FINISH Forum Begins Today
August 22, 2017–State/regional overseers are gathered in Orlando, Florida for the FINISH Forum, a biennial leadership conference for the Church of God. The opening general session begins at 6:00 p.m.
Joining overseers and a handful of leaders from the International Offices will be several speakers focusing on various topics including church planting, credentialing, the Jeremiah Generation, and the Ministry of Excellence Initiative. Several members of the International Executive Council are also attending to participate in sub-committee meetings for an upcoming initiative entitled “Harvest Transformation Task Force.”
Opening the FINISH Forum tonight will be General overseer Tim Hill. Keynote speaker will be Dave Martin of Dave Martin International. Tonight’s meeting will also include the first of three “Empower Hour” sessions, led by members of the International Executive Committee.
Other special guests scheduled to address the leaders are Dr. Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Billy Graham Center for Evangelism, Leadership “architect” Dr. Sam Chand, Rosalba Perez, director of Safe House Provision de Amor, Joe Dobbins, lead pastor of Twin Rivers Worship Center, Angel Marcial, Jr., youth leader of Southeast Hispanic Region, and Scott Sheppard, lead pastor of Cornerstone Church in Athens, Ga.
As part of the FINISH Forum, two of the Covenant Ministry Teams (CMTs) took advantage of the event and held pre-forum gatherings. Church of God state/regional overseers are divided into four “teams,” with a corresponding member of the International Executive Committee as their liaison.
The meeting is taking place in the host city for next year’s 77th International General Assembly, which will occur at the Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) on July 31 – August 3, 2018. The General Assembly Cabinet, the planning body for the General Assembly, is also meeting this week, and with officials at the OCCC to further iron out details for next year’s event. State overseers will tour the West Concourse of the OCCC on Wednesday. This will be the fourth time for the General Assembly to be held at the OCCC, but the first time in the West Concourse, located across International Drive from the previous location of the South concourse.
