Mr. Robert Pace skillfully wrote the “How To Do It” handbook for Church of God Jail and Prison Ministry nearly 30 years ago. Because of changes in statistical information, governmental guidelines, and Church of God terminology, this manual was recently updated and revised by Dr. James E. Cossey, Administrative Coordinator for USA Missions, with the permission and blessings of Mr. Pace.

My wife, Joyce, and I planted our local church 29 years ago, Jan. 29, 1984, in the Sunset Park section of Brooklyn, N.Y. We were not sent out with any money and had only a handful of people who volunteered to serve with us. The following is based on all the mistakes I have made as a church planter, and the lessons I wish someone had coached me through.

“Francis, rebuild my Church!” This is how St. Francis of Assisi recounts Christ’s call of the founder of the Franciscan Order. It is also how Jorge Mario Bergoglio, at the age of 76, and a Jesuit, seems to have accepted his election to the papacy with the choice of a name that no other pope has ever chosen.

Azusa Street Mission & Historical Society is returning to São Paulo to host its 6th Annual Gospel music festival and gathering, Azusafest, at Centro de Exposições Imigrantes from April 19-21.

The Tennessee Church of God State Office recently submitted a report on recent resourcing and efforts to disciple in Tennessee.

The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference—the nation’s largest Christian Hispanic organization—has issued the following statement in regard to the election of the new Pope Francis, the first Latin American pope:

First Baptist Church of Dallas, led by nationally known pastor Robert Jeffress, will complete what is believed to be the largest church building campaign in modern history, opening a new state-of-the-art $130 million campus on Easter Sunday, March 31.

Many organizations dream about changing the world but few actually reach that goal, yet one Dallas-based ministry is breaking records.

The city of Orlando, Florida, will once again host delegates from around the globe for the biennial Church of God International General Assembly.