CHOG Convention 2014
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July 2014 In this issue CHOG Convention 2014: A New CHOG Convention 2014: A New Day for the Church of God, 1 Day for the Church of God IYC2014 Brings Lives InTUNE with Holy Spirit, 2 By Carl Stagner Café Neustart, Pink Door Berlin n Isaiah 43:19, the Lord’s message is to love, and commissioned to serve, the Offer Hope to Victims of Sex heard loud and clear: “See, I am doing Church of God once again embraced Jesus’ Trafficking, 3 a new thing! Now it springs up; do you mission to seek and save the lost, to bring Convention Snapshots, 4 Inot perceive it?” (nlt). What was true for life more abundant, to serve, and to destroy Jamaican Couple Blessed to Be Bold, 5 Judah and Jerusalem still rings true for the the works of the Devil. CHOG Convention 2014 Opening Church of God today. The same Creator Two major initiatives were presented at Day: Refocusing on the Subject, 6 who brought new life to the Israelites gen- CHOG Convention 2014, each designed to CHOG Convention 2014: Tuesday erations ago is still making all things new. change the world and reclaim what Hell has Turns a Page in Our Unfolding Church of God Convention 2014 signaled stolen. CHOG TraffickLight was formed to Story, 7 the onset of a new day, and the creation of intentionally respond to the global epidemic CHOG Convention 2014: Wednesday new life, for the 134-year-old movement. of sex trafficking. Framed by the riveting Wrap-Up, Thursday Thoughts, 8 “Jesus is the subject” was the drumbeat. story of the Shelter—a 100-year-old Church Introducing Missionaries Elect, 9–10 “Be bold” was the motif. Across four anoint- of God orphanage in Cuttack, India—the A Conversation with the Man Behind 70,000 Church Plants, 10 ed days at Crossings Community Church vision to rescue women and children from Church of God Ministries Unveils in Oklahoma City, the Holy Spirit orches- the sex trade at home and abroad prompted New Website, 12 trated a brand new symphony that echoed an unplanned offering on Wednesday. Lead- the dynamic strains of the earliest days of ers were encouraged to accept a “1,000 X Subscribe our movement. Called to action, compelled continued on page 11 To subscribe to this e-newsletter, please go to www. chog.org/ chognews-subscribe. Your news To submit news items regarding your church, district, state/regional assembly, or organization for possible use in CHOGnews, send an e-mail to [email protected] along with a short summary, including contact information. For the most up-to-date news, go to www.chognews.org C MYK / .ai Church of God Convention 2014 crowd packed inside the main sanctuary at Crossings Church in Okla- homa City. CHOGnews 1 July 2014 IYC2014 Brings Lives InTUNE with Holy Spirit By Carl Stagner he Church of God knows IYC2014 is all about life change. Every time students Tgather together for the International Youth Convention, they encounter the Holy Spirit’s comforting, compelling, and convicting presence. This year was no different, as thousands of stu- dents made first-time commitments to Christ, renewed commitments to Christ, received calls to ministry, and experienced freedom from a variety of personal struggles. Students and leaders alike accepted the Galatians 5:25 chal- lenge to live InTUNE with purpose, purity, power, and people. Before the lights, the bands, and Bridgetown of Warner Pacific College at IYC2014. crowds, the heart of IYC had already begun. Before IYC, Church of God and, thanks to recent expansions, in one season of ABC’s The Bachelorette, took youth groups take advantage of the room. Music performed by Anthem the stage to share their testimony of opportunity to take part in work proj- Lights, Alanna Story, and Passion with purity. A range of conferences directly ects—this year through the IYC Mission Kristian Stanfill reached decibels only confronted issues of relevance to Church Experience and Lead222. From June matched by the echoing of five thousand of God students, including sexual puri- 29 until the start of the convention, voices raising the roof and ten thousand ty, relationships, and sharing faith at students began a work in the greater hands clapping. When the enthusiasm school. National recording artist For Nashville area. Even before the conven- of thousands of students boil over into King and Country presented a concert tion began, God began a work in these rhythmic jumping, it’s hardly a stretch for a packed house, and the ever-popular students’ hearts. to imagine its impact on the Richter and always-funny Skit Guys brought the During every worship service, enthu- scale—yes, the floor actually did shake! house down. siasm for God spread contagiously But InTUNE with the Spirit, these IYC2014 students did not leave host through the auditorium at the Gaylord students knew when to dial it back a city Nashville without leaving a mark. Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennes- notch. Can you imagine thousands of On Monday afternoon, IYC attendees see, where students worshiped en masse teenagers taking a stroll at 9:45 at night dispersed across the Nashville area and in complete silence? During the Silent made an impact on the community for Walk on Monday, July 7, that’s exactly Christ that students and many Nashville what they did. And perhaps as powerful residents will never forget. Students as the silent prayers that students offered cleaned up parks, beautified schools, was the chance to hear the voice of the prepared housing units for low-income Spirit above the noise of everyday life. families, shared the gospel, and packed David Nasser, Becky Tirabassi, 75,000 meals to combat global hunger. Kyle Idleman, and Greg Stier Additionally, Church of God students delivered impassioned messages gave nearly $64,000 for Spread the Word. that resonated with today’s youth. IYC2014 left an impact on students, Though not advertised, Sidewalk leaders, hotel staff, and the city of Prophets and Bridgetown made Nashville. From July 5 to 8, souls were guest appearances. One of the big- brought into harmony with God, broken gest surprises came when Sean and chords were restored, and hearts were Catherine Lowe, of the seventeenth brought InTUNE with the Holy Spirit. CHOGnews 2 July 2014 Café Neustart, Pink Door Berlin Offer Hope to Victims of Sex Trafficking By Rhonda Philips aughter and talking can be heard outreach, (6) through advice and help coming from a small unassum- from a staff social worker, and (7) by ing café in Berlin, Germany. rescuing women from sexual exploita- ButL as one enters this café, it is obvious tion and human trafficking. that it is not just another quaint Euro- As women with different life situa- pean café. This café is filled with only tions come to us for help to get off the women, and they are speaking different street, I see a missing link in the process languages. Christian music is playing in to help them transition into a dramati- the background, and each woman enter- cally different, free, and sustainable life. ing is met with a warm greeting and a After much prayer and research, I am hug from those who work in this café. in the beginning stages of founding This is Café Neustart, a Jesus-centered a new organization called Pink Door café located directly on the main pros- Berlin. The mission of Pink Door Berlin titution street in Berlin. Neustart was is to build a bridge to a life of freedom, started almost seven years ago and has health, and sustainability for survi- Missionary family to Germany: Kelley, Rhon- da, and Christian Philips. seen many changes on the street during vors of human trafficking and sexual those years. Traditionally, the street was exploitation. We will accomplish this in Berlin, and even the rest of Germany, lined with German women, some with by becoming experts in a professional, who work in this area. Together we are drug addictions. Today, thousands of holistic approach to transition for these definitely stronger! A young German eastern European women are the major- women and also by positively affect- woman named Marie-Lisanne Wilker ity, of which less than 10 percent are ing the lives of their children, a new and I are partners in this project. We German women, many with addictions. generation. Our first phase is opening also have at least six other Christian Prostitution in Germany has been a Christian transition home where the women who are part of our team. legal for more than ten years, making it women will be nurtured and cared for Please pray for the work of Neustart a normal profession and normalized in in a Christ-centered environment. Of Café, as well as the new formation and German life. Berlin alone has more than course, we are more into cooperation development of Pink Door Berlin. We four hundred brothels and clubs, as well than competition; therefore, we will be hope to open the transition home in the as several prostitution streets. Neustart’s closely connected with all organizations last months of 2014. ministry focuses on Kurfürstenstraße and the surrounding area. The women on the streets are there due to myriad of reasons: addiction, human trafficking, dire economic conditions in their home country, illiteracy and lack of education- al opportunities, as well as traumatic and dysfunctional histories. Neustart accomplishes its mission in several ways: (1) by serving free coffee and tea along with food in the wom- en-only café, (2) by making available Christian literature in several languages, as well as information on social services available in Berlin, (3) by offering prayer and the liberating message of Jesus, (4) through relationship and friendship with café workers, (5) through street CHOGnews 3 July 2014 Convention Snapshots 1 2 3 4 5 1.