how the resurrection changes

12
Christian Education is an integral and invaluable aspect of the mandate and mission of the Christian church. The history of the Christian church is grounded upon the teachings of Jesus and the apostles as commanded in Matthew 28:19-20. "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." The early church made Bible teaching part of its core ministries. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine [teaching] and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42). “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ” (Acts 5:42). According to the Ephesians passage, “It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors, and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”(Ephesians 4:11-13). Paul carried on an active teaching ministry. “For a whole year they assembled with the church and taught a great many people” (Acts 11:26). “And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them” (Acts 18:11). Teaching is one of the spiritual gifts given to people in the church (Romans 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28). One of the qualifications of a pastor is that he must be “able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2). Paul instructed Timothy to take what others had taught him and “commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). The New Testament clearly portrays the important role of Christian Education in a local church. Christian Education may also be said to be a Christ centered, Bible-based process by which the church develops in community, and believers are led to spiritual maturity to engage in the mission and ministry of Christ in the church and in the world. Christian Education is grounded in God’s revelation to us as contained in the Bible. It is a process of bringing individuals from a place of initial belief in the Lordship of Jesus to accepting His rule and reign in every area of their lives. The process continues to take these individuals (who may be regarded as disciples) along a path of growth towards Christian maturity where they themselves begin a path of spiritual reproduction. With the mandate to teach, the Department of Christian Education will be responsible for organizing and administering the educational ministries and activities within the member congregations of the House of God, which is the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, Pillar & Ground of the Truth, Inc. Since the Christian Education Ministry co-labors with other ministries within the church and community with the purpose of giving individuals the opportunity to learn and demonstrate the fullness of Christian love and attributes toward others, the following are areas of ministry covered by the Christian Education Department: the Sunday School, Holy Young People’s Bible Class, Youth Congress and School of Ministry. The Christian Education Department will offer workshops, seminars, conferences, and conventions to help develop effective skills in Christian Education and those striving for a closer walk with the Lord.

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Christian Education is an integral and invaluable

aspect of the mandate and mission of the Christian

church. The history of the Christian church is

grounded upon the teachings of Jesus and the

apostles as commanded in Matthew 28:19-20. "Go

ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them

in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of

the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all

things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo,

I am with you always, even unto the end of the

world."

The early church made Bible teaching part of its

core ministries. “And they continued steadfastly in

the apostles’ doctrine [teaching] and fellowship, in

the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

“And daily in the temple, and in every house, they

did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the

Christ” (Acts 5:42). According to the Ephesians

passage, “It was He who gave some to be apostles,

some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and

some to be pastors, and teachers, to prepare God’s

people for works of service, so that the body of

Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the

faith and in attaining to the whole measure of the

fullness of Christ”(Ephesians 4:11-13).

Paul carried on an active teaching ministry. “For a

whole year they assembled with the church and

taught a great many people” (Acts 11:26). “And he

continued there a year and six months, teaching the

word of God among them” (Acts 18:11).

Teaching is one of the spiritual gifts given to people

in the church (Romans 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28). One of

the qualifications of a pastor is that he must be

“able to teach” (1 Tim. 3:2). Paul instructed

Timothy to take what others had taught him and

“commit these to faithful men who will be able to

teach others also” (2 Tim. 2:2). The New Testament

clearly portrays the important role of Christian

Education in a local church.

Christian Education may also be said to be a Christ centered, Bible-based process by which the church develops in community, and believers are led to spiritual maturity to engage in the mission and ministry of Christ in the church and in the world. Christian Education is grounded in God’s revelation to us as contained in the Bible. It is a process of bringing individuals from a place of initial belief in the Lordship of Jesus to accepting His rule and reign in every area of their lives. The process continues to take these individuals (who may be regarded as disciples) along a path of growth towards Christian maturity where they themselves begin a path of spiritual reproduction. With the mandate to teach, the Department of Christian Education will be responsible for organizing and administering the educational ministries and activities within the member congregations of the House of God, which is the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, Pillar & Ground of the Truth, Inc. Since the Christian Education Ministry co-labors with other ministries within the church and community with the purpose of giving individuals the opportunity to learn and demonstrate the fullness of Christian love and attributes toward others, the following are areas of ministry covered by the Christian Education Department: the Sunday School, Holy Young People’s Bible Class, Youth Congress and School of Ministry. The Christian Education Department will offer workshops, seminars, conferences, and conventions to help develop effective skills in Christian Education and those striving for a closer walk with the Lord.

HOW THE RESURRECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING!

By Adrian Warnock

He’s Alive! Although we talk about the death of Jesus often, for

some reason we have tended to only mention the

resurrection at Easter time. Christians sometimes

even say Jesus died to save us without mentioning

that he also rose for our salvation. It’s time to

redress the balance a bit and talk more about

Jesus’s death and resurrection.

For Christians all over the world, every Sunday is

Resurrection Sunday. We meet each week, among

other things, in order to celebrate the glorious,

wondrous fact that Jesus rose from the dead.

Jesus’s resurrection really did change everything. It

changed the cross from a tragedy into a triumph,

and it changed the Roman Empire into a Christian

state. This was the most powerful divine event in

the history of creation, and it ushered in a new age

of the Holy Spirit’s activity and power in saving and

transforming lives.

The Heart of Christianity

When considering if Christianity is true, it all boils

down to whether Jesus rose from the dead. The

lives of Christians today demonstrate that the

resurrection is still changing people. It changes fear

into love, despair into joy. The resurrection changes

people from being spiritually dead to being alive to

God. It changes guilty condemnation into a

celebration of forgiveness and freedom. It changes

anxiety into a hope that goes beyond the grave. It

can change our sinful hearts so they want to follow

the Lord Jesus, and the power of the resurrection is

relentlessly killing sin in every true Christian.

Because we neglect to emphasize this truth, many

Christians have a meager expectation of the extent

to which we can today experience resurrection life

and victory over sin. The resurrection is far from

being something we only benefit from in the future!

THE RESURRECTION

We hold so close to our hearts the cross where Jesus

died, but so much more than the blood-stained

cross is that Jesus came back to life.

The stone’s been rolled away; the tomb lay open

and bare – they looked for Him, and then the angel

said that He is no longer here. Oh, what joy they

must have felt to see Him just once more, to eat

with Him, to drink with Him, to receive Him back as

Lord.

So much did He accomplish through His death upon

the cross, and in His rising from the dead, He

reconciled us back to God.

Nothing else could bridge the gap that sin had

wrenched apart – Now we can freely go to God and

receive Christ in our hearts. © By M.S.Lowndes

***

“An Empty Tomb”

***

Church of the Living God Ministerial

Conference of Bishops, Elders,

Pastors & Ministers

March 20-22, 2019

Holiday Inn Raleigh North Midtown 2805 Highwood Blvd.

Raleigh, NC

Holiday Inn was the site of the Ministerial

Conference of the Church of the Living God, Pillar &

Ground of the Truth, Inc. under the leadership of

our newly-elected President General, Bishop Ivy

Ann Hopkins.

The Ministerial Conference is the gathering of

Bishops, Elders, Pastors, & Ministers designed to

help churches and individuals be more intentional

and effective in their ministry.

The Theme: “Our Vision, Our Mission, Our Purpose”

was developed throughout the Conference.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

7:00 p.m. – Bishops Meet

Thursday, March 21, 2019

8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Prayer & Meditation

9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Bishops’ & Pastors’ Session

1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. – Vision, Mission, & Purpose

for CLG

President General, Bishop Ivy A. Hopkins, laid out

the vision, mission, and purpose for the Church of

the Living God, Inc.

Vision Statement The Church of the Living God (CLG) is committed to working together to become one heart and mind, just as God and Jesus are one, and Jesus prayed for His disciples and us to become one. This oneness will motivate CLG to have greater impact in meeting the challenges of a godless world.

Mission Statement

The Church of the Living God’s mission is to seek

and to save the lost, by engaging in the work of

evangelism, discipleship, benevolence, and

education.

Purpose Statement

Our purpose is to be believers committed to the

Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

Thursday, March 21, 2019

4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Christian Education

After remarks from Bishop Bertha Jones, Liaison

Bishop of the Christian Education Department; Rev.

Dr. Geraldine Crystal, Director of Christian

Education, distributed the 89th General Assembly

workshops feedback. Dr. Crystal also distributed

the 90th General Assembly workshop options for

review, and an interest survey to determine the

workshops most desirable for presentation.

Dr. Crystal also informed the group that she would

be conducting Foreign Mission training at the

National Foreign Mission Convention in Pooler, GA.

The missions training will be Missiology (the study

of missions) and Evangelism and Discipleship (the

relationship between Evangelism and Discipleship).

Dr. Crystal, the current CLG Chaplain Commissioner,

talked briefly about the Chaplaincy Department.

Chaplaincy training is available for those who are

interested in certification or endorsement as a

Chaplain. Chaplains may be certified as in-house

chaplains even if they have not yet obtained a

Bachelor’s degree. However, they will not receive

ecclesiastical endorsement until educational

requirements are met. If you are interested in the

Chaplaincy Program, please contact Dr. Crystal at

[email protected].

Bishop Naomi Barber, Moderator of the Ministerial

Conference, and Rev. Dr. Geraldine Crystal

Bishop Naomi Barber, Pastor, Overflowing Love,

CLG, National Foreign Mission Liaison, & Presiding

Prelate, MA & RI Diocese

Thursday, March 21, 2019

7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Ministry Time

Bishop-Elect Jesse White, Pastor, First Church of the

Living God, Hartford, Connecticut

Bishop-Elect Jesse White Jr. was born in

Phoenixville, PA in January of 1954. He migrated to

Connecticut at the age of two due to his father’s

first Pastorate.

He attended schools in Waterbury and Hartford, CT.

He attended Hartford State Technical college where

he studied Civil Engineering Technology. He also

attended United Holy Church of America Bible

School and has taken courses at the Gordon

Conwell Center for Urban Ministerial Education in

Boston.

A resident of Windsor, CT., Bishop-Elect White has

been the Pastor of the First Church of the Living God

of Hartford for the past 11 years. His passion is

winning and developing souls for Christ. He is the

husband of one wife, Elder Lorraine White, for

twenty seven years and the father of two sons.

Bishop-Elect Jesse White’s subject at the Ministerial

Conference was “Preaching in Concert.” Every

house divided against itself cannot stand. There is

power in unity. When the people of God come

together and be unified, there is influence.

In Session

In Session

Friday, March 22, 2019

8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Prayer & Meditation

9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Write the Vision, Mission,

& Purpose Statements – Elder Dr. Shelia Y. Smalley

Elder Dr. Shelia Smalley, Pastor of Macedonia

Church of the Living God, Leesburg, Florida, has

been in ministry 41 years. Dr. Smalley shares her

various talents and skills with the local, state, and

national churches in various capacities.

Dr. Smalley has trained over 700 managers and

6,800 non-instructional personnel in Orlando,

Florida.

Dr. Smalley conducted the 2-session workshop to

assist pastors and leaders in writing their vision,

mission, and purpose statements that would line up

with the vision outlined by President General

Bishop Ivy A. Hopkins.

Dr. Smalley presented Macedonia Church of the

Living God, Inc.’s vision, mission, purpose, and

value statements as an example. The Vision and

Mission in Action (VMA) for 2018-19 was also made

available to the pastors and leaders.

The workshops were very stimulating and

interactive.

Friday, March 22, 2019

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Write the Vision, Mission, &

Purpose (Continuation)

Friday, March 22, 2019

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. – Encouraging Pastors

Apostle Dr. Bishop Carlton Williams

Bishop Carlton Williams presented a workshop to

encourage CLG pastors. He emphasized to “keep

Jesus the center of focus in the church.”

Bishop Williams said to protect your Sabbath—your

Sabbath can better protect you. You will wear out

quickly without a day or week to rejuvenate. God

designed us this way. Take advantage of His

provision. Take time to rest.

Bishop Williams also talked about balance in

ministry. In order to have balance in ministry, there

should be balance in the distribution of authority

and tasks. One person should not be expected to

do everything.

Bishop Kathy Hughes, Presiding Prelate, Central

New York Diocese

Bishop Kathy Hughes came forth with explosive

words of encouragement. She talked about the

importance of meeting the needs of the people in

the church and ministry.

Friday, March 22, 2019

7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Ministry Time

Bishop Ralph D. Graves

Bishop Ralph D. Graves, Deliverance Temple

Restoration Ministries, Raleigh, North Carolina was

the preacher for the evening session.

Giving glory to God for having formally preached

for the past 40 years, Bishop Graves seeks to extend

the message of God’s love through Christ, reflecting

the divine care and provision of God.

Bishop Graves’ musical giftedness has allowed him

to reach beyond the region of his birth state, North

Carolina.

Bishop Graves’ greatest desire is to inspire all

people to develop a relationship with God rather

than religion from human bias; to cause the

wounded and the disillusioned to rediscover who

God really is, how God really loves and how true

believers in Christ can sincerely care.

Bishop Graves “put the icing on the cake”. He

brought forth a powerful word demonstrating the

importance of having a vision. His words were a

reinforcement of what had been emphasized

throughout the Ministerial Conference.

In Session

In Session

During the Ministerial Conference, plaques were

presented in honor of being elected to the Executive

Board of Bishops:

Bishop Ivy A. Hopkins, first female President

General of the Churches of the Living God, Inc.

From left: Bishop Nelson Lewis, Executive

Administrator; Bishop Bertha Jones, Executive

Administrator; and Bishop James Sherman, Vice

President General of the Churches of the Living God

***

Also, during the Ministerial Conference, Elder Kelly

Jones and First Lady Melissa Jones united with the

Church of the Living God.

The family of Bishop Ivy Hopkins in attendance at

the Ministerial Conference:

Ivy Hopkins-Clay, Deacon Curtis Hopkins, Bishop Ivy

Hopkins, and Elder Curtis Hopkins, Jr.

***

March 26th Inspiration From WARD Wisdom

Acquired Releases Deliverance

Deacon George Ward, former National Director of

CLG’s Department of Christian Education, said

“I’m still on a spiritual high from the CLG Bishops,

Pastors, and Elders Retreat in Raleigh”

“I will climb to my watchtower and stand at my

guard post….”

Habakkuk, an ancient prophet, is a strong example

for you to follow as you carry out your vision or

plans for your church, auxiliary, organization, or

denomination.

Be sure your vision, plan, mission, and purpose is

from God. Before moving forward, ask God to lead

you, then wait on Him. Don’t stop praying until He

gives you clear direction.

Communicate your vision clearly and

enthusiastically.

Persevere until your vision is accomplished,

believing fully that God will bring it to pass in His

time.

***

UPCOMING EVENTS

59th NATIONAL FOREIGN MISSION CONVENTION

MAY 13 – 17, 2019

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT Savannah Airport

419 Pooler Parkway

Pooler, Georgia

Reservations: 912-450-3300

During the National Foreign Mission Convention, two sessions of the Missions Training will be presented: Missiology and Evangelism & Discipleship.

The mission training program is designed to prepare Christian missionaries to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Practical guidance is given to aid in church planting, discipleship, and evangelism. This mission training is an attempt to further the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) of taking the Gospel around the world.

The entire training program consists of the following courses: Call to Missions, Missiology, Evangelism and Discipleship, Theology, Preaching and Teaching, Pastoral Ministry, Church Leadership

and Administration, Messianic Prophecy, and Apologetics.

***

The members of the Church of the Living God, Pillar and Ground of the Truth, along with the Pennsylvania United Diocese, proudly invites you to join us as we celebrate the installation of our newly-elected President General, Her Excellency Bishop Ivy Anne Hopkins.

This blessed occasion through worship and with God’s Word will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2019. Your presence will make this event a memorable experience for Bishop Hopkins, the National Church, as well as the Pennsylvania United Diocese.

The time and location of the Installation Service will be sent by formal invitation at a later date. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately following the service. The ticket cost, time, and location will also be forthcoming.

Additionally, we are also preparing a souvenir program booklet: full page, $100; half page, $50; quarter page, $25, and patrons/business card, $10. Your ads/congratulatory messages can be sent to Elder Shirley Williams at P.O. Box 12578, Chicago, IL 60612-9998 or e-mail: [email protected].

All inquiries can be directed to Bishop Naomi Barber, via phone: (860) 212-8339 or e-mail: [email protected].

***

NATIONAL YOUTH & MUSIC CONFERENCE

JULY 22 - 27, 2019

THE SHORES RESORT & SPA 2637 S. Atlantic Ave.

Daytona Beach, Florida

Reservations: 386-767-7350

90TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

OCTOBER 28, 2019 – NOVEMBER 2, 2019

Double Tree by Hilton at Sea World 10100 International Drive

Orlando, FL 32821

Reservations: 407-352-1100

THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, MOURNS THE LOSS OF EVANGELIST RUTH M. JOHNSON-HARVEY, WIFE OF BISHOP CLEVELAND HARVEY

We are in a place in this world for a limited time, and with the breath of the infant begins the race to the grave. A race everyone must run!

NOTE: To submit items for the quarterly Newsletter, please e-mail Rev. Dr. Geraldine Crystal @ [email protected]. We reserve the right to edit all submissions. Also, please take time to go to the National Christian Education Department website at www.clgchristian.com.