The Church of God laments the horrific and senseless tragedy that happened in Charleston, South Carolina. Wednesday evening men and women gathered in church for Bible study and prayer when they were brutally killed by an apparently hate-filled young man, according to a statement by Dr. Mark L. Williams, the denomination’s executive leader.

Cleveland, TN–Church of God Multi-Cultural Ministries has announced plans for the 15th Biennial International Fellowship Conference, to be held July 15-18, 2015 at North Cleveland Church of God.

My father Leonardo Aquino Corpus Sr. once wielded a bolo knife – a Filipino style machete used by farmers and warriors in the Philippines. He waved his bolo knife in the dark wee hours of the morning looking for my ghostly tormentor. I was a toddler who tried to climb into bed between him and mom. He leapt out of bed in his underwear when I told him I was scared of the boogie-man.

“That Christians of any ethnic group have been slain while praying — not overseas but right here in our nation–should drive us all to our knees.” — Preston Parrish, CEO, Corporate Chaplains of America

While seeking direction from the Lord in prayer, Church of God World Missions Director Tim Hill was impressed to begin a special emphasis on finishing the Great Commission in the land where Jesus lived and ministered. This birthed the Israel Initiative for Church of God World Missions. It will focus on ministry to all peoples of Israel, seeking to show the love of Christ without regard to culture or heritage of peoples in Israel.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A white man opened fire during a prayer meeting inside a historic black church in downtown Charleston on Wednesday night, killing nine people, including the pastor, in an assault that authorities described as a hate crime. The shooter remained at large Thursday morning.

“On a hill, far away, stood an old rugged cross,” a woman (Ida Bolender) sings these words to a little girl (Norma Jeane). The only honest depiction of faith in the Lifetime miniseries “The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe” which aired May 30th and 31st of 2015. The rest of the miniseries was venomous, Christian Science spewing from her mentally unstable mother with no clear differentiation between Christianity and the mentally ill. Devout Baptists Wayne and Ida Bolender took in Norma when she was two weeks old and loved her along with the other foster kids. They attended Hawthorne Community Church and lived on an agricultural farm. Unfortunately Norma’s mother took her from the Bolender’s before age ten – Norma/Marilyn loved this home referring to Wayne Bolender as “Daddy” all of her life (she never knew her biological father). Norma’s removal began a slide into emotional distress, a fear of mental illness, immorality, and drugs/alcohol which lead to an early death. Imagine the international impact Monroe could have had within Christianity if she was able to live within a stable, nurturing environment.

Ten Good Men, a NY based Christian training organization, is hosting an event July 3rd-5th in Philadelphia, PA called Restoration America 2015. The focus of this event will be the repentance of the Christian Church in America for our apathy regarding the shedding of innocent blood through abortion. There are three days of events planned including a training seminar on Friday the 3rd, a prayer vigil at the two local abortion facilities on Saturday the 4th, and prayer/repentance gathering on Sunday the 5th. There will be multiple speakers on Sunday, including keynote David Bereit, International Director of 40 Days for Life.

“How Do You Stay Connected?” This was the topic throughout a very successful Caribbean Women’s Conference which was recently held in the Dominican Republic from 29 April to 1 May 2015. The women (and some men who attended) were encouraged, admonished, directed, empowered and reassured about their connectivity through Christ.