Leadership Conference Concludes with Commissioning Service
Cleveland, TN–State and regional overseers, discipleship directors, and International Offices leaders came together on Friday, September 14 for a commissioning service, the conclusion of the three-day “Spiritual Renewal and Big Picture Leadership” conference.
Church of God General Overseer Tim Hill was joined by the other members of the Executive Committee to lay hands upon and anoint the leaders for service in their respective areas of ministry. Each state leader and their spouse was presented with an engraved Bible from their Covenant Team leader, further symbolizing the Church’s confidence in their leadership.
The Commissioning service was highlighted by a tag-team message by Pastor Tommy Barnett and his son, Luke. The father and son shared their story of partnership and transitional leadership of the Dream City Church in Phoenix. Music was provided by the Lee University Singers.
Following the conclusion of the biennial Church of God General Assembly, state and regional administrative bishops, youth and discipleship directors, women’s ministries presidents and other state level personnel gather for a leadership conference to attend training sessions for the new leaders and to learn the latest of the goals and vision of the general overseer and executive committee.
“Leadership is defined as ‘the action of leading a group of people or an organization,’” Hill stated. “It sounds simple, but requires one important ingredient-action! Our time together was geared to helping (the delegates) to be the most productive leaders possible. If we are going to FINISH the Great Commission, we must focus on the BIG picture and utilize all of our abilities to win a lost and dying world for the Kingdom.”
Highlights of the September 12-14 event included six “big picture” sessions, such as leaders, harvest, systems, and vision. Keynote speakers for the sessions featured Hill, John Gray, pastor in Greenville, South Carolina, and Chris Hodges, pastor of Church of the Highlands in Alabama. Night sessions featured the ministry of Pastor/Evangelist Perry Stone and the Barnetts.
On Friday afternoon, respective Covenant Ministry Teams (CMTs) had their first chance to fellowship together since appointments were made at the General Assembly. CMTs consist of state/regional overseers and their wives, who are members of one of four teams associated with either Assistant General Overseers Raymond Culpepper, J. David Stephens, David Ramirez, or Secretary General John Childers. General Overseer Hill met in a luncheon with the Administrative Ministries Council.
Another highlight of the Leadership Conference came during the opening session on Wednesday evening with the bestowing of the Global Impact Award on six Church of God couples. Honorees included Paul and Darlia Conn, Victor and Ada Pagan, Carl and Beverly Richardson, Wallace and Dorothy Sibley, Perry and Pam Stone and Lamar and Vickie Vest.
(Source: Church of God Communications)
