General Assembly 2008: TEXAS STYLE
The Church of God General Assembly was one of the best I have attended! The services, business meetings, Teen Talent, Lee University Alumni get together, etc were all wonderful. The Spirit of the Lord was wrenching hearts to the point that it reminded me of a quote from the book "Like A Mighty Army." Dr. Charles Conn says that the spirit was moving and "GROWN MEN CRIED." In our business meeting the Spirit convicted hearts, called for the body to repent, and blew a fresh wind over us. I know in my spirit that God was giving us a Malachi 4 move. Malachi 4 reminds us that in the last day God will send the Spirit and will turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children and the hearts of the children back to the fathers! This was taking place at our Assembly. I feel like hearts merged for the greater good and progress is taking place!
I enjoyed all of the services but the World Missions service was special to me. Seeing how the Church of God is in 169 countries and the Word of God is piercing darkness just moved me to the point that this grown "boy" :) cried. I wept during the parade of flags as Ken and Karen Anderson moderated. This was truly a God moment for me as I watched missionaries and delegates from all over the world poor into the Alamo Dome. To think that I have a small part of this brings me to tears. I know I am not on the mission field with them but the money I give, the prayers I pray , as well as the other resources are there! God bless World Missions! I am truly blessed to know our denomination has such a strong missions department!
This mak
es me wonder, with all of the talk of cutting the tithe of tithe, if we as ministers feel as if our local church is more important than the (for the lack of better terms) the holistic church. I am just chewing on some of this stuff. I hope our motives are pure! I am really struggling with this whole issue but am excited b/c I trust our G.O. and the new committee to be fair and impartial. I feel like God ordered the steps of these men to lead us and restore us. I just hope our motives are pure and we are not just reacting to years of no action. I love the Church of God as it has given me a home and a vehicle for ministry. I have a sincere burden for it!
On a lighter note...Thanks to Gary Ray, Phil Cook, Paul Conn, and all of those who put the Lee Alumni party together! I was late to the get together and most had already left but I was able to meet up with some special people in my life who lingered! Brent and Sarah Stephens, Travis and Kelly (mail box stuffing is a federal crime!) Johnson... :) Josh and Joyce Lane, Phil Cook, Matthew and Jennifer Propes, Billy Humphrey, John and Lisa Lowery, and so many others!!!! (Sorry if I didn't name you but please its 3:30 am and I should be in bed!) I love seeing and reconnecting with old friends!
Teen Talent seemed to go over like p-nut butter! SMOOTH!! Some of the best talent I have heard and seen in sometime! I love teen talent. As a product of it, from my teenage years, at the Gap Hill Church of God and the best minister of music in the Church of God Danny Knight, Teen Talent holds a special place in my heart! Danny played a major role in my life and instilled into me a love for music. He has a few gray hairs with my name on them :) but his constant love and support played a major role in who I am today. We had a teenager from North Walhalla in Teen Talent and we supported him but Melissa and I found ourselves going to watch students who were not apart of us b/c we just love it! The awards ceremony was PHENOMENAL! Excitement still fills the air when the emcee takes the mike! One could fill the electricity in the air when he/she sees all of the state flags, banners, t-shirts etc flying and being paraded as the ceremony begins.
Oh yea since I am taking of all of the feelings that overwhelm one at teen talent, we can't forget the feeling of seeing chubby 30-50+ year old state youth directors chasing the teen talent winners and runner-ups from their state up to the stage to have the picture made! (I can say that b/c I'm chubby) There is no sight any more funny than seeing grown men who have not run in YEARS trying to sprint to the stage and keep up with a teenager or an entire youth group running! I Love It!!!
Great Assembly this year and I look forward to Orlando in 2010! So until then...lets watch and pray!!!
3 comments:
While I am sure that there was a genuine move of God, especially in the Executive Committee elections, the sin against women in the church of God continues. Many daughters were hurt, (once again) at the refusal of the General Council to acknowledge the gifts and calling of women for leadership on the local level.
Cheryl
Thank you, Scott, for your play-by-play commentary on the GA. It was a great one and I know that you expressed the sentiments of many of us. It was a blessing. We were thrilled that some of our Alaska ministers/wives/lady ministers were able to be there for their FIRST GA. They were so richly blessed, encouraged, felt more connected, and made aware of this tremendous movement of which they are a part. Like you, and as it has been for years now, Teen Talent was a highlight for me. After competing myself, #%$# years ago, going through with each of my own children and hundreds of teens from our states when we were in state youth work, and now with our grandchildren and teens from Alaska, I still love it! And, by the way, 3 of our granddaughters were NATIONAL WINNERS! We also had the first competitors ever from Alaska in drama. Are we proud, or what?!? Thank you, Scott, for the great blog. You also make us very proud! WE praise God for young men and women like you and Melissa whom God has raised up for such a time as this. Love you, Man!
I just wish I had been there!! I loved the re-cap.
Scott, Kelly's name has no e before the y! Get it right knot head!
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