Viewpoint recommendation

I encourage you to listen to the October 30th edition of Viewpoint. Jim Lyon interviews Ed Hyatt, a Church of God minister who has powerful personal story to tell. I know Ed well and am pleased to see Viewpoint giving an opportunity for his experiences to touch others.

 

To where are we "moving"?

I appreciate the comments that continue to come in on my posts this week on our "movement" status.

 

In the comments from yesterday's post, marlene and andy touched on an important theme: mission. Marlene reminded us that we were first and foremost a "reformation" movement and that mission was secondary. Andy pushed this a little further stating that "naming and identifying who we are ... is pointless", but "What does matter is changing the world we live in by the presence of God, via His Son and Spirit".

 

While arguing over the definition of what it means to be a "movement" is not that useful, we nonetheless need to come to terms with our identity, which, like it or not, is wrapped up in the cloak of being a reformation movement. Perhaps we need to demythologize this self-understanding before we are capable to move on to the mission to which we are ultimately called. But, even this does not have to preclude us from contributing from our unique perspective and distinctives.

 

The question we need to ask ourselves is: Are we prepared to accept a fresh call of God for this time and generation? We can celebrate the contribution of our reformation in the unique context in which our movement was formed, but our world has changed and the challenges facing the church are different. The need today is less that of bringing all Christians together, but more of reaching out to a world that has barely been exposed to the reality of the Good News. Are we ready to join in this movement which is already taking shape around us? Or, will we go off marching to the beat of our own drum?

 

More movement

Since my post on Monday regarding movement, I've had a few, but nevertheless very thought-provoking, comments left. Because of the significance of these contributions (and since I know that most people rarely read comments!) I want to continue the discussion in a main post.

 

BTW, you can read the comments from my last post at this LINK.

 

There was general agreement that we are not functioning as a movement. David said that "we have to put the 'Move' back in Movement", and this will happen because of the Holy Spirit. Mojclessme believes that we have too many smaller movements within the Church of God diverting us away from our primary purpose: to reach the lost. Randy is not optimistic that we will recover our sense of movement anytime soon.

 

Thanks for the good reflections, guys. (And, I'd love to hear from more of you - I know you are out there!)

 

While it is easy to become discouraged by our current state, I am convinced that there is hope. Let me briefly state a few reasons:

 

1. I see a small, but passionate, group of younger leaders emerging in the Church of God that are viewing our heritage and theology with fresh eyes. They need to be encouraged to have a larger voice.

 

2. Our sense of "movement" is ingrained within our DNA. As I stated in my last post, we can easily fool ourselves into thinking that we are still a movement. Of course, we must confront reality with honesty, and even repent of this illusion that blinds us. Once we admit our failures, however, we will be in a better position to recover our movement-hood.

 

3. There are major shifts taking place within the larger scope of Christianity, and these forces are of seismic proportions that will affect us whether we want them to or not. The question is: Will we allow this moving of the Spirit to move us? If we do, our movement orientation has the potential to significantly contribute to this broader movement.

 

"Movement"

A long-standing tension within the Church of God concerns our self-identification as a "movement" instead of as a denomination.

 

We all know how uncomfortable we feel when the "D" word comes up in our conversation. We refuse to use it to describe ourselves, and are often quick to correct others who want to label us with it.

 

My goal is not to create a debate as to whether or not we are a denomination. For all practical purposes we are. We have a defined brand name, we are organized as such, and, most signficantly, virtually everyone on the outside perceives that we are one. Sure, our polity, structure, and lack of formal creed make us a-less-than model "denomination". But, if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it is a duck!

 

I like the fact that we struggle with our sense of identity and purpose. On the one hand, our reluctance to give into denominationalism keeps the biblical ideal of the church high in our foreground. We recognize the value that a movement could have in the current, messed-up state of Christianity. On the other hand, however, we must be careful not to delude ourselves into believing that we are still functioning as a true movement, because if we are honest we will admit that we have lost our edge in this regard. (See my Post: "Where the Saints Have Trod").

 

In the upcoming days I will attempt to address some of the issues surrounding movements, including a look at how we are responding to other movements of God's Spirit in the church, such as in the Emergent movement. I'd love to hear your comments.

 

Born again restaurant

This has been an interesting week as far as news stories concerning Church of God congregations and their involvement within their communities.

 

According to WHAS in Louisville, Kentucky, Parkland Church of God has partnered with a Baptist Church to re-open a bankrupt restaurant in their community. One's first reaction might be: "Why would churches want to get into the restaurant business?" Their plans, however, are to give back to the community, which includes providing much needed jobs. (Story Link). From what I've been able to gather these churches are in a community that really needs hope, and they believe that this is one practical way to express the love of God.

 

Certainly a different twist on community and social involvement, and another case to add to my ongoing reflections. I would be interested to learn more about this project, and how the church sees this as part of their overall mission.

 

Another example

On the heels of yesterday's post, regarding Church of God Pastor Mansour Bey's involvement in the protests leading to the riots in Toledo, comes a news story from Monroe, Ohio. The Middletown Journal reports that First Church of God in Monroe hosted the National Coalition Against Legalized Gambling in preparation for an upcoming referendum regarding a proposed casino in the area. Pastor Terry Ball is active in the fight against the casino. (Story Link)

 

I'm sure these types of community involvements by Church of God congregations are quite common, as these are just two media covered examples from the last few days. I'm glad to see that there is involvement in real issues outside the walls of the local church.

 

My questions from yesterday still remain. As I reflect further on these recent examples I think part of my uneasiness is that we often get involved in these issues in a reactionary manner. That is, once it becomes a problem we go out and protest, and indicate that we are AGAINST something. Certainly there is a place for this. I believe, however, that if we are truly missional we will be salt and light in our communities at all times, even before we are prompted out of the comfort of our pews. In other words, in what ways do we communicate to the world that we are FOR something. Is it the "Good News" that we are known for?

 

I know that media reports don't tell the full story, and I have no first hand knowledge of what the two congregations in question have been doing before this. Nevertheless, these are considerations worthy of further pondering.

 

I'd love to hear from more of you on your experiences and reflections.

 

To what extent should we get involved?

On Saturday, Toledo, Ohio was rocked by a riot provoked by a small neo-Nazi group that came in contact with hundreds of African-American protesters. According to CNN/Time one of the organizers of the counter-protest was Church of God pastor Mansour Bey (Story Link).

 

I am the least qualifed person to analyze the genesis of the riots, or to dictate from a distance what should have or should not have happened. Truly, Neo-Nazis are bozos, and I can only imagine the frustration that African Americans feel when these clowns try to goad them on their own turf. On the other hand, this frustration is not justification for violent behavior.

 

The questions that I am confronted with are: As church leaders, to what extent should we get involved in hot social issues around us? At what point does our participation in a legitimate cause that identifies with the hurts and problems around us cross-over into a compromise of the church that turns us into a political movement?

 

The comingling of faith and politics has become a major problem in the U.S., and increasingly Christians are finding it difficult to know where those boundaries lie. With hot button issues like abortion and homosexuality, churches have often shot themselves in the foot by becoming so confrontational that they have lost the ability to proclaim the Good News of Jesus. On the flip side of the coin, however, we can find many examples throughout history (e.g. during Nazi Germany) when the church shamefully abdicated its role, and in effect, contributed to the sin around them.

 

So, what would I do if my own city was faced with an explosive issue? Would I/we sit idly by, leaving it to others to engage the enemies? Or, would I/we take a leadership position, even to the point of possibly being misunderstood?

 

I'd love to hear some of your thoughts on this issue.

 

UPDATE 10/18/05: You can listen to Pastor Bey's own description of what happened and his involvement on Pacifica Radio's "Democracy Now" show, archived online at: http://www.pacifica.org/programs/dn/051018.html. (TIP: Start listening at around 9:30). It is interesting to hear how his account differs from some of the implications in the CNN report.

Churches on mission

Many of my posts have been focused on mission. Mission has certainly become a new orientation of mine, as I am convinced that it must be at the core of who we are and how we define ourselves. Unfortunately, however, the business of "doing" church often gets in the way, distracting us into other directions.

 

I am encouraged to see that more and more churches are responding to the call to be missional, including Church of God congregations. It's important that we highlight and celebrate examples around us.

 

Today the Associated Press is distributing a story that quotes Paul Binion, Pastor of Westside Church of God in Fresno, California. Paul is a well-known figure in Fresno, working diligently to touch people in the poverty-stricken area around his church. He and his church are frequently in the local media spotlight, and Paul is highly regarded and consulted by local government officials. Now Paul is in a nationally-distributed story (e.g. in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer) because Fresno has been identified as having "the nation's highest concentration of residents in extremely poor neighborhoods, according to a study released Wednesday by the Brookings Institution, the Washington, D.C., think tank."

 

I know Paul personally because I also pastor in Central California. (You can read more of some of his life-impacting work in the February/March 2005 issue of OneVoice.)

 

Where else do see Church of God congregations living out their mission within their local communities? Let's share examples as models and encouragements for the rest of who are looking for effective and meaningful ways to truly reach out. I will try to post and/or link examples when they come my way.

 

 

Hurricane relief

Here's another update (and request for assistance) posted on CHOGTalk by Debbie Weiger:

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ;

This morning I wanted to update you all on a need that came across my desk. Louisiana as you all know has been extremely devastated by the disasters that have hit our country. I spoke this morning with Fred Dowden who has been asked by the Church of God in Louisiana to coordinate efforts for the south region of this state and its relief efforts. He expressed an urgent need for workers to come and help. They are in need of money, carpenters, electricians, roofers, tree cutters and debris removal. They have housing and food for any one who would like to come and help. RV hook-ups are available as well. They are trying to have teams come in like the Mississippi has done, but they will take anyone that is willing.

On behalf of the Church of God in Alabama and Mississippi I want to thank everyone for the loving response that you have shown to these two states and I ask that you continue to do so. If you have not found an area to help or contribute please give Fred Dowden a call at 864-357-5186. Your prayers, calls, and support are continually needed.

Rachael Woosley
Disaster Relief Coordinator-Alabama Church of God Ministries
205-612-3486

 

Rapture Safety cards

And now for something completely different ...

 

Aren't you glad we don't have to worry about this!

 

 

From LarkNews.com, "Rapture Safety cards to prepare parishioners, airline-style"

 

Work Day

On Saturday our church conducted its semi-annual "work day", a designated time to bring a large group of our people together for a mass effort to take care of important building and maintenance issues that tend to get neglected in the normal routines of things. This time it was different, and part of a growing new orientation for our congregation.

 

This summer when we began seriously wrestling with our mission, one of the many ideas that was floated concerned our work day. It should not just be for ourselves, but hopefully an opportunity to take our labors into our community.

 

Saturday was the first such occasion. While we completed a wide range of needed projects around our church facility, a team of workers made their trek off-site to make contact with some of our neighbors. They offered to do some yard work, of course without cost, but because we want to share God's love.

 

As one woman shared in our service yesterday" "it was the highlight of the day". Prior to this, making contact with our immediate neighbors is not something we have been very good at. The joy of helping others and making a personal connection left a strong impression. By our next work day  I can see us doing even more. And, more importantly, we are adopting a new attitude and perspective of what is involved in mission.

 

How then should we preach?

CHOG blogger, David Owens, in Message in a Bottle has posted a review of Preaching Re-Imagined by Doug Pagitt, a leader in the Emergent movement.

 

The topic of preaching is an important one during these shifting times, as we seriously address the ways that truth is communicated. I remain convinced that preaching is still essential and powerful, but recognize that many of the models familiar to our own movement are increasingly ineffective among the people to which we wish to minister. I struggle with this myself, as I am sure many of you do. While I haven't read Pagitt's book, I affirm that it has to be much more than just a shift in methodology. Unfortunately, however, we tend to be always looking for that magic formula that will revolutionize, and fail to see the importance of our own spiritual formation and the dialogue that is required within our local context.

 

I invite you to leave comments regarding your perceptions of preaching today, including examples and resources that you find helpful.

 

While I am far from having figured this all out, let me offer a few initial thoughts for those of us who preach:

 

First, utilizing the power of the Internet, take advantage of the opportunity to listen to a wide variety of other preachers. Many churches now offer audio archives of their sermons, some even in podcasting format. Don't try to copy what they do (because in most cases it will incongruous to who you are and where you preach), but expand your preaching horizons. On my blog page you will find a small, but growing list of Church of God podcasts. Of course, there are excellent preachers outside of our movement too. Among others, I regularly listen to Rob Bell (Mars Hill Church, Grand Rapids, MI) and Bruxy Cavey (The Meeting House, Oakville, ON, Canada).

 

Second, get into the mind and heart of other preachers. Build relationships with some, or connect with those you respect. This could be someone in your neighborhood, a friend online, or even through the blog of a preacher. Discover how they are wrestling with preaching in their own ministry. An excellent blog is Odyssey by Chris Erdman, who has recently written some profound stuff on the topic of preaching.

 

 

Mission idea

It's great to see more churches taking seriously the calling to minister in the world!

 

Church of God Pastor, Tina Robinson, from Madison, WI shares on her blog, HeavyRevvy, an outreach project they are involved in:

 

"We have adopted the teachers at the neighborhood elementary school and this morning we are providing snacks to get them through the day of meetings they have all day today. My car is filled with muffins, cupcakes, fruit, candy, cookies and two ginormous cheesecakes"

Gulf coast update

Below is an frontline update posted on CHOGTalk by Debbie Weiger:

The following update came from Earl Wheatley in Mississippi, concerning some of the Churches of God in the Gulf region.  I’d like to add that work groups are going into Laurel / Hattiesburg area.  More are needed!  (Contact Rachael Woosley 205-812-3486, rwoosley@riverchase.cc )  Rachael and I went to Laurel and then on down to Gulfport last week, to carry supplies and do some organizational work.  It is just heartbreaking!  And the one thing we heard from our COG pastors and church families was, “Don’t let them forget about us!”

Tony also talked just this morning with Don Coleman at Camp Pollack in Louisiana.  Over the weekend they had 240 evacuees, but now they have 150 – and this without electricity or running water!  Today they are now dealing with the Health Department (another camp has already been shut down) but these folks have no where to go.  Please pray for God to make a way for them to continue to help these people.

The shelter at Austin Road Community Church in Daphne, AL is still in operation, but they are down to about half the number staying there.  They are working to help find permanent housing, jobs and vehicles for those families.

Debbie Weiger

Hi Friends,

Let me give you a site by site update - God is continuing to work through His people in some powerful ways!

Natchez, MS.  Natchez has continued to be an active Red Cross shelter.  As of last Thursday night they had 41 Katrina evacuees still living at the church.  At 2:00 a.m. Friday morning they received another 70 Rita evacuees! People were bedded down in the church, in the fellowship hall and in the gym.  I am attaching a couple of photos sent by  Del Loy.

Del also reports that one couple who has been at the Natchez church since it opened for Katrina has accepted Jesus as their Savior.and several of the other evacuees have been regular attenders in the Community Chapel worship services.

Palmetto, LA.  Pastor Dale Fontenot has shared that they were about 100 miles East of where the eye of the hurricane came ashore.  The Palmetto Campground has another 60 evacuees.  They were without power for 36 hours and had some damage to metal roofs.  But Palmetto was still able to minister to others!  On Saturday, a Red Cross Shelter called, needing food for 285 evacuees. "Because of the generosity of the church all over the country, we had enough food to send to the Red Cross shelter to help in their time of need."

New Orleans - Metairie, LA.  Pastor Paul Matte reports they are beginning to cut out sheet rock and get the building back into shape.  Reports from congregational leaders tell us that many homes of the congregation were damaged.  Rita's flooding hit some of the homes a second time.  Between the two storms, 3 families lost everything, 3 other families had extensive roof damage, at least 8 families have varying degrees of flood damage.

New Orleans - Caffin Avenue.  The church was flooded again from the water that hit the lower part of the city from Rita.  No updates yet on specific families and their losses.

Gulfport, MS - Workteams have been in and others are in route.  Good work is taking place in the community.

Now - on to Lake Charles, LA - and "Rita" news:

Pastor Rick McClain of Christ Community Church of God is in Meridian right now, staying with extended family.  As of last night (Monday), 44 Louisiana parishes are without power.  Many of the major transmission towers are down and will be a major piece in the repair/restoration work that is yet to be done.  He has had reports that their church building is in relatively good shape.  Rick has also been in touch with Pastor Terry Aridizzone of the CrossRoads Church of God.  Terry reports that one of their main entrance doors was shattered in the storm and there has been some minor building damage. 

From all current reports all Church of God families are physically OK; but we do know of many homes that suffered tree and other storm damage.  We have five Church of God congregations in the Lake Charles area.  None of them were able to meet this past Sunday and will probably not be able to meet this coming Sunday.  As you know, when the church cannot even meet, finances weaken quickly!

For more information or to give assistance to the Lake Charles churches you can contact Rick McClain at mcclain2005@ccclc.info or (812) 962-4971.or (877) 853-7513

Future work:

New Orleans:  This Thursday evening at 7:00 p.m. a strategy meeting will be held at the Landmark Church of God, Covington, Mississippi, hosted by Pastor Ron Allen.  At that time we will assess needs, consider resources and (hopefully) identify a work coordinator for our ongoing assistance to our New Orleans churches and families.   As you pray about this, please remember Ron's wife, Sue.  She has a fractured rib and will be seeing the physicians this week.  Please join me in asking the Great Physician to touch Sue.

Lake Charles:  This situation is still being assessed.  Hopefully more will be known about specific needs and physical assistance opportunities within the next 5 to 7 days.

Blessings,

Earl Wheatley

 

Fleeing Rita

Here's a report from Dr.Magaret Dunn posted on CHOG-Talk today, giving a first-hand report of someone in the path of Rita:

 

All:

I am going off line in about 15 minutes but wanted to give you an
update. Please pray for those involved in the evacuation process. It
was taking 5 hours yesterday to go from Galveston to Houston's south
side. This morning, I-45 and 290 will be opened northbound on both
sides of the interstates. I-10 west will be opened as soon as this
process is complete. Officers will be at each ramp to protect traffic.

Rita is scheduled to hit about 1:00 am on Saturday morning very close
to Galveston Island.

I learned about the church at large in my evacuation planning since I
made one phone call to a Church of God congregation and had a place
for my cat and myself to stay. God is good.

Will be back on line when the storm passes and I am back on line.
Thanks for your prayers for myself and the Church of God congregation
in this area. 

Blessings to you.

Margaret Dunn
Pasadena, Texas

Church of God and disaster relief

Over the past few weeks, we have all been impacted by hurricane Katrina that ripped through Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Of course, none have been affected more than the residents there who have had their world turned upside down. And now we dreadfully await Rita's assault on Texas.

 

Living in dry central California (where we haven't even seen rain in four months) it's hard to fathom what is going on in the Gulf Coast states. TV images and newspaper reports seem so inadequate, even as they shock us with the devastation. And, for those of us not living in the area, it's hard to know what to do to assist people living many miles away.

 

Unfortunately, the evacuation and relief efforts have been marred by bureacratic bunglings and ineptness. Compounding the situation is the divisive climiate in our nation, resulting in those on both sides who are getting caught up in political posturing. On the positive side, however, is the rallying together of people in the U.S. and around the world to support the relief efforts through financial contributions and volunteer assistance.

 

So, what has been the involvement of the Church of God in this catastrophe?

 

From all accounts, it appears that we have responded with action. Congregations in the ara are doing the best they can with whatever resources available to them. Some church camps have been housing evacuees. Church of God Ministries has been coordinating efforts at a national level. And, individuals and congregations (e.g. read the story of Winton Road First Church of God, Fairfield, OH at dodgeparkcog) have been doing extraordinary things in an effort to help.

 

I cannot be critical of our response, mainly because I am not fully aware of all the details, and secondly, because my own response is paltry in comparison to what others have done.

 

My point of interest is the future. These tragedies have reinforced the need for us to become actively involved in human needs around us. Here are some initial thoughts for further consideration:

 

- Relief and service efforts are best delivered by those closest to the ground (i.e. local congregations in the area, if possible).

- Most local congregations are poorly equipped for mobilizing people for service within the community, especially during times of devastation. Churches that have a missional outlook are probably better able to respond. In other words, if service to the world is already part of our congregational culture it will be more natural for us to respond during times of calamity. (This is an important lesson for me, as I question how my congregation will respond when the "big" earthquake hits California).

- We must avoid the temptation to centralize our relief efforts in Anderson. While Church of God Ministries can assist through communication and coordination, the last thing we need is a new level of bureacracy expected to do what should be happening at the local level.

 

Our prayers remain for the many people affected by these hurricanes, and now even for those fleeing in Texas. I trust that we can all say that we will continue our service in the name of Jesus.

 

Reaching a New Generation

Occasionally I will highlight a recently read book that might be of benefit to others in our movement.

I didn't intend for this blog to become a journal of book reviews. But, I do a lot of reading, and can't resist wanting to recommend those writings that others might find helpful.

I almost didn't read Reaching a New Generation. It's one of the many books in my library that I haven't' read (although I'm working on it!) because I tend to acquire books at a faster rate than I can read. What moved this book to the top of my reading list was the author, Alan Roxburgh, who I heard for the first time at a seminar early this year. Roxburgh is one of the most significant leaders in the missional church movement, and is one of its deepest thinkers.

It was probably the title, Reaching a New Generation, and subtitle, "Strategies for Tomorrow's Church" that previously had kept this book lower on the stack. It sounded too much like a book about reaching Gen X'ers (which is why I bought it in the first place a few years back), and I'm tired of "strategy" books full of programs and ideas that are hardly transferable to my setting. Unfortunately, these titles are very poor indicators of what to find between the covers. It's not just about the younger generations, and is weak on what we normally call strategy. A more accurate title would serve the book better.

Reaching a New Generation is a relatively short book (140 pages with notes and index!), but is a rich discussion on the shifts that are taking place in our culture, and how the church can appropriately respond. Certainly other authors have tackled these issues with greater depth, but few have packaged it as succinctly as Roxburgh. After reading this profound book you should not be able to help but ponder on how our theology can speak to the questions being asked with our society.

After describing the changing worldviews around us, and the rejection of modernity and Christianity, Roxburgh asks, "How will the Gospel be Heard?" (page 63). He goes on to emphasize that "the mission strategy for each congregation must, increasingly, be shaped by the values, needs and style of its context" (p. 65). In order to do this we must learn to listen and see what is going in the culture around us, and then construct a local theology that allows us to "learn to read Scripture with the eyes of our context, allowing the Bible to engage the culture and reshape the congregations' self-understanding. Strategies for evangelism grow out of this engagement, as such a gospel encounter calls for the congregation's own transformation and conversion as well as the culture's" (page 73).

But, this book is not an abstract discussion. Roxburgh goes on to apply these insights to three of the most significant trends emerging in our society: the ecological crisis, the hunger for community, and the quest for spiritual transcendence. Those living in insulated Christian sub-cultures may have trouble seeing the primacy of these issues, but an honest look around us will show that Roxburgh is both accurate in his assessments and insightful in his theology.

If you are at all concerned about the mission of the church, this is one of the books to add to your reading list and to actually read!

What foundation?

Here are two diagrams, from Thoughts from the Cheap Seats, that contrast the difference between traditional and missional churches. Quite straightforward.

 

 

 

 

Where the Saints Have Trod

Occasionally I will highlight a recently read book that might be of benefit to others in our movement

I love shopping for books. While at the North American Convention in June I forced myself to browse through the disheveled stacks in the Reformation Publishers tent, just in case I could find a gem in the rough. I was pleasantly surprised to find a normally out-of-print book that I had read years earlier during research for my Master's thesis: WWhere the Saints Have Trod: A Social History of the Church of God Reformation Movement by Val Clear (Midwest Publications, 1977).

Val Clear was a professor of Sociology at what was Anderson College when he wrote this book. His intent was to examine our movement from a sociological perspective, and in comparison to other emerging religious movements. Clear starts with the assumption that "All social institutions arise out of their environments, but none is more closely related to the soil in which it grows than a Christian church" (p. 1). He then goes on to demonstrate how the Church of God transitioned itself over the years to become an organization much more closely resembling a denomination than a movement. This change occurred over many years, and can be summarized in the following stages:

1. Social unrest; milling about

2. A leader appears and defines the issues.

3. A self-conscious minority emerges and rallies around the leader.

4. The parent body rejects the idea of the new group and separation takes place.

5. The new group is isolated.

6. The new group is institutionalized.

7. Sophistication develops.

8. Unrest anew; milling about. (p. 10)

Writing from the vantage point of the 1970's Dr. Clear pegged our movement at stage seven, suggesting that there were "only undercurrents of dissension" (p. 180). We had reached the "quietude of middle age", but were trying to find our "raison d'etre ... in a world that has changed rapidly". (p. 180).

Almost thirty years have passed since the publication of this important book. The insights are valuable for anyone who wants to better understand our movement, and there are critical implications for us today. I, for one, believe that we have moved closer to stage eight, not only because of our own organizational dynamics, but also because of the shifting religious and secular environments around us. In light of this, what can we learn from Clear?

First, we must be honest about the social influences that have shaped us. We cannot continue to assume that we function as a true movement.

Second, it would be good for us to assess current movements through Clear's template. In particular, the Emergent movement has the potential to be one of the most significant Christian developments in over a century. A growing number from within the Church of God are resonating with this trend. Clear's insights can help us be better prepared for these movemental changes within and around us.

If you can find a copy of Where the Saints Have Trod, I urge you to read it.

Hurricane Katrina

In case you haven't seen this from Church of God Ministries ...

 

Hurricane Katrina has devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States, hitting Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama particularly hard. The Disaster Relief Committee has met to plan our relief efforts. While specific information is not yet available, with 175 Church of God congregations in these three Gulf states, it is inevitable that numerous churches and individuals will need assistance with both emergency relief and long-term recovery. Assistance with flood damage may also be needed in southern Florida.

 

The anticipated emergency relief needs along the Gulf Coast are great. Compassionate Ministries, a ministry of Church of God Ministries, Inc., is now collecting money for emergency relief needs. Funds will be distributed through the state offices and local Churches of God in affected states.

 

If you would like to help with hurricane relief, you may give online with your credit card at www.chog.org or send checks made payable to "Church of God Ministries" to Church of God Ministries, PO Box 2420, Anderson, IN  46018-2420. Please write "Hurricane Relief, Project 45.04502" on your memo line.

 

Updates will be made available via the Church of God Ministries Web site at www.chog.org as more information becomes available.

 

For more information on giving, visit www.chog.org or call Obadiah Smith, Compassionate Ministries coordinator, at 800-848-2464, ext 2165.