. When we were in the midst of 35 years of ministry, I would look at my calendar and I would have no free time at all. We were just tied up in our own lives, and our ministry.

Sturr

Saturday

4 Remember in prayer Rod & Mila Ayers and ask for safety for Rod as he works on roofing jobs this summer.

11 Happy Birthday to Mary Teller! Pray for encouragement in ministry throughout this year.

18 Praise God for the effectiveness of our ministry in Bangladesh !

May 2024

Global Advocate Prayer Calendar

Friday

3 Pray for strength & wisdom for India Field Director Samir Singha as he seeks to do the work the Lord has called him to.

Thursday

2 Unite in prayer for Haiti as gang violence continues. Trust God to provide safety for our Haitian leadership.

Wednesday

1 Intercede for the International Students at the University of Findlay. Pray for Christian witness to multiply!

Tuesday

10 Intercede on behalf of the people of Brazil as they continue to deal with the effects of high inflation.

9 Pray for fellowship and unity between our pastors and leaders in the Dominican Republic.

8 Happy Birthday to Scott Frobel ! Scott takes care of the maintenance of the CGGC office.

7 Unite in prayer for Victor Montalvo as he provides leadership for Latino Ministries.

Monday

Sunday

6 Pray for the ACTS teams travel mercies, ample funds, and relationship building opportunities.

5 On this Cinco de Mayo, pray for unity and vision for the churches in the new area of ministry in Mexico .

17 Intercede for the Allegheny Regional Conference sessions being held today through Saturday.

16 Pray for Global Reach Director Travis Helm as he oversees the GR fields.

15 Happy Birthday to Kalpana Costa! Delight in asking God to cover her in grace and mercy this next year!

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

13 Jim Marckel’s birthday is May 15. Jim is the Archive’s curator at the CGGC office.

12 Happy Mother’s Day! Give thanks to God for the mothers and women in your life who encourage and pray for you!

25 Ask God to bless the pastors of the Voice of the Gospel in Kenya with excellence in ministry skills and unity of vision.

24 Unite in prayer for the Project HelpHaiti Executive Team as they help oversee the work in Haiti.

23 Intercede for our brothers and sisters in Venezuela . Pray for demonstrations of God’s provision for His children, and for growth.

22 Praise God for the mission teams going to the Navajo Nation ! Pray for long-lasting spiritual growth.

21 Pray for breakthroughs in ministry opportunities in our Asian fields as they continue to face resistance.

20 As the Global Reach Commission meets today, pray for their wisdom!

19 Pray for the school children in Uluberia , India and their families.

31 Trust the Lord to provide opportunities to witness for Dave & Kenda Kapaku as they serve in Hawaii.

30 Thank the Lord for the willing hearts of Mission Advancement Volunteers Jeff & Julie Burns. Pray for open doors to minister and encourage others.

29 Remember in prayer the ministry workers in Bangladesh. Ask that they be surrounded by a hedge of protection.

28 Intercede on behalf of Bryan & Katie Crabtree as they return from their third year in Thailand. Pray for their rest and time with family.

27 On this Memorial Day , remember military chaplains as they minister to our troops. Pray for peace.

26 Happy Birthday to Lance Finley, Executive Director at the CGGC! Pray for wisdom and discernment as he leads.

Saturday

1 Have faith that God will use the Child of Promise schools in Bangladesh to share the love of Jesus with the students and their communities.

8 Unite in prayer for the India staff family. Pray for their fruitfulness and God’s blessings for them. Remember Samir Singha as he guides these Mission leaders.

15 Pray for the leaders of our churches in Mexico and for the legal registration of our conference to be approved soon.

22 Pray for the Kenya pastors as they continue in their studies to earn official certification as pastors to fulfill government requirements.

29 Lift up Dave & Kenda Kapaku in prayer as they serve the Kahana Door of Faith church in Maui. May the Lord add daily to their number!

June 2024

Global Advocate Prayer Calendar

Friday

Thursday

Wednesday

Tuesday

Monday

Sunday

30 Pray for Ernesto Nunes and the Brazil Conference as GR Director Travis Helm and Pastor Mike Poe visit with them the next several days.

7 Lift up in prayer the Great Lakes Conference sessions as they meet today and tomorrow.

6 Pray for Assistant Campus Ministries leader Josiah Parkhurst as he works with summer interns .

5 Pray for God to grant patience and endurance to GR Director Travis Helm so he can share what God is doing around the world.

4 Remember field leader Pastor Joseph Mwaura in Kenya . Pray for wisdom and discernment as he oversees churches.

3 Thank the Lord for the faithful service of Ken & Betty McIntyre. Ask the Lord for opportunities to share with churches as Mission Advancement Volunteers.

2 “ Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest field .”

–Matthew 9:38

14 Join in prayer for Pastor German Baquedano in Nicaragua. Ask for wisdom as he comes together with local leaders to provide outreach to the community.

13 Seek the Holy Spirit’s restoration and encouragement for the pastors in Brazil. Petition for major revival within the churches.

12 Petition to the Lord to open doors in Venezuela as ministries multiply and grow.

11 Call upon the Lord and ask Him to open the hearts of the people who live in Thailand, that they would want to know him more.

10 Pray for safe travels for the Crabtrees in the USA as they spend time with family and friends over the next several weeks.

9 Pray for the ministry taking place in Argentina. Have faith that the work being done will continue to grow!

21 Lift up in prayer the Mexico ACTS Team that will serve July 18-25 as they prepare their hearts.

20 Commit to the Lord the Midwest Regional Conference sessions today through Saturday.

19 Pray for racial reconciliation in the USA.

18 Join together in prayer for the people of the Dominican Republic and ask that there would continue to be strong spiritual growth!

17 Gordon Avey ’s birthday is June 19. Give thanks for his many years of work in Brazil. Pray that the Lord will bless him this next year!

16 Happy Father’s Day! Thank God for His Fatherhood, and also for our earthly dads. Pray for godly men to shepherd their families.

28 Intercede for the California Eldership Meetings today and tomorrow.

27 Happy Birthday Rod Ayers! Thank the Lord for Rod & Mila’s love for the people of Haiti. Pray for the fruit of the Spirit to be evident among the believers there.

26 Happy Birthday Bryan Crabtree! Pray for blessings this next year over Bryan & Katie’s ministry in Thailand.

25 Intercede for Western Regional Director Kendall Hughes as he helps shepherd their farflung churches.

24 Pray for Dr. John Costa , Bangladesh Field Director, as he provides care to patients and that there would be opportunities to witness.

23 Intercede for the Southwest ACTS Team that will serve at Gamerco July 9-18 as they prepare their hearts.

We say we know the Lord called us into full-time ministry, but what does He want for me today? Each day I get up now, I know I have today, but I don’t know if I have tomorrow. I asked my oncologist what my prognosis was, and he said, “You’re living today, and you may not have tomorrow.” So, that’s what I know, but I guess all of us are living that way. We have today to live for our Lord.

Did you have any fears stepping into this new ministry? How did you address those fears?

Each time I engage with a neighbor, I fear that I will say the wrong words and not be a good ambassador for my Lord. I desire to live the fruit of the Spirit and not be a stumbling block in any way. I have never had a lot of confidence in my oral or written communication, as many times I speak without giving great thought as to what I am saying. I pray daily that the Lord would use me and provide wisdom as I share Jesus one-on-one. I want to make each moment count for my Lord while He has given me reasonable health. My main way of addressing these fears is through prayer and as I sense the Lord leading me to step out in faith and follow that leading.

My first fear was as I walked around my cul-de-sac in early November 2022 passing out the invitations, not knowing many of my neighbors, and handing them the invitation to attend a “meet and greet” at my house. I prayed that day before I left my house. When Phil passed, I prayed for many months to bring me clarity as to how I could best share Jesus with my neighbors. To my knowledge, only 2 of the 11 homes attended mass on a weekly basis.

Do you see a connection between being vulnerable and being faithful?

Yes, I clearly see a connection between being vulnerable and being faithful. I need to come before my Lord with open hands and arms saying, “Here I am Lord, use me,” and then being willing to join Him in His work and follow Him in faithfulness wherever He leads. He is the one who will do the work through me. I notice it seems to have helped in my relationship with my neighbors as I am

willing to be vulnerable about both past joys and accomplishments as well as challenges and failures in my life. I need to be willing to be open about my faith journey and that it is clearly my relationship with the Lord that makes a difference.

How has this new ministry changed your relationship with God?

I am practicing my Lord’s presence more throughout the day realizing that it is nothing I am doing but only what He can do through me as I fully yield to Him. It is a rather sobering thought that perhaps God placed Phil and me at this address after Phil had to stop pastoring so that we could be the light in a dark world to our neighbors. That is quite a responsibility. Since Phil has passed away, I have been much more faithful in my personal devotions even though there are days that have been missed. These times in the morning have become very special for me as I pray for others (including every neighbor by name) and spend time in God’s Word asking what He wants to say to me for that day and then journaling. I desire to keep my eyes focused on Jesus in all I do.

"...it is nothing I am doing but only what He can do through me as I fully yield to Him."

Do you see this ministry as a model that others could follow?

Yes, I do. They may not live on a cul-de-sac as I do but they can use a similar model, whether it is with co-workers, neighbors, a group of new believers from church who they are mentoring, or whatever ministry to which the Lord calls them. I believe God has called us to minister one-on-one and to disciple others and bring them to Jesus by our personal interactions.

Non-Profit Coffee Profits the Kingdom

by Christina Gray

InJanuary 2018, House of Bread Ministries had its first vision meeting. My husband, Jeff, and I met with three other couples, praying together, and listening for God’s leading. The goal is to always focus on hearing God’s voice and pursuing His plan. The message is clearer now than it was then; success is found in transformed lives. Almost six years later we can look back and see how His power worked through us to serve those who need His presence.

January 2020 dawned with the excitement of a fresh vision for community ministry. During 2019 our core group did the work of visiting several ministries with community outreach. Our mission of “Transforming Lives through Relationships and

Service” led to the establishment of two non-profit entities, the first is our church, House of Bread, and our outreach arm, Temple Court Community (TCC). TCC is a non-profit coffee roaster using all profits to fund community programs.

The end goal is a community center with a coffee shop here in the rural apple country of Adams County, PA. House of Bread and Temple Court Community ministries envision a marketplace where relationships move to discipleship, and the love of Christ does transformative work with anyone who walks through the door. They will enter for coffee, or a community program, and they will leave knowing they have been in the presence of goodness, and truth. That is how Jesus works; He is

everywhere. Post covid statistics for weekly church attendance hover close to 25% in the USA. Our ministries set a goal to reach the other 75%. Our core team started brainstorming the talents and gifts we all possessed, and what we could do in the space God would provide for us, then our community center vision emerged.

The vision remains the same, and on our way to that end goal, God has confirmed relationships are the key to our success and people are at the center of His heart. As we obediently walk out His plan, we are seeing transformation!

During our last season of free community dance lessons that we held at the local library, we reached over twenty children. Boys and girls learned to move to music, forgetting their differences and building self confidence. At our final performance for parents, we enjoyed time with the families after the show while we snacked and sipped coffee or punch.

Listening to so many stories of how kids were encouraged during their time with us, we realized the transformation that God had done as we served. One mother

breathlessly ran up to us as we were cleaning up. She said she had all the kids in the van, all six of them! She did not want to leave without sharing how much this meant to her boy and two girls that faithfully attended. I had never seen her before, then she confided that they live part-time in downtown York with her, but Dad is here, an hour away, in Biglerville. She said this year has been hard for the kids, but they told her that dance helped them to find a way to “get their feeling out.” Every week at the very end of dance we did a cool down, usually to a worship song, and then, we prayed over the dancers, “out loud” in the library. At the very end of our recital, we prayed with the kids in a circle and many of them offered prayers as well. They may never walk into a church, but Jesus is everywhere. We also had the opportunity to bring our mobile coffee cart to a local campground the first Friday of each month. People lined up for a sweet drink, and we prayed for a miracle. We had the opportunity to pray several times with the campground owners. When we needed help, young adults were lined up several times to help set up the coffee cart. At the end of one evening, someone leaned in toward me saying, “This has been a good night for him,” pointing to a rather unique young man who had helped us all night. We had given him a free drink, which made him incredibly happy. He had struggled mentally and physically for a lot of his life, always struggling to “fit in” as well. Our vision includes training volunteers in any area they can help. He was eager to help and

Jeff & Christina Gray

willing to learn. He was asked to leave the organized Bible study he had tried to attend—sitting quietly, listening in a church setting was not working for him, but Jesus is everywhere, and he felt the love of the Body of Christ at a campground, just helping the coffee cart people.

Because we don’t have a building, we’ve had to be creative about how and where we serve people. We’ve used coffee as a bridge to relationships, from serving coffee at drug and alcohol recovery centers to handing out hot cups of cocoa and coffee during our Christmas tree give away—a cup of coffee can be transformational! Our outreach has also included community hiking days for families in the summer. We have had the opportunity to pray with others on the beach at state parks. We have met at campgrounds and in state parks inviting those around us to join in. We’ve even reached people in a small rock climbing “bouldering” loft above a woodshop that belongs to one of our core members. Our goal is a community center, but His goal is people’s hearts. So, we go with Jesus everywhere.

What does House of Bread look like as a church gathering? Dinner and Coffee is at 6pm on Saturday nights in Aspers. We gather outside around a fire as often as possible. We meet down a private lane at our home, where no other house can be seen. We sing, spend time in the Word, then, in small groups, we discuss how we can apply the Scripture

to our lives. If you continue another quarter mile back that stone lane, there is an empty house. The man who lived there died in the Fall. We only knew him in passing, he kept to himself, and when we did stop to talk, he smelled like a beer! One evening while we were at the campground serving coffee, a pastor who was camping there spoke to us about our ministry. We knew him and had chatted with him before. He shared how he had done a funeral for a man down a private lane in Aspers. It was at the home of our neighbor, who had struggled his whole life to overcome past shadows of abuse. The pastor wanted us to know something. As he waited for us to make him his latte, he told us during his time at the funeral a friend of the departed shared this story: When the weather was nice, he would sit out on his porch Saturday nights. He would cry and listen to the singing and the words floating through the trees. He knew where his help came from, he just couldn’t get himself to church ... But Jesus is everywhere, even when you are alone on your back porch.

It's His Vision and His Church. He made the coffee beans grow and He will use anything on this earth, including coffee, to bring people to Himself. We are humbled to be part of what the Holy Spirit is doing in Adams County. Visit us online at www.houseofbread.xyz for more information, and when you’re in Apple Country, come join us. Jesus is here!

Global Reach Updates

Thank you for partnering with our friends and fields in Global Reach. The following are a few updates from some of our Global Reach fields. Please continue to pray for our leaders and believers as they serve God and share the Good News with seekers.

Haiti

The country continues to be locked down and gang activity is rampant. The national news continues to report on the dismal situation as people lack food and water in many places. Locals report that the government is still nonexistent, and the gangs rule. The hospital continues to hunker down and function for true emergency cases when safe. The limited staff are trying to function with very few resources and no fuel for generators. That means no surgeries are possible. There is no traffic and patients are rarely even able to get to the hospital. Recently the hospital came under gunfire and one person inside was wounded. The hospital is no longer able to make payroll. All are struggling, and hospital and medical staff must be released due to financial hardship caused by civil unrest and corruption.

In spite of the darkness of the situation, there remain rays of light from time to time. Some of the churches continue to meet when safe (fewer attendees) but most of the schools are suspended due to safety concerns and lack of resources. The PT school at the Frecyneau campus was able to have a graduation ceremony in late March. A church meeting and the PT school graduation are pictured below. Please keep praying for God to be their provision and to end this war-like situation.

Kenya

A new school was built with funds from the sale of the old school in Kagio. The government required more space for the children to play and since no lot was available for purchase next to the school grounds, the property was sold. The new school has several classrooms, a latrine, an office, and a kitchen. Two of our Churches of God congregations are independently partnering with the school to provide teachers for 2024.

India

CGGC Executive Director Lance Finley and a team from Eastern Region Grand Point Church (Pastor Lawrence & Penny Metzler and Pastors Doug & Cressa Coldsmith) visited our India and Bangladesh Missions in February. They visited some new areas in south central India where Pastor Phillip and his wife, Rosey, serve. They fellowshipped with an evening roof top Bible study group.

In March, 11 people pictured at right and below were welcomed in as new friends/family of the fellowship. We can praise God for their souls. The team also spent some time teaching in north and central West Bengal.

Be in prayer for some crucial projects in the developmental stages for our medical and educational departments of our India Mission.

Bangladesh

The Grand Point team along with Lance Finley also visited various ministries of the Bangladesh Mission. They spent time teaching the Hostel boys and girls some action songs as well as the children in our new child development centers. Please pray for the children who are enrolled in the hostels. There are many new children. Most are from our churches, and they are also from poorer families. The children (and the Grand Point team) enjoyed this time together as pictured below and on the top of the following page.

CGGC Global Reach Director Travis Helm was able to visit a new ministry area in southwest Bangladesh in collaboration with a government official. This area is an extreme area of poverty where many struggle to receive even basic life needs. At right and below are some photos of new area in southwest Bangladesh.

Pastor Rob Guy and his wife Michelle McFeaters were able to visit the Bangladesh Mission in February to help with various administrative tasks. This included Michelle conducting an internal financial audit of all departments of the Mission. This will help the Mission consolidate their record keeping and enhance the Mission’s relationship and reputation with the government and within the general population of Bangladesh. It will also help us create a Mission website within Bangladesh. Pictured below are Rob and Michelle visiting the Hostel children and the staff at Khanjanpur clinic.

Mexico

Latino Ministries Director Victor Montalvo and Global Reach Director Travis Helm visited a new area in Mexico as it pertains to Global Reach. It is located in the mountainous areas in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. Dave Odegard and Kevin & Kelly King joined this trip. We spent time with eight pastors and visited four churches. CGGC Global Reach is working with two of these churches, through years of relationship with Victor, to start a CGGC conference. Legal registration has been submitted so pray that the conference is official before the end of 2024. The team agreed that these pastors are very serious about evangelism, church planting, and discipling. The following pictures are from this March visit.

Please remember to keep Haiti in your daily prayers. Our Asia fields continue to face various challenges of resistance as it becomes increasingly hard to share the Good News. God is faithful.