ABOUT
THE CHURCH OF GOD
GENERAL CONFERENCE
WHAT THIS MEANS TO YOU
We are living in an age of crisis when all thinking persons are contemplating world events and their present and future place in the scheme of things. With the threat of war, morality and ethics at a low ebb, and economic uncertainty, no person can long hide his head in the sand and say, “This does not affect me.”
The Church of God can help each person find a place in this life and a secure hope for the future. Standing upon the promises of God and trusting implicitly in the grace of God, the believer can find a solid foundation for this life and for life in the age to come.
With confidence in the ability of God to lead and bless His own even in crisis times, and with assurance in the promises of God for a better day to come, the child of God has a distinct advantage in this life. With proper understanding of the Word and will of God, the Christian also has a challenging and rewarding work in this life to witness for the Lord in life and word. Christ offers to the believer a full, rich life now, and hope for an eternal life in the perfect Kingdom of God on earth in the age to come.
The Church of God can help you find the way to this new life and the stability that it offers. It does not offer psychology or philosophy or schemes for social reform or legislative proposals or the solutions of authors, but the plan and will of God revealed in His Word, the Bible, presented in an easy to understand and practical way.
If you attend a Church of God, you will find the people are friendly, dedicated, and interested in the spiritual welfare of their neighbors. Services emphasize worship, Bible study, and Bible-based sermons. You will find a friendly welcome and great personal benefit in the Church of God.
WHO WE ARE
The Church of God as it is known today came into being as small groups of individuals in England and North America who, through personal Bible study, became convinced of the doctrinal truths that are set forth as the Statement of Faith. In most cases, these groups and their leaders did not even know of the existence of the others.
In the mid-1800s, however, some of the leaders, Joseph Marsh in Rochester, New York, the Wilson family who had migrated from England to Geneva, Illinois, and other leaders in Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, began to publish papers which gained wide circulation. Through these publications the small groups of Bible students and individuals became aware of one another and began to exchange correspondence. Circuit preachers visited back and forth among these various local groups, and new churches soon grew up in other places.
Over a period of years, groups of churches formed state conferences and eventually a General Conference was organized in 1921.
Churches of God are congregational in government. They maintain complete local independence. There is close cooperation, however, in the maintaining of publishing facilities, the operation of Atlanta Bible College, and the mission programs of the Church of God. There are established standards for the ministry, cooperation in the work of the Sunday schools and the Berean youth fellowships, and close fellowship between the scattered members of the Church of God.
The Church of God places great emphasis upon the Word of God, and Bible preaching and teaching are prominent. Bible classes and Bible study groups are the backbone of its work.
To better understand our faith and beliefs please visit “Our Beliefs“.