Churches of God, General Conference

08/31/2026

In this week's InDepth, University of Findlay Campus Ministry Assistant Director Alex Miller shares his story, reflecting on his journey to Winebrenner, his experiences with coursework, and his interactions with faculty and staff. He also discusses how his Winebrenner education has equipped him for a new season of ministry with students at UF.

To read more of Alex's story, click the link below! 👇

https://winebrenner.edu/2026/08/31/student-story-alex-miller-assistant-director-of-campus-ministries-the-university-of-findlay/

08/28/2026

Founded in 1911, Crossroads First Church of God of Fredericktown, Missouri will be 115 years old in 2026, and they are still innovating. Trying new things doesn’t come easy to churches, which are heavily influenced by culture and their institutional nature. That’s why it's always a joyful surprise when churches with more than a century of history continue to show flexibility and innovation.

We recently heard about two new ways that Crossroads First Church of God is stepping out of the walls of their church and meeting people where they are, and to tell that story we talked with Pastor Joseph Pogue.

The first new innovation is a lakeside service that the church has set up at the nearby Mine La Motte Lake and campsite. Held on Sunday morning before Crossroads' normal Sunday service, the lakeside service draws in a different crowd of people who often spend time at the lake on the weekends, camping in their RVs and mobile campers, and who aren’t likely to head back home in time to catch their home church’s service.

Read Pastor Joseph’s take on how this service came together below:

"Thank you for reaching out. As far as the Lakeside Worship Services at Mine La Motte Recreation Association, (a 59-acre private lake with 400 members and 90 plus RV camping sites). About a year or so ago the Holy Spirit began speaking to me about the need to have some type of Sunday morning service at the Lake. Honestly, for several months I argued with the Lord, telling Him that my schedule was already too busy, but the Holy Spirit kept speaking to me. Over the winter I asked one of my Elders about the idea and he thought that it was a great idea and that we ought to do it. We prayed about it, I bounced the idea off of Pastor Kendall, from there we began asking our Church about it and for it.

"The Lake opened on Easter weekend, so we put together a 7:00 am Sunrise Service at the Lake and cooked breakfast there at the Lake afterwards. That was our launch, then each Sunday morning since then, we have a 8:00 am Service at the Lake. Myself, other local pastors, some members, and some guests take turns preaching. We usually have a keyboard or guitar along with someone to lead a couple songs before the message. We have been live streaming it on Crossroads First Church of God page. We are averaging at least 500 views a week and have had weeks of 700, 800, and even 900 views. We've had Church Members, Lake Members and others reposting the services. The Lord has really blessed with this ministry. We intend to have services until October when the Lake closes."

While a lakeside service is neat, the true novelty of it comes in two small details. First, the service is actually ecumenical. Pastors from all around the region help lead and give the messages. Pastor Joseph realized that adding another service on top of his other responsibilities would just be too much. But that didn’t deter him from accomplishing what the Lord had put on his heart. Instead, he found a way to cooperate with other pastors and ministry leaders in the area to ensure they can bring the message of Jesus to people who need to hear it.

Crossroads First Church, Lakeside Service Posted by Crossroads First Church Live on August 2nd, 2026
That’s a kingdom mindset that we all need to remember. Our personal callings from God aren’t meant to be our own fiefdoms. Rarely does God expect us to carry out His mission on our own.

The second detail from that story is how a simple smart phone live stream has transformed a service on the lake into a powerful digital service. It may sound wild, but Crossroads lake services generate 10x to 20x more views online than they do in person. Thanks to the power of social media, the lakeside service in a small town is being viewed with mega-church numbers. Are those people coming to know the Lord? Are they really engaging the message? Truly, only the Lord knows. But we can say for sure that the church is reaching far beyond its walls, and it didn’t take the latest or fanciest technology to do it.

The second novel idea came from an unlikely source. The church decided a few years back to renovate the parsonage and turn it into a “Man cave” for Pastor Joseph. He was eager to have a place to have a quiet and relaxing space but it turned into much more. We’ll let him tell it:

"As far as the Man Cave, it started out as a getaway for myself, but it quickly evolved into an entertainment center with a very large table for friends and family to come over and fellowship. Shortly afterwards, my wife and I were discussing the idea of moving our Wednesday night Bible Study to the Man Cave for the purpose of trying to get young Christians to feel more comfortable and relaxed and be more open to ask questions and interact. It took off quickly, new people started coming to Bible Study who didn't come to our Church. Again, the Lord blessed and we have had 3 people who started out coming to Bible Study now attending Sunday School and Church on Sunday Mornings. We've had as many as 17 in the Man Cave and are working on ways to create more room because this has just begun.

"Also in the Man Cave, we are starting a Men's Ministry on Monday Nights. Myself and 6 other men are going to the Lake of the Ozarks to a Men's Encounter Men's Retreat this Weekend. They have an online Men's Meeting on Monday nights with Worship, Devotions, Lessons, Prayer Time and Small Group Breakouts. This is what we'll be hosting in the Man Cave on Monday Nights. We hope to open up an Ashes To Beauty Ladies Meeting soon as well. It will probably be hosted in the Living Room of the parsonage as we reach out to unchurched people with this ministry and hope to have a more inviting setting for them to ease into."

While the “Man Cave” is still on the church’s property, the simple change from a meeting room in the church to a comfortable space where people could relax and share a meal, drew in many more people than their Bible study had before. Likewise, Pastor Joseph shared with us that once the study ends, people end up sticking around for another half hour to forty-five minutes just hanging out and talking. The informality of the space has created room for people who wouldn’t usually attend a church to come with their friends and family, and be open to hear the Word.

In another conversation, Pastor Joseph shared with me that the inspiration for both of these ideas, and the willingness of the congregation to accept them, was planted a while ago. Pastor Kendall Hughes, director of the Western Region came to the church and shared about his time with the Exponential Multipliers Cohort, a group of pastors facilitated by the CGGC, learning how to innovate and try new ideas. Those ideas resonated with the church and have manifested in these new works.

If you or your pastor would like to be apart of the Exponential Multiplier Cohort, reach out to our office at [email protected].

We’re grateful to Pastor Joseph and to Crossroads First Church of God for sharing these exciting developments with us. We hope that our readers are as inspired as we are to find new ways to bring the message of Jesus to all who need to hear it.

CGGC eNews—Vol. 20, No. 35

Founded in 1911, Crossroads First Church of God of Fredericktown, Missouri will be 115 years old in 2026, and they are still innovating. Trying new things doesn’t come easy to churches, which are heavily influenced by culture and their...

08/21/2026

Brownsville, Pennsylvania has just been added to the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. With over 800 locations spread across 41 states, The Network to Freedom was created to “honor, preserve and promote the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight”, according to their website. Importantly, Brownsville Church of God’s cemetery has also been added to the list in the latest announcement.

The Network to Freedom national database can be found on the National Parks Service website below.

The press release states that, “Pastor Victor Johnson of the Brownsville Church of God, the cemetery team and the congregation rejoiced in the winning of these two prestigious awards.”

A portion of the press has been pasted below:

“The application for both the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom and for the PHMC State Historical Marker are part of an ongoing collaboration between the Brownsville Church of God and the Shippensburg University History Department.

Together, the student, faculty, and community members worked together to document the rich history of the Brownsville community and the Brownsville Church of God from their founding to the present day. Shippensburg University students conducted oral histories, searched historic archives and newspapers, and undertook hands-on fieldwork, including remote sensing to locate unmarked graves in the Brownsville Church of God Cemetery. Using the materials collected, Shippensburg University Professor of History Dr. Steven Burg and Applied History graduate students wrote the successful applications for both the PHMC State Historical Marker and the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.

Dr. Burg noted, “It has been a powerful experience for me and my students to work together with the members of the Brownsville Church of God to bring this important story to light. We are absolutely thrilled that both the National Park Service and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania recognized Brownsville’s role on the Underground Railroad. We feel really honored to help others to discover this remarkable piece of American history that happened right here in Franklin County.”

The story of Brownsville continued even after the Civil War. In 1863, Confederate forces destroyed the Caledonia Iron Works, eliminating the major source of jobs for Brownsville residents. Nevertheless, Brownsville endured.

Around 1870, an itinerant minister named Perry Stanton of the Eastern PA Conference Churches of God came to the area and helped to establish a congregation. The Churches of God was founded by John Winebrenner who became very active in the Anti-Slavery Society of Harrisburg in January 1836. Today, the Brownsville Church of God is a member in the Eastern Region of the Churches of God General Conference.”

Read the full Press Release on Brownsville’s website.

Pastor Victor Johnson provided insight into how this initiative began, citing his own personal background and relationship to the church’s cemetery.

“The cemetery was not in good shape at all. And there's a lot of people buried there, family members of mine as well as of my wife… And so, I became very broken about the cemetery, and I felt that we needed to do something to recognize those that were laid there and to bring it to some type of restoration. So, it was a heavy burden on my heart.”

When Dr. Steve Burg from Shippensburg University reached out in 2023 to talk to the Cemetery Committee, it kick started a multi-year project that has resulted in the restoration and maintenance of the historic cemetery, but also a deep investigation into the people and stories buried there.

“For over 20 years, I have been working with cemeteries, particularly historic cemeteries in Pennsylvania connected with African American communities,” Dr. Burg said. “I live in Franklin county; I was already aware of a lot of the cemeteries in that area. I knew a little bit about the history of Brownsville, and I was very interested to try and help the church to understand the history of their cemetery, and it seemed to be an important story that needed to be told.”

The Brownsville Cemetery committee, in partnership with Shippensburg University’s Dr. Steve Burg and his students, began with both archival research and field work, using special equipment to see beneath the ground without disturbing the cemetery. Dr. Steve said that "we did some ground penetrating radar, to try and determine where there were unmarked graves, and it’s just been a phenomenal project; the church has been such a supportive and enthusiastic partner.

A lot of new information came to light which Brownsville Church did not have in their own archive. The Brownsville church was made aware of the deeper connections between the community, slavery, and the Underground Railroad. The students themselves were invited by the church to come to Sunday worship and present their findings as guest speakers.

Both Pastor Victor and Dr. Burg said that while Brownsville Church was thrilled with all of the insights the collaboration brought, the students were also tremendous beneficiaries.

Dr. Burg explained that this 2 year project was a unique education experience for the students, who normally learn history in a classroom. “For me, that was one of the very important educational pieces. My students going to a place where they don’t know people, an unfamiliar space, talking about history, what it means, why it’s important to people.”

This kind of educational experience helped to better prepare the students for what a vocation of history might be like outside of education. “If you work at the national park, you don’t pick who your audience is. If you work at a museum, it’s whoever walks through the door. That’s an important piece of this,” Dr. Burg said.

Perhaps some of the most meaningful history was found when students dug through the national archive to find records of the veterans in the cemetery and provided those records to the families that still attend Brownsville. Dr. Burg said that “the families can know those stories, and it was a very powerful thing.”

The collaboration, which bore mutual fruit, seems to have fostered a beautiful relationship between the church and the university. The church found connections to the past and their legacy that had only ever been rumored and families were reunited with the truth of their ancestors. Meanwhile, the students were able to achieve a truly rigorous and prestigious thing, as the National Park Service recognition is highly competitive, requiring diligent and detailed submissions.

There is of course still much work to be done. And Brownsville Church of God is currently raising funds to complete the work on the cemetery so that it is properly maintained, but also properly codified so future family members and researchers have a clear understanding of all that the cemetery means. Interested supporters can find ways to give here:

Our own historical archives connect to the press release at the mention of Perry Stanton, the first black church of God minister, licensed in 1844, well before the Civil War, but deep amidst the struggle for abolitionism to which many early Church of God members were committed.

We’ve written about Perry Stanton and the CGGC’s historic ties to the Underground Railroad before, like in this issue of the Advocate, where we recount some historical evidence for the alignment between our church locations and common paths of the Underground Railroad.

Congratulations to Brownsville Church of God, for both the historic legacy work they have achieved in this announcement, and the intentional and missional heart God has given them.

CGGC eNews—Vol. 20, No. 34

Brownsville, Pennsylvania has just been added to the Underground Railroad Network to Freedom. With over 800 locations spread across 41 states, The Network to Freedom was created to “honor, preserve...

08/14/2026

As I walked my daughter home from her Meet the Teacher night, I told her the sad truth. “Well, looks like summer break is over, dear.” She just skipped along, without much care. I, on the other hand, did feel a little melancholy. Our kids go to nice schools. The teachers are always kind, engaged, and well equipped. I have no doubt that this will be another perfectly fine school year. But, like many parents, I’m praying extra prayers for our kids, our teachers, our administrators, and the whole school apparatus, which is sure to consume a heaping pile of our time and energy.

You know how it goes. Drop off and pick-up. Countless forms, flyers, and permission slips. Parent-teacher conferences. Sporting events and extracurriculars. The exciting (read with slight sarcasm) daddy-daughter dances. Endless homework and fights about when we do the endless homework. And, worst of all, early bedtimes that make a working family feel like they have about three good hours with their children per day. Three good hours that include dinner, baths, and the aforementioned endless homework.

Oh, but there is much good too that my melancholy shouldn’t unceremoniously shove under the bed, like my daughter does her toys. There are transformational moments. Utter surprise when they say a new word, explain a new concept, or show off a new skill. The times where we parents shake our heads and say, “my word, you’re growing up quick.” There's the special relationship that gifted teachers develop with the kids, when things just “click” for a student, and you watch them take to a new subject like they were born for it. There are moments of achievement and success, and moments of hard conversations. Time to pick them up, dust them off, and watch them show grit and determination.

And that’s all just the perspective of a parent. The kids, teachers, coaches, administrators, staff, faculty (at universities), custodians, cooks, and aids all have their own.

Of course, our churches know that the school season marks a change for them as well. It might mean both exciting annual events centered on the school year and parents battling with coaches about Sunday sport events. I hope it means that our churches are getting involved in the life of their local schools, colleges, and universities. In the past we’ve run tremendous stories of how CGGC churches are tutoring kids, providing meals and school supplies, praying for our schools, providing space off campus for events, and by working alongside schools to generally meet their needs.

One recent story comes from Wharton Church of God in Northwest Ohio. Wharton COG has been holding their Back 2 School Blitz for more than a decade, starting in 2013. The Back 2 School Blitz entails a celebration on the main street of Wharton, with inflatables, face painting, rides, and more. But the real reason for the event is because Wharton hands out free backpacks, filled with supplies. This year alone they handed out over 500 back packs.

The number of backpacks Wharton has handed out increased in the most recent years, likely due to rising costs, and families struggling to make ends meet. That means Wharton is directly addressing the needs of their local community, helping kids and parents start the year off right.

Watch Wharton COG's 2025 Back 2 School Blitz

I'd like to ask our readers to pray for our schools. For the physical, mental, and spiritual health of our students, faculty, and staff, and for new ways that churches can uplift and support our schools, which now, as ever, need the compassion and power of Christ.

Specifically, I’ll be praying for:

🙏The safety of our schools, that God would protect our schools from shootings, threats, and violence.
🙏The health and well-being of our students, who often experience hunger, loneliness, homelessness, and difficulties inside and outside of school.
🙏The health and well-being of our faculty and staff, who bear heavy loads, and large responsibilities, caring for our students’ needs while meeting the demands of stringent government requirements.
🙏For students entering school, leaving school, or moving to a new phase, that God would guide their steps and encourage them through the fear.
🙏That God would empower our churches to support our schools, children, and teachers, giving them the hope of Christ through the Gospel, and the compassion of Christ through their generosity and involvement.

If you have more to pray for, please feel free to comment below, and we’ll publish them.

CGGC eNews—Vol. 20, No. 33

As I walked my daughter home from her Meet the Teacher night, I told her the sad truth. “Well, looks like summer break is over, dear.” She just skipped along, without much care. I, on the other hand, did feel a little melancholy. Our...

08/10/2026

On Saturday, August 1, Winebrenner Theological Seminary celebrated its 2026 Commencement. If you're a recent graduate—or the family and friends of one—we'd love for you to share your stories and photos from the day!

In this week's InDepth, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Marty Johnson reflects on a weekend that was less solemn ceremony than joyful reunion. "The relationships that began online in our virtual classrooms have become authentic friendships that will continue to grow both digitally and in real life," he writes. "The environment for Commencement was charged with joy and triumph, mixed with a little melancholy, enveloped by friendship that may last a lifetime."

For more, see the link in our comments! 👇

08/07/2026

The Great Lakes Conference-Churches of God, General Conference is primed to launch a new international ministry in the Toledo, Ohio area on August 23rd. Called The Dwelling, the new ministry aims at providing a Christian home for international students in the Northwest Ohio area, with a special emphasis on Indian students who speak Hindi, Telegu, and English. The heart behind The Dwelling - International Christian Fellowship is a recognition of how lost and alone international students feel, so far from their homes, without family, support, or other cultural norms. Simeon Joseph, an integral part of The Dwelling, knows this as well as anyone.

Simeon Joseph currently serves as a Project Analyst with Great Lakes Conference of Churches of God but it wasn’t that long ago that Simeon was himself a newly arrived international student at the University of Findlay. As he tells it, it was a church, College First Church of God, that helped him find a place where he belonged. It’s that sense of belonging that Simeon hopes The Dwelling will provide for a new group of international students.

In anticipation of the upcoming launch on August 23rd, we asked Simeon some questions about The Dwelling, how it began, and what he hopes the new ministry will achieve.

If you’re in or near Northwest Ohio, we’d encourage and invite you to stop by Wonder Ministries in Holland, Ohio, on August 23rd at 6:00 P.M. for food, fellowship, and worship. Many thanks are owned to Wonder Ministries for offering up the use of their building, helping to launch this new ministry. Sign up here to let them get a count and prepare food.

1 What is The Dwelling, and what is the vision behind this ministry?

The Dwelling is an international ministry community created to provide a place where people from different nations and backgrounds can find a sense of belonging, build relationships, and encounter Christ.

The name comes from the idea that God desires to dwell among His people.

The Dwelling is not intended to be just a weekly gathering, but a spiritual family where people can connect beyond cultural boundaries. We hope it becomes a place that serves internationals in practical ways, builds meaningful relationships, develops future leaders, and creates a community where people from different nations can worship together as one family in Christ.

Ultimately, our prayer is that The Dwelling reflects God's heart for all nations and becomes a place where people experience God's love, find belonging, and are encouraged to live out their faith wherever God leads them.

2 How did the vision for The Dwelling develop, and what needs did you see in the community?

The desire to serve in ministry has been part of my life for many years. I grew up in a Christian home where my father has faithfully served as a pastor, so ministry was something I experienced from childhood. Watching his commitment to serving people shaped my understanding of what it means to love and serve a community.

I came to the United States in August 2023 to pursue my MBA at the University of Findlay. Soon after arriving, I connected with College First Church, where I became involved in worship ministry and the church's International Ministry.

Serving alongside the International Ministry at College First was a significant influence on my understanding of cross-cultural ministry. I had the opportunity to learn from pastors, leaders, and volunteers who demonstrated the importance of intentional hospitality and creating spaces where people from different nations feel welcomed and valued.

As I built relationships with international students, immigrants, and people from diverse cultural backgrounds, I noticed that many were seeking genuine community, friendship, and a place to belong.

I also became increasingly aware of the need for more intentional Indian and international fellowship opportunities in Northwest Ohio. While there are wonderful ministries in larger cities such as Columbus and Detroit, there was an opportunity to create a closer community for internationals living in and around Toledo.

Through prayer, conversations with ministry leaders, and collaboration with others who shared this vision, The Dwelling began to take shape as an opportunity to serve the international community in Northwest Ohio.

3 What experiences have prepared you to be involved in this ministry?

God has used many different experiences to prepare me for this season.

Growing up in India, I was involved in ministry through my local church, serving in areas such as worship, youth ministry, leadership, and community outreach. Being part of a ministry-focused family gave me an early understanding of serving people with humility, consistency, and compassion.

My time at College First Church continued shaping my understanding of ministry. Through serving on the worship team and being involved with the International Ministry, I learned the importance of relationships, hospitality, discipleship, and creating environments where people from different cultures can grow together.

Professionally, my background in project management, operations, and organizational development has also been valuable. Currently, I serve as a Project Analyst with Great Lakes Conference of Churches of God, where I support church planting and ministry development initiatives.

Through this role, I have gained experience in the planning, communication, collaboration, and organizational processes involved in developing ministry efforts. I believe God has used both my ministry experiences and professional background to prepare me to serve in this season.

4 What has the journey of developing The Dwelling looked like, and what are some future hopes?

Much of this journey has been built through relationships.

Over the past year, there have been opportunities to connect with international students, local churches, university staff, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders throughout Northwest Ohio. Many conversations happened through meetings, meals, community events, and personal connections where the goal was simply to listen, learn, and better understand the needs of the community.

Alongside others who share this vision, we have been working on building relationships, preparing worship gatherings, organizing volunteers, developing ministry resources, and creating partnerships with organizations already serving internationals.

As we move into this next season, we are excited about several opportunities to introduce The Dwelling to the community and build connections with internationals in the area.

On August 23, we plan to launch The Dwelling with our first worship gathering at Wonder Ministries at 6:00 PM. This gathering will be an opportunity to worship together, connect with one another, and begin building a community centered around Christ.

On August 25, during the International Orientation at the University of Toledo, we plan to have a presence on campus where we can connect with new international students, share about The Dwelling, and invite them into a welcoming community.

On September 2, we will participate in the university involvement fair at the University of Toledo, where we plan to host a table, meet students, share our vision, and provide information about upcoming gatherings.

On September 9, we are planning an outdoor worship gathering on campus where we will celebrate different cultures through music, including Indian Christian songs and English worship songs. This event will be an opportunity to introduce students and the broader community to The Dwelling, share our vision, and invite people to our regular Sunday gatherings.

Moving forward, the hope is to continue building a welcoming community through worship gatherings, Bible studies, fellowship meals, prayer gatherings, and opportunities for meaningful conversations about faith.

We also hope to continue partnering with local churches, universities, and community organizations to serve internationals more effectively and create a place where people feel connected, supported, and welcomed.



5 What have you learned from being part of developing a new ministry community?

One of the biggest lessons has been learning to trust God's timing.

Developing a ministry community requires patience. People come from different cultures, experiences, languages, and backgrounds, so building trust and meaningful relationships takes time.

Simeon and another student pick pumpkins at a fall church event

I have learned that ministry is not only about creating programs or organizing events. At its heart, ministry is about people, listening to their stories, walking alongside them, and creating spaces where relationships can grow.

Another lesson has been understanding the importance of collaboration. Healthy ministry happens when people come together with different gifts, experiences, and perspectives. The Dwelling has been shaped through conversations, encouragement, prayers, and the involvement of many people who share a heart for serving the international community.



6 What would you hope people experience when they become part of The Dwelling?

The hope is that people experience belonging.

Many internationals move to a new country and face challenges beyond academics or work; they are also navigating new cultures, relationships, and environments. We hope The Dwelling - International Christian Fellowship becomes a place where people know they are welcomed, valued, and cared for. If people build meaningful friendships, experience genuine community, ask honest questions about faith, and grow closer to Jesus, that would be a meaningful reflection of what we hope this ministry becomes.

We hope to see people from different nations worship together, share meals together, support one another, and experience what it means to be part of a spiritual family.

Support The Dwelling through prayer as it launches, that God will use this new ministry to reach the lost for Jesus, and that the work already done will gather a rich harvest among the international community.

The Dwelling is an excellent reminder that, in at least some communities, the world has come to us. In these times, we might fulfill Jesus’s commission to “go and make disciples of all nations” by merely walking to our neighbors house.

CGGC eNews—Vol. 20, No. 32
https://cggc.org/cggc-enews/the-dwelling-a-new-place-to-belong/