THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY
Our Beginning, Christ
Our Ending, Christ
Fields of the Wood:
Remembering the Resurrection of Jesus
WE BELIEVE in the Holy Trinity—one God, eternally existng in Three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We believe in one God, the Father, creator of heaven and earth, of all things seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begoten of the Father. All things were made through Him and for Him. He is true God and true man. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and was born of the virgin, Mary. He sufered, died, was buried, and on the third day He rose from the dead. He ascended to the right hand of the Father, and He will return to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who eternally proceeds from the Father. He is Teacher, Comforter, Helper, and Giver of spiritual gifs. Through Him the saving and sanctfying works of Jesus Christ are applied to the life of believers. He is the empowering presence of God in the life of the Christan and the church. The Father has sent His Son to baptze with the Holy Spirit. Speaking in tongues and bearing the fruit of the Spirit are New Testament signs of being flled with the Holy Spirit.
We believe that salvaton is by grace through faith in the sacrifcial death of Jesus Christ on the cross and that He died in our place. The believer’s sins are forgiven by the shedding of His blood. We believe that healing of mind, body, soul, and spirit is available to the believer through the blood of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. We believe in one baptsm in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
We believe that the grace of God brings forgiveness and reconciliaton to those who repent, as well as transformaton in holiness, enabling them to live a Christ-like life. Sanctfcaton is both a defnite work of grace and a lifelong process of change in the believer brought by the blood of Jesus, the Word of God, and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit.
We believe in one holy, universal church, composed of all true believers in Jesus Christ, ofering fellowship and calling for service to men and women of all races, natons, cultures, and languages. We believe in the spiritual and ultmate visible unity of the church.
We believe that the Bible—both Old and New Testaments—is the inspired Word of God. The Bible is God’s revelaton of Himself and His will to humankind, sufcient for instructon in salvaton and daily Christan living. The Bible is the Christan’s rule of faith and practce.
We believe that God will ultmately reconcile all things in heaven and earth in Christ. Therefore, we look forward to new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Executve Editor/Publisher: Tim Coalter
Managing Editor: Marsha Robinson
Copy Editor: Katherine Osborn
Editorial Assistant: Roxanne Corbet
Graphic Designer: Sixto Ramírez
About the Church of God of Prophecy
The Church of God of Prophecy is a vibrant, worldwide body of believers, united in worship, working hand-in-hand to share God’s love and a message of hope to the brokenhearted. The organizaton has more than a million members and more than 10,000 ministers, worshiping in more than 10,000 churches or missions in 135 natons of the world.
Church of God of Prophecy Core Values
• Prayer
• The Harvest
• Leadership Development
• Biblical Stewardship
• Service
Vision Statement
Reconciling the world to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit
Mission Statement
The Church of God of Prophecy is a Christ-exalting, holiness, Spirit-filled, all-nations, disciple-making, churchplanting movement with passion for Christian union.
General Presbytery:
Tim Coalter: Presiding Bishop
Brian Suton: North America
Clayton Endecot: Wider Europe and the Middle East
Benjamin Feliz: Mexico/Central America/ Spanish-Speaking Caribbean
Clayton Martn: Caribbean/Atlantc
Ocean Islands
James Kolawole: Africa
Tim McCaleb: Asia/Australia/Oceania
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Our Beginning, Christ
Our Ending, Christ
Jacob Pharr
Fields of the Wood: Remembering the Resurrection of Jesus
Gayla Brewer
Our Heritage Is Christ
Bishop Adrian L. Varlack, Sr.
Reconciling the World to Christ
Katherine Osborn, DMin
Leave a Legacy
Debbie Freeman
8 Connections
Living Under the Sword of Damocles
Bishop Wallace Pratt, DMin
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Gabriel E. Vidal: South America Visit
White Wing Messenger (ISSN 0043-5007) (USPS 683-020) is published monthly as the ofcial publicaton of the Church of God of Prophecy, 3720 Keith St. NW, Cleveland, TN. Send all materials for publicaton to Editorial Department; PO Box 2910, Cleveland, TN 37320-2910; e-mail: editorial@cogop.org; fax: (423) 559-5151. For subscripton rates, visit www.cogop. org; call (423) 559-5540; e-mail: subscriptons@cogop. org. Subscripton rate: $20.00 per year, payable to White Wing Messenger by check, draf, or money order. Periodical postage paid at Cleveland, TN 37311 and at additonal mail ofce. Donatons for the White Wing Messenger may be sent to the above address. All Scripture references are from the King James Version unless otherwise indicated. POSTMASTER: Send address change to White Wing Messenger, PO Box 2910, Cleveland, TN 37320-2910. Please submit all material to the White Wing Messenger; Managing Editor; P. O. Box 2910; Cleveland, TN 37320-2910; phone (423) 559-5320; e-mail us at Editorial@cogop.org.
Global Missions Ministries
Children's Ministries
The White Wing Messenger is a member of the Evangelical Press Associaton
Our Church heritage is flled with symbols and practices that point to Christ. The recent 2022 Assembly theme was taken directly from our Church vision: “Reconciling the world to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.” As a Wesleyan Pentecostal movement, we understand that Christ established the church to live out his life on earth, to serve among others as his body of love, and to serve in his stead in righteousness, healing, and power. Jesus is our Spirit Baptizer who calls us, indwells us, and empowers us as part of his church—his kingdom —to reconcile the world in preparation for his soon coming.
Our own ecclesial heritage is rooted in the early Holiness movement, a global revival that called the universal church to a personal encounter with Christ. Jesus taught profoundly of the Spirit in his farewell messages in John’s Gospel: “He (the Holy Spirit) will speak of me.” As a Spirit-flled church, this is our commitment, our life, and our purpose. The Spirit points to Christ who is the center of life in our movement, in our teachings, in our traditional practices, and in the daily life of the Church.
In water baptism, we are baptized to him in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We give witness to his ongoing work in us, for when we die to sin, we come alive in commitment and service to Christ.
Our practice of footwashing is a moment that points to the life of Jesus—not only to his humility and service, but to our being accepted by Christ even in our weaknesses, temptations, and failures. We are happy to wash the feet of others, calling one another in reconciliation, forgiveness, holiness, and acceptance.
The celebration of the Lord’s Supper provides a moment to refect on what Christ has done for us and allows us to continue to receive his work in us. Sharing together at the Lord’s table in our Pentecostal practice is a moment of worship—a lived-out celebration of Christ’s presence among us where we can pray for healing and strength. It is a moment for the Bread of Life to nourish and the New Covenant of the cup to strengthen us in redemption and send us out in anointing. We pray for healing, through the laying on hands and anointing with
oil, and receive renewal and wholeness, knowing it is Christ who heals.
Our Church covenant is another symbol from our heritage that points to Christ. It is a sacred promise to walk in the light of Christ, committing ourselves to him and to one another in mutual service, being covenanted together in his calling for us as his body.
Our Church fag, it has been said, is a symbol of Christology for our Church. I would remind us, it is also an ecclesial representation of our life as part of the Church. The colors of our Church emblem point to Christ: red for the blood of Jesus, white for his purity in which we participate as he forgives and sanctifes us, purple for his lordship, and blue for the cherished truth of Christ in which we live. It is also Christ we see in the scepter, star, and crown, for he is Lord and soon coming King. He is coming for his beloved bride, his church, and all who believe in him and follow him. The unfnished blue diamond calls our attention to Christ’s prayer to the Father that we all might become one, a part of the fold of Christ himself.
Last year, at the International Assembly, we celebrated our traditional “Parade of Nations.” I watched Pastor Marius carrying the fag of Poland, the newest nation in Wider Europe and the Middle East, as he walked the aisle of the Assembly foor and joined the many fags of other nations on the stage. It was a personal moment of joy for him, for his National Bishop Petr Szlaur, and for me. I was reminded that this was not a traditional moment celebrating our history; it was our identity in Christ as another nation was added into our own fold and participating in the kingdom work of “reconciling the world to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Bishop Clayton Endecott Wider Europe and Middle East General Presbyter
2023 Youth Camp Reunion “INFLUENCE”
March 11, 2023
Outdoor evangelistic skit performed by some of the young people
Ministering through a choreographed presentation
Various youth sharing a time of games, praise, worship, and the Word
In many countries, an inheritance is a gift or asset a person receives from a loved one. However, an inheritance also implies death since receiving such a gift generally indicates the owner of that asset has passed away. For this reason, an inheritance should be loved, cared for, and valued because it represents the person who died and thought of us. Jesus Christ died for us on the cross of Calvary. However, before his death, he gave us the most important message for the world as an inheritance and as a responsibility. If this is part of our Christian belief, the most important message given by the King of kings and Lord of lords must be of great importance for the church in this 21st century.
Part of our heritage as God's people is the most important message preached by our Lord Jesus Christ: the gospel of the kingdom of God. Furthermore, I dare say, this message is so important that when a church forgets or loses its heritage and its responsibility to preach emphatically and consistently the gospel of Christ, it is because it has lost its frst love. Such a church has other priorities and does not care about doing the will of the Lord.
The gospel of the kingdom of God was the central message of Jesus Christ during His ministry. The Gospel writers tell us that Jesus began His ministry by preaching the gospel of the kingdom. Matthew records, “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23). The writer of Mark notes, “Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulflled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:14, 15).
If this message was important for Jesus, it should also be important for the church in this 21st century. We must focus all our effort and work on preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God. If we want to reconcile the world to Christ, this is the priority message for the church.
The message of the gospel is part of that kingdom that is and will be established by Jesus Christ—that is, “the already,
but not yet.” Dr. Samuel Pagán tells us that “the kingdom, for Jesus of Nazareth, was the extraordinary and concrete manifestation of the divine sovereignty in the midst of history.”1 If we want to see a change in our nations, the gospel of the kingdom is the key.
When we speak of the gospel of the kingdom of God, we are speaking of a message of transformation and change. Jesus Christ put it this way: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord” (Luke 4:18, 19).
According to this biblical passage, our Lord Jesus Christ was anointed with the Spirit of God to announce the good news, that is, the gospel of the kingdom. This gospel of the kingdom of God brings deliverance to the captives, gives sight to the blind, freedom to the oppressed, and announces the favor of the Lord. All this means that the gospel of the kingdom brings transformation and change to individuals, families, societies, and nations.
The gospel of the kingdom brings salvation to people, and there is no salvation outside of Jesus Christ. This salvation is presented in the gospel of the kingdom of God which, according to the writer of Mark, is the same as the gospel of Jesus Christ (Mark 1:1). Thus, when we speak of the gospel of the kingdom of God, we are speaking of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Hence, we see the importance for the church to prioritize the message of the gospel in order to reconcile the world to Christ.
However, when we talk about doctrines, we are talking about teachings that are expressions of the faith of God’s people. In this context, doctrines are of great value and importance for the church, but we must keep in mind that doctrines do not bring salvation to people. Dr. Justo Gonzáles states it this way:
Although doctrines have a close relationship with faith, and are an expression of faith, it is not by doctrine that we are saved: not by the doctrine of the Trinity, the doctrine of the inerrancy of the Scriptures, or any other doctrine. It is true
Ricardo Hinsbis Espinoza was born on December 22, 1979, in Talara, Peru. He studied Theology at the Unversidad Seminario Bíblico Andino and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. He, his wife Estela, and daughters reside in Paraguay, where he serves as the national bishop for the Church of God of Prophecy.
that doctrines develop, change, and grow, but the love of God endures forever!2
Many divisions have occurred within the Christian world for lack of agreement over certain doctrines. There are denominations where emphasis is given to women wearing a veil, others where emphasis is placed on the way people dress, and there are even churches that teach the keeping of a certain day of the week. But let us remember what the Word of God tells us:
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. (Matthew 24:14)
The preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ brings salvation to humanity. It is for this reason that the Gospel of Mark tells us that we must believe in the gospel—because believing in the gospel of the kingdom is the same as believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ, who said, "... the time is fulflled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15).
The apostle Paul says that he received the gospel by revelation from God: “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians 1:11, 12).
Clearly Paul is stating that the gospel was not the product of human reasoning nor human refection, but the product of God's incomparable love. And it is for this reason that the gospel will never change. However, doctrines can change as we submit to the guidance of the Spirit of God and his enlightenment to understand what is being revealed.
And fnally, I want to mention that the gospel is much more important than doctrines, so much so that we must be willing to give our own lives for the gospel, but not for doctrines. The Gospel of Mark emphasizes this great truth: “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:35).
After having discussed the difference between the gospel and doctrines, we must now ask ourselves what the Bible means by the gospel of the kingdom.
Jesus did not defne or clarify what the kingdom of God is, but we do have his parables that teach us about its
characteristics. Thus, the parables are a signifcant help in understanding the kingdom of God.
Many theologians have defned what the gospel is; one of them, Francisco Lacueva, states:
In reality, the gospel is not a doctrine, but a “PersonEvent”: (1) “Person” because the gospel is Jesus […] (2) “Event” because the coming of Christ into the world was the great “event”—coming to makes us the exegesis of the Father (cf. John 1:18) and to call men to conduct their lives in such a way as to adopt the necessary provisions to enter the kingdom of God, whose defnite irruption in the world is inseparably connected with the coming of Christ into the world (cf. Mark 1:15; Galatians 4:4).3
Francisco Lacueva says that the gospel is a person and an event. The New Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible [Nuevo diccionario ilustrado de la Biblia] also tells us that the gospel is the “joyful proclamation of the redemptive activity of God in Christ Jesus to save man from the slavery of sin.”4 Dr. Pablo Deiros tells us that the gospel
... proclaims the death and resurrection of Jesus. Although these two historical facts are the fundamental ones, some biblical witnesses also used to add his birth and other details of his life and work, his words and teachings, his reign and his return in glory. But in general, the frst essential and substantial element was the announcement of the good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead.5
The apostle Paul, in writing to the church in Corinth, instructs them on the essential elements of the gospel of Jesus Christ: “For I delivered unto you frst of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3, 4).
Defnitely the most important message of the church is the gospel of the kingdom. This is a message of transformation and change for societies and nations. By preaching the message of the kingdom with compassion and determination, we will have quantitative and qualitative growth. The qualitative growth will occur because many people and families will have a changed life through the power of the Holy Spirit. The quantitative growth will also occur as a consequence of constantly and passionately preaching the gospel of the kingdom because our churches will be flled with people who are hungry and thirsty for God.
1 Translated into English from Samuel Pagán, Jesucristo es el Señor: Cristología del Nuevo Testamento (Barcelona: Editorial CLIE, 2022), 44.
2 Translated into English from Justo González, Breve Historia de las doctrinas cristianas (Nashville: Abingdon Press. 2007), 17.
3 Translated into English from Francisco Lacueva, Diccionario teológico ilustrado, 1st ed. española (Tarrasa, Barcelona: Clie. 2001), 274.
4 Translated into English from Wilton M. Nelson and Juan Rojas Mayo, Nuevo diccionario ilustrado de la Biblia, electronic ed. (Nashville: Editorial Caribe, 1998).
5 Translated into English from Pablo A. Deiros, El Evangelio que proclamamos, Formación Ministerial (Buenos Aires: Publicaciones Proforme, 2008).
“I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the frst and the last” (Revelation 22:13). Christ is our beginning. He is our end. He is our everything in between. From the inception of the church, Christ has been present.
In Mark 3, Christ called the disciples to come up with him on Mount Kurn Hattin: “And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would…” (v. 13). It was at this moment and this marked location that Christ ordained his disciples and sent them forth “to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils” (vv. 14, 15). Christ was the beginning.
As seen in this passage, the church, from its beginning, received its instructions from Christ, and from Christ alone. It was not the work of any man; Christ established his church. He is our beginning. He is our heritage. His mission should be the mission
of his body, and his body (the body of Christ) should also possess his heart: “… not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Even now, we have been given the same charge and impetus as the early church: “Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Indeed, the Church of God of Prophecy Vision Statement is a command from the Lord. We are to be reconciling the world to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. This statement, taken from 2 Corinthians 5:18, does not say we have moments of reconciliation now and then. It says this is to be our ministry. We have one job, and it is to our beloved Christ that we reconcile the world.
Christ is the head, and we are his body. We are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Wherever we go, he goes, as we are identifed by our head, Jesus Christ. We are known by our beginning—by our author and our creator, Jesus Christ. Just as Christ was our beginning, Christ will be our ending on this earth.
Paul writes in Colossians 1:18–20:
And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the frstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
As Christ is the “head of his body, the church,” he will be the one and only one to reconcile “all things unto himself,” especially here on this earth among his people. He is the beginning, not only of the church, but of all things from the creation of the world. Jesus paid the price on the cross and purchased us with his own blood (Acts 20:28), and because of this, he is the only one worthy “to reconcile all things unto himself.”
His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane (John 17) reveals that before Jesus shed his own blood for us,
he prayed, “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (v. 21). This prayer has yet to be answered because God’s people are not yet one. It is in the end that Jesus’ prayer will be answered because in the end, he will “reconcile all things unto himself.”
Christ reconciling all things in the end is refected in a symbol of our church—the Church of God of Prophecy fag. Everything that we see on the fag represents Jesus Christ. Each symbol—the scepter, star, and crown—speaks of what Christ will do when he shall “reconcile all things unto himself.” In particular, the scepter is mentioned by name in Genesis 49:10: “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet….” This verse speaks of the symbol of Jesus Christ, but it is the latter part of the verse that speaks of what Christ will do in the end times: “… until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” He will be the one to bring this beautiful spirit of the gathering of “one fold” unto himself. It will be by his power, his anointing, and his lordship that he will gather his sheep together and “reconcile all things unto himself” at the end of days.
The colors on the fag—the red, blue, purple, and white—all represent attributes of Jesus Christ. The fag has two sets of lines: horizontal white lines and angled blue lines that are open on the top and the bottom. Those open blue lines indicate that one day, “in him will all fulness dwell,” and his people who are seeking him will come unto him. They are open as a reminder that there are still others who will come to Christ. At the end of time, he will “reconcile all things,” and his people “shall fow together to the goodness of the Lord” (Jeremiah 31:12). Scripture will be fulflled.
Jesus began his church, and Jesus will be the one to bring it all together. He is the only one who can. Jesus Christ was our beginning, and Jesus Christ will be our ending on this earth. As for eternity in heaven, he will be ours forever.
Jacob Pharr is the pastor at Chapel Hill COGOP in Mississippi (Magnolia Region). He lives in Fairview, Mississippi, and is the Magnolia Region Heritage Ministries director. He is an English Language Arts teacher with a Master of English Education degree from Delta State University.
Christ reconciling all things in the end is refected in a symbol of our church—the Church of God of Prophecy fag.
It’s not just another day at the Jordan. If only this river could talk! On this particular day the waters stood in a heap to the left and to the right—not once, but twice. It wouldn’t take many fngers to count the number of times in history this has happened on waterways. This day, the frst time it happened, Elijah struck the waters, and he and Elisha walked across on dry ground from the Canaan side of the river to the wilderness side. A little while later, Elisha struck the waters and returned alone back to the Canaan side after witnessing a one-of-a-kind space launch that would make any modern-day astronaut’s story sound mundane. A chariot of fre and horses of fre appeared, and Elijah went up into heaven by a whirlwind. We need to pause for a moment and ponder this scene.
The account of this far-from-ordinary day is recorded in 2 Kings 2:1–14. If we think of verse one as the left side of a pair of bookends and verse 14 as the right side, the verses in between are packed full of lessons to live by. This section of Scripture records Elijah and Elisha’s historical journey; but more importantly, it reveals a series of decisions that Elisha made that determined his effectiveness for the next 55 years.
The Jordan was their fourth stop of the day. The other three stops were Gilgal, Bethel, and Jericho. All four of these places had signifcant spiritual meaning in Elisha’s life as his faith was being tested to the core. Let’s retrace their steps and study Elisha’s decisions carefully because every Christian who presses forward with a hunger to be formed into the image of Christ takes a very similar journey.
More than likely, Elijah refreshed Elisha’s memory about the history of their ancestors while here at Gilgal. After all, some 500 years earlier, this was the frst stop for the children of Israel after crossing from the wilderness into the Promised Land. This was a place of new beginnings. Joshua 5:2–9 records Joshua ordering the Israelites who had been born during the Exodus to be circumcised. In verse nine, God is telling his people that he rolled away the reproach of Egypt from them. There was a celebration. They observed Passover. They ate for the frst time the food of Canaan along with the manna that had been the staple item during their journey.
John E. Hunter describes Gilgal as a place for feeling happy and hearing promises. This was the place of celebration for what God had done—a place where blessings and strength were promised. What didn’t happen here? No battles or victories were won at Gilgal.
God was testing Elisha’s faith through Elijah. The elder prophet encouraged Elisha to settle down and tarry here while he (Elijah) went on to Bethel. If Elisha had stayed in Gilgal, he could have enjoyed blessings and promises—but no testing, no proving. He would have never experienced the fullness of God that only comes through the refner’s fre.
Many Christians today have decided to settle at Gilgal, the happy place, where they rejoice in the blessings and talk about the promises but never move forward to prove God. Jesus encountered those who followed him as long as there were miracles and rejoicing, but when his teaching required more, many disciples turned their backs on him (John 6:66).
Elisha wasn’t willing to settle. His response was, “As the Lord lives and you live, I will not leave you” (2 Kings 2:2). Elisha wanted a double portion of the spirit of Elijah, and he was willing to overcome any obstacles to experience it.
So they went down to Bethel.
Bethel was known as the “place of dreams.” This is where ancestor Jacob dreamed of the stairway to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it and the Lord standing above it (Genesis 28:10–22). This is also a place of knowledge. In Elijah and Elisha’s day, there was a school of prophets here—a training center, a place to dream about the future.
Elijah and Elisha were received with warmth and highly regarded by those in the school of prophets (2 Kings 4:38–41). Their infuence led to an awakening among some of the Israelites during a dismal stage of Israel’s history. Human approval and favor can be a magnetic feld that draws us to being absorbed in self, holding us back from reaching the destination God has planned.
Bethel is also a place where we can be tempted to follow our own dreams and develop our own plans. First Kings 12:29–33 records that Jeroboam built up a new order of worship centered at Bethel—an order which he had “devised of his own heart.” This is a common temptation among God’s people. God spoke through the prophet Isaiah that his children were carrying out plans that were not his plans, and they were forming alliances that were not directed by his Spirit (Isaiah 30:1).
Elisha was invited to tarry here, but the hope of knowing God was stronger than the pull of Bethel.
So they went to Jericho.
Janice Miller blends 35+ years as a student of the Word and human nature with 35+ years as a business professional to offer a unique perspective of biblically inspired lessons. The goal is to be a catalyst in developing a critical mindset and a fertile heart that enables a believer to love God’s Word, submit to God’s Spirit, and answer the call to serve. Janice has published two books to date: While Men Sleep in 2016, and Critical Thinkers in 2018.
Jericho was a beautiful and desirable place. This was the place where ancestor Joshua led the people of God to their frst great victory in the Promised Land. Donald J. Campbell writes in The Bible Knowledge Commentary:
The pattern of divine strategy for the conquest of Canaan was based on geographic factors. From their camp at Gilgal … the Israelites could see steep hills to the west. Jericho controlled the way of ascent into these mountains, and Ai, another fortress, stood at the head of the ascent. If the Israelites were to capture the hill country they must certainly take Jericho and Ai. This would put them on top of the hill country and in control of the central ridge, having driven a wedge between the northern and southern sections of Canaan. Israel could then engage the armies of the south in battle followed by the more remote enemy in the north. But frst, Jericho must fall—and it would if Joshua and the people followed the Lord’s plan of action.1
Joshua 6:1–27 records the account involving the priests, the Ark of the Covenant, and the people marching around the city once a day for six days, then seven times on the seventh day. When the trumpets blew and the people shouted, the walls fell fat. The Lord told them that the city and all that was in it was to be destroyed, except for Rahab and all that were in her house. What a way to start the conquest of Canaan!
Elisha was invited to tarry here. He could have settled at Jericho and dedicated himself to a lifetime of replaying this great victory. But he was hungry for something more. He had a burning desire to use the victories of the past as a springboard to launch into the victories that lay ahead.
So the two [Elijah and Elisha] went on to Jordan.
Every individual, every group, and every generation pursuing more of God face a Jordan decision. Now it’s our turn.
The Jordan is the dividing line between the fesh and Spirit. It’s where we lay down our plans and pick up God’s plans. It’s where we leave behind the things that are preventing us from fully committing to God. It’s where we leave self-will and submit fully to God’s will. It’s where we lay down our control and experience the perfect freedom of God’s control. It’s here we tear down the idols in our lives where we have built an altar with God’s name on it—a representation of him rather than a replacement of him.
Elisha insisted on knowing God; so Elijah led him out of the Promised Land, out of Canaan, and into the wilderness where he left him. Elijah was taken up, but his mantle—the symbol of God’s power on him—remained. Now Elisha found himself on the wilderness side of the river. What was his response? He chose to do what every person does who is consumed with hunger for God. He went in on the wilderness side and came out on the Canaan side. He died to self in the Jordan and came out alive for God. Elisha had refused to tarry at Gilgal, Bethel, or Jericho. He wanted God’s best, and he was prepared to pay the price by dying to his own life, hopes, and ambitions. He entered into Sabbath rest and experienced the unspeakable power of God that only comes from total surrender.
The writer of Hebrews speaks of the Sabbath rest in chapters three and four. In Hebrews 3:11, God said they [the generation of the children of Israel in the wilderness] shall not enter his rest (a quote from Psalm 95:11). These are people who had hardened their hearts and rebelled against God in their day of testing in the wilderness.
God rested from his creating on the Sabbath. Hebrews 4:9–10 states, “There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.” We humans love to create. God creates out of nothing. We create from things that already exist. We create our own plans—our own way—and when we create something, we feel like we own it. It’s ours. We can do with it whatever we want.
When we enter God’s Sabbath rest, it symbolizes ceasing from our own creative works. We stop trying to make something that is our own—something that we can use for ourselves and do with it what we want. Instead, we lose ourselves in God as we become consumed with his Spirit.
Elisha made the sacrifces necessary to follow God and enter his rest. What about you and me? Are we willing to take the path outlined in Matthew 16:24: “Then Jesus said unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.”
At Fields of the Wood, there is a replica of the empty tomb symbolizing how we remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. I was introduced to the story of Jesus Christ as a child in Sunday school, church, and at home. My parents read the Bible, lived a Christian example, and drove my older brother and me to Fields of the Wood for every special program held there.
I am originally from Cleveland, Tennessee, and was raised in the Church of God of Prophecy. Every June 13, my family planned to spend the day at Fields of the Wood to spend time in fellowship with other family members and our church family. We participated in each special event by joining everyone in worship, prayer, and singing. Our focus was on drawing closer to the person of Jesus, and we celebrated his resurrection—the resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord.
As a young person, I remember how often my parents would draw my attention to other cars and vehicles displaying a fag decal, a symbol of the Church of God of Prophecy, as we traveled down
the highway. Especially on a special trip like this—to Fields of the Wood from Cleveland, Tennessee—we would enjoy seeing how many cars displayed a Church of God of Prophecy fag window sticker or bumper sticker. It felt as though we were participating in a parade of church members going to this special event. Several people even had a small church fag to wave.
We planned to join the commemorative services at Fields of the Wood to listen to all of the special guest speakers, the general offcials, and the music worship leaders. The program would bring tremendous enthusiasm because of the large attendance. The day was flled with sounds of preaching, praising Jesus, and singing coming from a high platform with microphones and speakers so that all could hear. The audience would sit below in the fold-up chairs provided or the ones they brought from home. One place our family visited during this time was the gift shop; it allowed us to get out of the sun for a few minutes, and we enjoyed shopping for a few of the souvenirs from Fields of the Wood.
We walked past the baptismal pool to get to the hillside displaying the Ten Commandments. After the program, many would climb the hill, counting each step as they made their way to the large, open Bible at the top. Others would choose to drive the paved road to get to the top without walking. They could also drive their vehicles up and around the hillside to get
Gayla Brewer serves as Director of Library Services for Spirit and Life Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee. In addition, she serves as Director of Library Services for Chattanooga College: Medical, Dental, & Technical Careers. Having obtained a Master’s Degree in Library Science from University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a sixth year degree, Specialist in Library and Information Science, from Florida State University, Gayla has a career in library services and education that spans over 30 years.
a view of the fags of many nations located at the top of the hill behind Ten Commandment Mountain. On the hillside near the left of the entrance was a path of steps leading to an altar for prayer.
During any breaks in the services, families spent time fellowshipping with each other. This was another opportunity to share testimonies of blessings, Holy Ghost messages with interpretations, prayer requests, and healing. We would take advantage of visiting with our family from out of town and friends whom we had not seen in a long time. All of the adults and the children enjoyed this special time at Fields of the Wood; it was a time of drawing closer to our Lord Jesus Christ.
My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins would drive in from different parts of North Carolina. My parents, older brother, and I would look forward to our family gathering during this special historical celebration of the Church of God of Prophecy. We would park our cars near the hillside where we could enjoy a picnic lunch of homemade food and desserts. Our family meeting on June 13 became a family tradition.
Another great memory I have was the time I participated in the Easter Sunrise Service at Fields of the Wood. One year we were standing on the Ten Commandments hillside in the Easter reenactment costume robes, and it began to snow!
Our family taught me the importance of keeping Jesus frst, focusing on the person of Jesus. As you are reading your Bible, be encouraged by its message. Philippians 4:13 states, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” And 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us, “Pray without ceasing.”
As my mother and I read the Bible, we are still learning more and more about the person of Jesus. In his life, he taught many lessons for us to learn. Then he offered himself as a sacrifce in our place. He was buried, but after three days, he arose. Praise the Lord!
And let's not forget, Jesus is coming back!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3–5 NKJV)
The word “heritage” in its English usage and understanding generally applies to property passed on to an heir; it can also apply to a tradition, culture, etc., passed on to a later generation ( Webster’s New World Dictionary, 2nd college ed., 1979). The 1986 Deluxe Encyclopedic Edition begins its discussion of synonyms under “heritage” as thus: “That which
comes to or belongs to one by reason of birth.” This thought better refects what we want to consider, for Christ as our Heritage is connected to our new birth, the “born again” experience described to Nicodemus by Jesus in John 3:3–8. Our heritage, therefore, involves the kingdom of God of which Jesus Christ is King.
The biblical presentation of our new heritage as the Person of Christ Jesus our Lord concerns our human need of redemption, our rescue from the lostness which sin and death brought between us and our Creator, God. This lostness and death interrupted God’s intended purposes for his good creation. The deep struggle of the church1 throughout its history (and on into today) has been to maintain its journey and mission through and to the world as Christcentered. Although sent by Christ himself (Matthew 28:18–20), time and distance have taken their toll on the church’s central focus. As early as the apostolic times, the tendency to displace Christ was becoming evident. For example, the apostle Paul wrote to one of the earliest congregations, “For I determined not to know anything among you save [except]2 Jesus Christ, and him crucifed” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
That church had been fghting over the standings of individual leaders—Paul, Apollos, Cephas, even of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:12, 13). The question, of course, was with which leader would one identify. The idea that Christian leaders could/would become a source of division within the church of Jesus Christ surfaced very early in its history. In fact, much of the New Testament’s epistles and writings were occasioned by corrections and faulty perceptions of Christ that needed adjustments. There were even local church offcials who refused the authority of the apostles and asserted their own preeminence (3 John 1:9).
We thank God for the Holy Spirit’s presence and work in teaching, promoting, and exalting Christ in the church and in the world (John 15:26, 27; 16:7–15). He is the One who sustains the legitimacy of the church as belonging to Christ alone into this third millennium. Christ is the church’s heritage! She has no other. He is Head of the church and Savior of the body (Ephesians 5:23). The church’s failures (including our own) have occasioned repeated and undeniable interventions of the Holy Spirit beyond his general guidance and instructions. He has continued, as he has historically done, to raise up renewal movements both within and beyond the organized church— interventions that bring reform and revival. Thus,
he returns the wayward leadership institutions and congregations of the church to their proper focus, which is Jesus Christ himself, the Living Word, as faithfully expressed in the Bible—God’s holy, written, inspired Word.
As we refect on Christ our Heritage, it is my considered opinion and belief that the Church of God of Prophecy is among those renewal movements raised up by the Holy Spirit around the turn of the twentieth century to call specifc attention to the church’s general lack of Christian love, Christian unity, its need for the restoration and centrality of the Bible as God’s holy Word in the midst of his people, and to foster and revitalize the biblical nature and purposes of the church as the body of Christ in the world, led by the Holy Spirit. These renewal emphases bespeak the centrality of Christ as our Heritage. Our forefathers sought the church’s general renewal along apostolic lines as is evident from our history.3 They were reluctant to form a denomination and expressed their view in a note on the front page of the First Assembly Minutes:
NOTE: We hope and trust that no person or body of people will ever use these Minutes or any part of them, as articles of faith upon which to establish a sect or denomination. The subjects were discussed merely to obtain light and understanding. Our articles of faith are inspired and given us by the Holy Apostles and written in the New Testament which is our only rule of faith and practice.4
Returning to our biblical text in 1 Peter 1, I have several observations on the apostle’s exposition of our inheritance in Jesus Christ. Peter blesses the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, in his abundant mercy, has begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This is strange language, but it clearly confrms that we were lost from God and dead in trespasses and sins, as Paul put it in Ephesians 2:1. Being dead and in jeopardy of eternal damnation at the appointed judgment (Acts 17:31), only God’s rescue of us could prove effective for our salvation. In his great mercy, he has Continue on page 28
The vision of the Church of God of Prophecy is to reconcile the world to Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. We have heard this statement numerous times since our last International Assembly. However, the idea behind this statement has been around our movement for a while. It was noted in our frst Assembly, “After taking in consideration the ripened felds and open doors for evangelism this year, strong men wept and said they were not only willing, but really anxious to go” (Minutes of Annual Assembly of the Churches of East Tennessee, North Georgia, and Western North Carolina, Held January 26 & 27, 1906, at Camp Creek, N.C.). Reconciling the world to Christ is part of our DNA.
The theme of reconciliation aligns with the mission of Jesus to “seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10 ESV) and to “reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:16 HCSB). Our core values—Prayer, The Harvest, Leadership Development, Biblical Stewardship, and Service—serve as avenues through which we strive to accomplish this work for the glory of God. Individually and corporately, member or nonmember, if we have been born again, we have been called to this ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18–19). Considering the current condition of this world, this ministry is ever needful.
But I wonder, do we really understand what is meant by reconciliation and what it means in regard to the work we are called to do?
According to The Britannica Dictionary, reconciliation is “the act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement.” It is the restoration of harmonious relationships between individuals or groups which sometimes involves compromise. In the feld of accounting, reconciliation is a process used to bring two sets of records into agreement. In the instance of fnancial reconciliation, compromise is not an option. The transactions, facts, and details must be properly recorded and accounted for in order to balance two sets of numbers so that they are in complete agreement with one another. Being reconciled to God is related to both these ideas. Through the blood of Christ’s sacrifce on the cross, our sins are atoned for, and we are restored to a right (harmonious) relationship with Him. However, as in accounting, we cannot “fudge the numbers.” We must come to God in faith through Christ. There is no other way; there is no compromise.
Fortunately for us, God has given us a roadmap. The Bible is one big story of reconciliation—God’s plan to
Katherine recently transitioned from COGOP’s Accredited Ministry Development department to take the role of proofreader and copy editor for Communications. Born in South Dakota, Katherine graduated from Tomlinson College and obtained a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from Western Oregon State College. She later earned a Master of Arts in Religion from Gordon-Conwell and, in 2022, she completed the doctoral program with Western Theological Seminary. Katherine and her husband (Glen) have two sons, a beautiful daughter-in-love, and a precious granddaughter named Xoi.
restore what was lost in Eden when Adam and Eve rebelled against him, culminating in the new heaven and new earth in Revelation. In between these two opposing events, the pages of Scripture are flled will stories of redemption, restoration, and reconciliation. While it would be hard to preach a sermon or teach a single lesson that encompasses the entire story, it is good from time to time to take a fresh look at the “big picture” of God’s redemptive plan. It is also good to remember our place in the story—where we were before we came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, and who we are now because of his work in our lives.
We catch a glimpse of our former life in the letters of Paul. Writing to the Colossians, Paul reminds us of our previous condition. He states rather bluntly, “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior”
(Colossians 1:21 NIV). He goes a little deeper in his letter to the Ephesians: As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our fesh, and following its desire and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. (Ephesians 2:1–3 NIV)
Various Bible versions begin the next verse with, “But God….” How wonderful that God changes everything! Because of his great love for us, he has made a way for reconciliation to take place. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (vv. 8, 9 ESV). Further on, in verses 11–18, Paul speaks of Jews and Gentiles being one in Christ—that the “dividing wall of hostility” has been broken down (v. 14) for the purpose of reconciling both groups into one body (v. 16). Looking at this passage, we see that the biblical
usage of reconciliation goes deeper than we often think. According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, the Greek word used in Ephesians 2:16 (and also in Colossians 1:20, 22) is apokatallassō, which refers to a change or reconciliation so complete “so as to remove all enmity and leave no impediment to unity and peace” (Vine 1989, 943). Think about it. We were dead in our sins and separated from God, but because of God’s great love and mercy, we have been made alive in Christ! This gracious gift of God was not initiated by our own efforts; it has been made possible only through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. And because of his sacrifcial death, not only can we be reconciled with God, but we also be reconciled with others (2:11–16). While the Jews were the original recipients of God’s covenant, access to God is now available to all through faith in Jesus. In fact, there is no other way to be reconciled to God (John 14:6).
Paul reminds us we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Ephesians 2:10), and he tells us elsewhere that, in being reconciled to God, we have been given the ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18, 19). Vine’s Expository Dictionary emphasizes that reconciliation is not only “to change from enmity to friendship,” but in this context, it “is what God accomplishes, exercising His grace towards sinful man on the ground of the death of Christ in propitiatory sacrifce under the judgment due to sin” (Vine 1989, 942, emphasis added). Jesus, the one who knew no sin, took the judgment of our sins upon himself. He paid the penalty in our place because we were unable to do so. Reconciliation was initiated by him because of his love for us. This humbling realization should cause our hearts to overfow with love and gratitude to God. This, in turn, should be our motivation to go and share the message of love and reconciliation with others. May God ignite our hearts, as he did our forefathers, so that we might “not only willing, but really anxious to go” and share this message with the world!
“After taking in consideration the ripened felds and open doors for evangelism this year, strong men wept and said they were not only willing, but really anxious to go.”
When I hear about heirs in history or in the Bible, I think of kinsmen and family, inheritors and receivers. Princes inherit thrones from their fathers and become kings. Abraham left everything he owned to Isaac (Genesis 25:5). Jacob received his (ill-gotten) birthright from Isaac (Genesis 27:28–29). David bequeathed his throne to Solomon (1 Kings 2:1–4).
I am sure Isaac, Jacob, and Solomon were pleased to receive what their fathers gave them, and they, in turn, became givers of an inheritance. In Luke 15:11–32, Jesus tells the parable about a man who had two sons. His younger son asked for his inheritance early and squandered it. In the end, the greatest inheritance he received was forgiveness.
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We often associate our heritage with wealth and property, but Jesus gave so much more. He never married or raised a family on earth, but the Son of God offers to adopt every human who has the faith of a tiny mustard seed (Matthew 17:20). Being an heir, however, comes with responsibility. Jesus tells us that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. The Pharisee Nicodemus asks how any man can be born from his mother’s womb a second time. Jesus’ response was, “Believe” (John 3:1–13).
Just as parents choose to adopt a child, Jesus chooses to adopt us when we come to him in faith believing that he is the Son of God and that he sacrifced his life for our sins (Romans 8:1–17). So, as adopted children, what do we inherit? We receive eternal life with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit in heaven when we die. We typically think of someone receiving an inheritance when their kinsman dies, but Christians receive their inheritance when they die.
Is there anything a Christian leaves behind when he or she dies? Absolutely! It should be the goal of every Christian to pass on their love for Jesus to everyone who has known them. My life has been strongly impacted by Christians who have invested their time in parenting, teaching, ministering, and encouraging me.
When I would get discouraged as a young girl, my mom used to tell me, “Things could always be worse. Pick up the pieces and go on.” She modeled unconditional love.
When I moved away from home, my dad told me, “Here’s where we fnd out if all the teaching we invested in you paid off.” He instilled confdence in me.
Allen Davis, the state bishop for Virginia when I was growing up, said, “There will be more people in heaven for being faithful than anything else.” He stamped hope in my heart.
When Fred Fisher, Sr., did pre-marriage counseling for my husband and me 25 years ago, he said, “Betty and I will be here for you any time of the day or night. Just call us.” He kindled commitment in my life.
There are countless men and women of God who have poured into my existence. I have received
an incredible inheritance from the people God has planted along my path. Now the question is, what is the legacy I leave behind? What is yours?
I believe Steve Green’s song, “Find Us Faithful” (lyrics by Jon Mohr, Birdwing Music, 1987), shares some insight:
We're pilgrims on the journey
Of the narrow road, And those who've gone before us
Line the way.
Cheering on the faithful, Encouraging the weary, Their lives a stirring testament
To God's sustaining grace.
Surrounded by so great A cloud of witnesses, Let us run the race
Not only for the prize, But as those who've gone before us. Let us leave to those behind us, The heritage of faithfulness
Passed on thru godly lives.
After all our hopes and dreams
Have come and gone, And our children sift thru all We've left behind, May the clues that they discover, And the mem'ries they uncover, Become the light that leads them, To the road we each must fnd.
O may all who come behind us
Find us faithful, May the fre of our devotion
Light their way.
May the footprints that we leave, Lead them to believe, And the lives we live Inspire them to obey.
O may all who come behind us
Find us faithful.
There is an ancient moral parable popularized by the Roman philosopher Cicero in a book he wrote in 45 B.C. The tale centers on the tyrannical king Dionysius, a fourth and ffth century ruler of the Sicilian city of Syracuse. Evan Andrews, contributing writer to The History Channel (20122018), records the following:
Though rich and powerful, Dionysius was supremely unhappy. His iron-fsted rule had made many enemies for him, and he was tormented by fears of assassination. His terror was so great that he slept in a bedchamber surrounded by a moat and only trusted his daughters to shave his beard.
As Cicero tells it, the king’s dissatisfaction came to a head one day after a court fatterer named Damocles showered him with compliments and remarked how blissful his life must be. “Since this life delights you,” an annoyed Dionysius replied, “do you wish to taste it yourself and make a trial of my good fortune?”1
It was an irresistible offer, and Damocles eagerly accepted it. He was seated on a luxurious golden couch in the palace where he received royal treatment—a host of servants to wait on him at his beck and call, royal pampering, and all the choicest foods he could ever
desire. What a life! It was at this point that Damocles saw a razor-sharp sword hanging from the ceiling above his head. Andrews describes it as “suspended only by a single strand of horsehair.” Without a doubt, Damocles could no longer savor the lavish lifestyle for fear for his own life. Instead, he expressed a sudden loss of interest in the fortunes of Dionysius and asked to be excused.
For Cicero and readers today, the story of Dionysius and Damocles illustrates the idea that those in power labor under the dreadful shadow of anxiety, fear of failure, or even threat of death. The sword is a reminder that happiness is elusive for one who is under constant anxieties and pressure from the desire and pursuit of power. Even today, the sword of Damocles is commonly used to describe looming perils in leadership. Similarly, hanging by a thread speaks metaphorically of a tense or precarious situation one encounters, especially when they strive for a position of power. Perhaps the best description of living under the sword of Damocles is offered by the pastoral writer, Eugene Peterson. He defnes it as “the imminent and everpresent peril faced by those in positions of power.”
James, the frst bishop of Jerusalem, writes to the general church:
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is frst pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:13–18 NKJV)
In chapter three, the apostle examines the heavy responsibility of leaders. He begins in verse one by addressing teachers of the Word in the church and how they will be judged much more strictly than other Christians. In verse two, he surmises that they can also stumble in the very Word they teach. By the time he comes to the latter verses of that chapter, he writes about the meekness of wisdom “that is from above” and how it will keep leaders from becoming selfseeking, showing partiality, and falling into hypocrisy. As any true servant of the Lord soon discovers, with great privilege and honor comes great responsibility and temptation. James, who would later become a martyr himself for the gospel, certainly understood the peril of leadership.
Dionysius was a powerful, rich, and harsh ruler, so he had every reason to build a moat around his bedchamber. He certainly was not known for his humility or kindness to those who served under his stern and wicked rule. Jesus taught his disciples the proper attitude about being a leader. He shares with them and us his insightful example through feetwashing:
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call
Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” (John 13:12–17 NKJV)
We are in a world saturated with many horribly bad examples of leadership; amongst the ranks of politicians, corporate offcers, educational administrators, law enforcement, and even rich and exalted church leaders, the characteristics of Dionysius exist. They rule with such autocratic power and self-seeking actions that they bring fear and anxiety to anyone who must serve with them. Any leader who causes people to avoid them or to cater to their every whim is sowing discouragement. They love to be called apostles, prophets, bishops, or pastors; they have no desire to serve others, but rather to be served. In writing to the church at Philippi, Paul points out this mindset in reference to some who considered themselves superior to other leaders. He even calls them evil workers and gives this admonition:
Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. (Philippians 3:17–19 NKJV)
It is a shame that so many good leaders are eclipsed and tainted by a few who love to lord their power over others. Simon Peter summed it up so perfectly when he writes,
Care for the fock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don't lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor. (1 Peter 5:2–4 NLT)
Dr.
Greetings in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! This report is an expression of appreciation for efforts to provide us with an automobile for the national ministry. We extend our appreciation to everyone who contributed funds to purchase this vehicle for the national ministry. I understand that it is a long list of COGOP members and non-members who made the contributions. May the Lord richly bless each one!
I wholeheartedly thank God for this provision and report that we have received the vehicle. We praise the Lord and thank you so much!
On March 11, the January 2023 youth camp “Infuencia” held a reunion in Uruguay. More than 60 young people gathered at the church of Paso de la Arena, where they then took to the streets to do evangelism. This ministry included personal invitations, plays, choreographies, and posters at traffc lights as our youth invaded the neighborhood talking about the love of God.
To conclude this time of ministry, the group gathered at the church where they enjoyed a beautiful time of games, praise, worship, and exhortation from the Word of God, which was shared by the national youth leader, Diego Motta. It was a wonderful time of ministry where the Holy Spirit worked in each person who was present.
The last few weeks have been very diffcult for the people of Malawi and Mozambique after the effects of Cyclone Freddy. The situation has been especially bad in Malawi where a state of emergency was declared by the president as the death toll rose to over 500.
The nations of Malawi and Mozambique in southeastern Africa suffered fve weeks of a severe impact from the cyclone, with two or more harsh episodes in the months of February and March. Meteorological authorities have described Cyclone Freddy as the longest-lasting tropical cyclone recorded worldwide. The center of the destruction was in Blantyre, Malawi, where the national offces for the Church of God of Prophecy are located, and in the southern part of the nation, where we have many local churches. While the death toll is rising in Malawi, and whereas our members have lost relatives and friends, we have not had reports of fatalities among the members of our church. The greatest onslaught has been the damage to the properties of our brethren and of our local church structures in both countries.
In Malawi, at least 38 homes of church members have been affected to varying degrees—from rooftops being blown away to total collapse. Field Secretary Nelio Makwiza and the former wife of the previous national bishop (Grace Mokhuna) have both had signifcant damage to their properties. Altogether, 11 local churches have lost their roofs or had their walls collapse. In some cases, the thatched roofs that have blown away have exposed walls that will need to be reconstructed. The situation in Malawi is compounded by the fact that the cyclone also affected crop production, with most maize farms of the brethren destroyed by the foods, extreme winds, rains, and mudslides. These same storm elements have affected electricity, infrastructure, and communication. It is an overwhelming process that will take years to restore, especially for individuals and churches. Malawi’s rural economy, where most our members are based, is agricultural. We have established that as many as 60 brethren have lost their farms/ crops as agricultural products (mostly maize) were washed away by the wind, water, and mudslides.
Similarly, in Mozambique, Field Secretary Albino Quembo reports that virtually all the districts have been affected. Altogether, six local churches have been damaged and the corrugated iron roofng sheets have blown away. It took a bit of time to compile data, but we have established that at least 45
brethren across the county have had varying degrees of damage to their homes, mostly collapsed walls and rooftops blown away.
The Malawi Church of God of Prophecy operates in 70 local churches with 11,000 recorded members, while Mozambique has 44 local churches with an updated membership of 3,140.
1. An assessment of the situation shows that most of the homes and churches destroyed were structurally compromised and could not withstand the sustained torrential downpours and strong winds brought on by the cyclone over the fve-week period.
2. The brethren will need various interventions, both spiritual and tangible. Where possible, they will need help towards restoration of their local churches and restoration of their homes. The challenge is that there will be great need for food in the coming months, especially since the months of April to June were supposed to be the harvest period on farms destroyed by the cyclone.
3. We have concluded that monetary-wise, at least, each destroyed local church will need about $3,000 to purchase corrugated iron roofng sheets and to install a strong, welded roofng superstructure that can withstand a similar cyclone. Each congregation would then raise funds to do walls and foors while they have a shelter over their heads. With 17 churches affected, some churches will need to explore options such as temporary tents, home meetings, and rentals, where feasible and affordable to the local church, before reconstruction can begin and they can reconvene as before.
4. For individual families and homesteads, it will be near impossible to attempt entire interventions for everyone. However, a prioritization will need to be made to help the neediest and the most vulnerable in repairing or restoring their homes. These nations will have needs in the form of food, fnances, and reconstruction, but we also ask for prayers that Jehovah may provide resources, vision, and comfort to the brethren. We especially pray for the governments of the two nations to mobilize the necessary resources and to effectively facilitate interventions both now and in the coming months.
Please continue to join us in prayer for the provision of God in this season of diffculties.
Church membership is an essential part of our discipleship journey. It places us in a loving community where we learn about God's Word, fellowship with other believers, receive Christian care, and fnd opportunities to give and serve others in Jesus' name.
The Church of God of Prophecy holds an individual's experience of salvation as the qualifcation for Church membership. Because the Bible affrms children can experience salvation, they are eligible for Church membership.
Released in 2021, Membership Matters for Kids is a fve-lesson course designed for elementary-age children to learn more about their walk with Christ, their local church, and the history of the Church of God of Prophecy. It is a companion to the Membership Matters course provided by the Church of God of Prophecy International Offces.
This month we feature Lesson Four entitled “Our Big Beautiful Family.” This lesson can be taught in our local children’s ministry, Sunday school, or at home with your children. To download the entire FREE teaching guide and reproducible teaching pages, visit cogop.org/children.
Introduction and Review
Spend a few moments reviewing last week’s lesson with the children.
As we get started today, I’d like to ask you to look at your shoes. Direct children to do so. Now, look at the shoes of those around you. Are they different? Do any of us have the same shoes?
How are shoes the same? Allow responses. All shoes go on our feet, right? How are they different? Allow responses. Shoes come in different styles, colors, and sizes. They also have different purposes and are made of different materials, aren’t they? Wearing sandals is very different from wearing boots or sneakers.
Christianity is similar to this. All Christians believe in God and the Bible. Most celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas and remember his resurrection at Easter. But not all churches that are Christian are the same. There are many different kinds of churches, and they all have things
that are similar and things that are different. As you drive through our community, you see many different churches, don’t you? You might even have friends that believe in Jesus, just like you, but they go to a different church.
This week is all about OUR church family all around the world! Our church is part of a family called the Church of God of Prophecy. Have you ever heard that name? Let’s talk more about it.
Our church is part of a global family called the Church of God of Prophecy. We have sister churches all over the world in places like Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America! Over one million people are members of this church family and most of them live in places outside of the United States! There are Church of God of Prophecy congregations in over 130 countries of the world. Our Church family is made up of men and women, boys and girls, of all ages and races.
Preparation: Find a simple recipe the children can make and gather the necessary supplies to make it in class.
Have you ever prepared something to eat that wasn’t good? Have you ever built something that didn’t work? Why do these things happen? Allow children to answer. Usually this happens because we don’t follow instructions. Today you are going to make a special treat. Be sure to follow the instructions correctly. Allow the children to prepare something to eat by following a simple recipe. Then allow them to enjoy what they prepared.
Why was it important to follow the recipe? Allow children to answer. The Word of God is like a recipe. We can fnd God’s words in the Bible. If we want our lives to be full of blessings, we need to obey His Word. We need to serve him the way he wants.
The story of our church began with a very small group of people who decided that they didn’t just want
to know about the Bible. They wanted to live their lives exactly as God’s Word said they should. So, they began to seek God for direction. Because they did, we are all here today and are joined with millions of people around the world who still seek after God.
Materials Needed: Lesson Four Worksheet (Provided in the Download), Pencils
Invite volunteers to read through the history of the church provided on their worksheets. Ask them to highlight or circle the names of people or places they fnd, as well as any dates mentioned.
The Church of God of Prophecy began over one hundred years ago in the mountains of North Carolina in the United States. A small group of men and women wanted to know God more closely than they had before, and they wanted to follow his Word, the Bible, just as it was written. The group began meeting at a place called Barney Creek in the year 1886.
A preacher from Indiana named A.J. Tomlinson was invited to study God’s Word with the small group on June 13, 1903. They were meeting in the home of a man named W.F. Bryant. A.J. had met with the small group many times and always felt welcomed by his friends. On the night prior to their time of study, A.J. climbed a mountain near W.F.’s home. It was called Burger Mountain. A.J. prayed all night long! As he prayed, God spoke to A.J.’s heart and gave him a vision of a church that God would help him lead. A.J. came back down the mountain and became a member of the church that was meeting in W.F.’s home. Soon, A.J. became the leader of the group, and new churches were started in many states around those mountains. The churches were soon called the Church of God and continued to spread to many more states. In 1911, A.J. led a small group a people that sailed to the Bahamas to establish the church’s frst congregation outside the United States. A.J.’s group later became known as the Church of God of Prophecy.
Bishop Shaun McKinley, PhD, serves the Church of God of Prophecy as director of International Children’s Ministry and administrative liaison to Presiding Bishop Tim Coalter. He earned a Master of Business Administration in Marketing from Bryan College and a PhD in Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands. Shaun is an adjunct instructor with Belhaven University, Trevecca Nazarene University, and Oral Roberts University teaching Business, Leadership, and Management. Shaun is an ordained COGOP bishop who, along with his wife, Stephanie, is raising three daughters: Reagan, Madison, and Kennedy.Today, the Church of God of Prophecy is in all ffty states and more than 130 countries around the world! Both men and women serve as pastors in our churches, and there are leaders of different races, colors, and languages serving all around the world!
Materials Needed: Lesson Four Worksheet (Provided in the Download), Pencils
Invite the children to complete the History Quiz found on the Lesson Four worksheet. The answers can be found by reviewing the historical profle on the worksheet. You may choose to allow children to work in groups. Review their answers.
Answer Key:
1. The Church of God of Prophecy began how many years ago? (Circle one)
More than 100 years ago
More than 150 years ago
More than 200 years ago
2. What was the name of the preacher from Indiana that came to North Carolina to study God’s Word with the people from Barney Creek? A.J. Tomlinson
3. What was the date that the group all met together at W.F. Bryant’s home? June 13, 1903
4. Where was the frst church started outside of the United States? Bahamas
5. How many countries now have a Church of God of Prophecy? More than 130
Materials Needed: All Nations Flag Worksheet (Provided in the Download), Crayons or Markers.
Note: We are aware that some churches do not display the All-Nations Flag in their facility. However, if you do, this section is recommended to help the children understand its signifcance.
Did you know the Church of God of Prophecy has a special fag displayed and fown in many churches around the world? It’s called the All-Nations Flag and was designed in 1933. The All-Nations Flag represents Jesus, whom the Bible calls “the Truth.” The fag has many symbols and colors that remind us of who Jesus is. Let me show you the fag. Show the children the Church fag from your building or the color version provided at the end of this lesson.
The colors of the fag are red, white, blue, and purple.
The red represents the blood of our Savior, the white represents purity, the blue represents truth, and the purple represents royalty. The fag has three symbols—a scepter, a star, and a crown— and they all represent Jesus’ royalty and that he is the King of kings. The fag also has blue stripes at the top and bottom that do not meet.
“begotten us again” and entitled us by this new birth to an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefled, one which is permanent, that is, eternal. By this unspeakable, divine intervention, we are now God’s adopted sons and daughters—heirs of God and jointheirs with Christ (Romans 8:15–17). Jesus has been appointed heir of all things (Hebrews 1:1–4), and in his death and resurrection as Head of the new humanity, he has achieved immortality for all who believe in him. As Head of God’s new creation and of all things godly in heaven and on earth (principalities, powers, thrones and dominions, and every name that is named), he is the Guarantor of our new heritage, our inheritance, which is unlimited and endless. I am piling on words, but there are really no words in any language, whether of men or of angels, that can fully express what God has done for us!
As early as 1913, our forefathers in this Spirit-led renewal movement accepted and promoted Jesus Christ our Lord as Savior, Sanctifer, Baptizer with the Holy Ghost, Healer, and coming King. This was the Holiness Pentecostal way of presenting Christ, with few exceptions. Christ is everything!5 Again, the apostle Peter says that our living hope is assured by one thing and by one thing only: the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. As is clear from the preaching of the apostles in the New Testament, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead is the essence of God’s good news, the gospel. In discussing the fact that righteousness [right standing with God] was imputed to Abraham because of his faith, Paul refects on that imputation as also belonging to us: “. . . to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justifcation (Romans 4: 24, 25). The biblical witness could not be clearer about the Person of Jesus Christ: he is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29, 36); he is Head of the church and Savior of the body
Continued from page 15
(Ephesians 5:23; Colossians 1:15–18); he is the Lion of the tribe of Judah who has prevailed, and the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 5:5–10; 13:8), and his redemptive names could go on and on ad infnitum.
Over the years it has been refreshing to witness (and to participate in) the struggles of the Church of God of Prophecy as she sought to respond to the call of the Spirit to restore and to keep our Lord Jesus Christ at the center of all our operations. Beginning with the Holy Ghost’s “Call to Repentance” in 1984 during the closing years of Bishop M. A. Tomlinson’s administration, and on into the years of Bishop Billy D. Murray’s administration that commenced with the frstever Assembly theme, “Jesus, Take Charge” (a powerful, one-sentence, churchwide, desperate, and declaratory prayer expressing our re-recognition of Jesus’ headship and leadership), the Church has endeavored through subsequent administrations to keep Christ frst. Our latest Assembly (2022), at the close of Bishop Sam N. Clements term of offce, left us with the theme, “Reconciling the World to Christ through the Power of the Holy Spirit.” We are, in effect, continuing to announce the apostolic message of the good news that “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, . . . and has committed to us the word of reconciliation” (2 Corinthians 5:18, 19 NKJV). The Church’s present presiding bishop, Tim Coalter, continues promoting the centrality of Christ. This Christ-centeredness of the Church, and ultimately of the world where God’s kingdom is mysteriously at work, is God’s glorifcation of his beloved Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. It is his will being done on earth as in heaven (Matthew 6:10). It is irrevocable and unchangeable and is being realized through the sovereign work of the Holy Spirit—the Revealer of Christ—for indeed, Christ is our Heritage!
1 I use the word “church” in this instance, in its broader historical sense of the long Christian Tradition since the apostles.
2 KJV marginal reading.
3 The program for the 3rd Assembly in 1908 carried the provision for “Service Along Apostolic Lines.” See Adrian L. Varlack Sr., Foundations: Church of God of Prophecy History, Polity, Doctrine, and Future (Cleveland, TN: White Wing Publishing House, 2010), 36.
4 Minutes of Annual Assembly of the Churches of East Tennessee, North Georgia, and Western North Carolina Held January 26 & 27, 1906, at Camp Creek, NC (pamphlet form), CGP Archives.
5 A. J. Tomlinson, The Last Great Confict (Cleveland, TN: White Wing Publishing House and Press, 1984 reprint), 102.
While we have up to this point addressed self-seeking and powerful leaders who take advantage of the kingdom of God for their own glorifcation and riches, we must also focus on men and women like Damocles. There is always at least one jealous or ambitious person in every organization or church who craves the throne of a leader but not their responsibilities. They are enamored by the travel, the attention, and the amenities given to those in certain positions. Without comprehending the perils and challenges that leaders face, they fall into wanting the good things they see that those with titles and positions have. Damocles had a distorted peripheral vision that prevented him from seeing the bigger picture. Indeed, the single-minded imposter to genuine leadership can never see the broader responsibilities and dangers that lurk behind every task or situation that a leader may face.
The Lord Jesus and the apostle Paul certainly grasped the perils and temptations that confront anyone called to serve in a higher position by God. Jesus said to his own disciples when they were captivated by their new ability to cast out demons, "Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:19, 20 NKJV). Paul, in self-abasement, later writes this warning: “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualifed” (1 Corinthians 9:27 NKJV).
This brings us back to the sword of Damocles. When Dionysius, the ruler, placed the sword above the golden couch where servants waited on Damocles, he was in no way surrendering his throne and power to the unsuspecting, lustful Dionysius. Instead, he wanted this foolish interloper to grasp the uncertainty, the peril, and insecurity that now hung over his head by a single strand of horsehair. Every good and humble leader or ruler realizes that leadership is a fragile opportunity at best. As we serve in the Lord’s kingdom, we must always keep a right heart and a sober mind about what we have been called to do. The novice, the pretentious,
and the ambitious rarely ever realize the precarious position they strive so hard to embrace. The sword of Damocles reveals one’s true character. I realized this while reading Leading with a Limp , a book by Dan Allender. Allender writes:
Interestingly, the Chinese symbol for crisis is the merging of two signs, one meaning “danger” and the other meaning “opportunity.” A crisis has the potential to transform or destroy. And what is the tipping point toward transformation in the face of crisis? The choice is either to cower in fear or to step forward with courage. The tipping point is brokenness rather than control. 2
The goal of this writing is not to discourage humble and passionate people from aspiring to leadership or even position. Rather, it is a wise reminder to us all that the heart of a man or woman is revealed when they come into a position where they can be transformed from fesh into Spirit. Yes, the humble man or woman knows the sword hangs above their head, but their pure heart guards against abuse and power while causing them to trust the One they serve.
There is an old book by Charles Swindoll entitled Improving Your Serve . In it is a hymn by Anne R. Cousin called, “The Sands of Times are Sinking.” The concluding stanza applies to all of us who serve the Lord:
The bride eyes not her garment, But her dear bridegroom’s face; I will not gaze at glory, But on my King of grace: Not at the crown He giveth, But on the pierced hand; The Lamb is all the glory Of Emmanuel’s land. 3
1 Evan Andrews, “What Was the Sword of Damocles?,” HISTORY, last modifed August 23, 2018, https://www.history.com/news/ what-was-the-sword-of-damocles.
2 Dan B. Allender, Leading with a Limp (Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook Press, 2006), 67.
3 Anne R. Cousin, “The Sands of Time Are Sinking,” quoted in Charles R. Swindoll, Improving Your Serve: The Art of Unselfsh Living (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1981), 193.
Park visitation was up last year with more and more people traveling again, and the gift shop was in need of a few updates. Thankfully our on-site team was able to tackle much of the work themselves during the off-season winter months.
The store was cleared and a few walls were moved to make the main shopping area larger and more open. The register was moved from the center of the store to the corner, and the back area is now being used for stock and offce space.
New carpeting was placed throughout. New LED lighting has been installed. And several other updates have occurred, as well. The result is a much brighter, more open, and overall more enjoyable experience for both workers and visitors.
Special thanks to Cliff and Magali Anderson, Yoshiyah Anderson, and others who spent a great deal of time working on this vision. We hope you’ll come see us soon and check out the brand-new gift shop area!
Please help us continue to update the park by giving at www.fowrenew.org!
In Christ, Darren Schalk, Heritage Ministries Coordinator
MESSAGES Christ Is Our Heritage and Christ Is Our Mission
What our leaders have envisioned is a people who know they are called to the ministry of reconciliation and that it is only by the Holy Spirit’s power we can accomplish that. An encounter with the Spirit’s universe-creating power converts our words into work that strategically and effectively brings Christ to the world and reconciles them to him. Vision, in the natural and in the Spirit, is a gift from God. Human beings were designed by God to be able to see what is behind them, and then, with a simple turn of the head, see what is out front. Here is where our vision and mission are connected: our Mission Statement more clearly brings into focus our Vision. Every word displays Christ and our place in him; we must work with an eye on where we have been and where we are going to show who he has been to us and where we are going with him.
Christ Exalting
“God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9–11 ESV). The Church of God of Prophecy has always been “on mission” to preach Christ! Our goal is to exalt Christ so effectively, so passionately, that he is seen more clearly, more fully, and more perfectly through this body of believers.
The call to holiness is deep in our roots and remains our destiny. We maintain our commitment to holiness so that we may move through this world more like Christ than ever before.
MARSHA ROBINSON | EDITOR
The prophetic promise of God, “I will pour out my Spirit on all fesh” (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17) is stamped on the DNA of this global family. We lean into our dependence on Christ’s Holy Spirit and pray for a fresh encounter with him—a reflling of each of us with the power he promised and poured out at Pentecost— for the work we have to do.
Through more than one century of ministry, this family network has been committed to the biblical call to make disciples in obedience to the Great Commission of Christ. We cannot stop making disciples. We are determined to train and develop those whom the Lord adds to his church.
Church planting brings the reconciling work of Christ to the nations. All through our existence, the Church of God of Prophecy has sent anointed men and women to carry the seed of the gospel and plant Christian communities. Our vision is to reconcile the world—every village, ciudad, Stadt, lub zos, and shahar—to Christ. We have made great inroads and great gains with church planting, and we continue to develop strategies for more in every place we fnd opportunity.
By God’s design, this international ministry has intentionally worked to see that God’s church is composed of every “kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” (Revelation 5:9). We continue to celebrate and intentionally cultivate multicultural diversity at every level of leadership in this international body. It is our rich heritage, and it is our future.
From our history comes a driving hunger for the bond of unity —a unity Jesus prayed for us to have— a single body so ftly joined together that it brings glory to God and draws people to him. That passion still burns in our hearts as we joyously seek to collaborate and serve with every group and individual who follows Christ.
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Church of God of Prophecy 102nd International Assembly
Orlando, Florida
July 31–August 4, 2024
At the beautiful Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel and Conference Center
