The year was AD 30. The place was Jerusalem. We call the day Pentecost because God's Church was established that day. The Holy Spirit came in a new and unusual way to indwell and empower the followers of Jesus Christ--both to bless their lives and to make them a blessing to all peoples of the earth. Luke, Paul, and Timothy refer often in scripture to this universal Church* that Jesus Christ founded and keeps in the name of his Father.

Since that day, believers in various groups at various times have been called by an assortment of names. In 1881, one particular group chose the name Church of God because that is what they sought to be. Today we are sometimes collectively known as the Church of God reformation movement with North American general offices in Anderson, Indiana.

The Church of God (Anderson) consists of 6,586 local congregations with 592,188 Christians in eighty-nine nations of the world. More than 46,626 new believers were born into the Kingdom through the ministry of the Church of God in this last year. Together, we will venture to disciple 100,000 new believers in 1,000 new congregations by the end of the year 2000.

Wesleyan in theology, we seek to emphasize the unity of all those who follow Jesus Christ, whatever the name of their church group. We are also convinced that what we believe should make a difference in how we live. We attempt to serve and honor Christ by being faithful disciples, living out his Lordship as we understand it from scripture and are led by the Holy Spirit.

God is doing some marvelous things in and through the live of Church of God people around the world. As you read these pages, we hope you will sense the commitment and character of this company of people who feel and claim a direct link with the Church initiated by Jesus Christ on the Day of Pentecost.

 

*Acts 20:28; Galations 1:13, I Corinthians 1:2, I Corinthians 10:32, I Corinthians 11:22, I Corinthians 15:9, II Corinthians 1:1, I Timothy 3:5.

This articles was taken from the Life & Ministry of the Church of God, 1997 issue, published by the Leadership Council of the Church of God, P.O. Box 2420, 1303 East Fifth Street, Anderson, Indiana 46018-2420.

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