This week I've had the opportunity to be at the Healthy Growing Churches (HCG) gathering in Orlando, Florida, the second year for this event. This is a significant network within the Church of God, and its impact is growing.
For those of you that don't know HGC was formed a couple of years ago largely out of the collaborative effort of the Regional Pastors and Overseers from Florida, Ohio, and Indiana. They saw a need for more concerted efforts to develop strong, missional churches. Cutbacks at Church of God Ministries were reducing the services they offered for this purpose, so districts were increasingly taking on these challenges, and often more effectively. HGC was intended to network these efforts. At present the four major arms are: transformation, multiplication, network and judicatories. The multiplication arm comes as a result of taking in Church Multiplication Association, a leading church planting organization within our movement.
HGC is clear to point out that they are wanting to support the Church of God in North America, not compete with our national structures. This is a network more than anything else. And, networks are not new to the Church of God. For example, Pastors' Fellowship is a long-standing network, and HGC is one too, albeit with a different focus. This week's gathering represents this philosophy as they point out this is not a conference, but a network. Much emphasis and opportunity is given to networking clusters where participants can interact with others who have a similar ministry. Networks are the future, and especially compatible with our orientation.
Based on the evident response this week (i.e. attendance is over 100) there is much enthusiasm for HGC, and the future looks bright for this fledgling movement within our movement.
