September 23, 2019—Cleveland, TN—The International Council, a group of leaders from around the globe who represent the ministries of the Church of God, are gathered in session through tomorrow, September 24. They will conclude their time in a morning joint session with the International Executive Council, which is scheduled to meet through Thursday.

TULSA, Okla. — Oral Roberts University cut the ribbon on its new apartment-style housing in a guest-filled celebration last Friday. The ribbon-cutting not only officially opened the new residence hall but also signified the completion of the University’s five-year, $50 million fundraising campaign, the largest and most successful comprehensive campaign in ORU’s history.

In one of my first Bible college world missions courses, I was introduced to pastor, author, and missions advocate Oswald J. Smith and his enduring classic, The Passion For Souls. Like many missions leaders with many years on this missional journey, our challenge is to maintain this passion and fulfill the only prayer request of the Lord of the Harvest.

The Fall 2019 issue of Church of God Engage has been released and available digitally at www.cogengage.org

In an era in which places of worship have become, too often, targets for violence, United Nations officials and religious leaders gathered in New York City on 19 September to talk over plans for preventing attacks against people of faith.

Grand Canyon University has been awarded a $3.2 million grant from the Kern Family Foundation to develop an accelerated pastoral training program that will supply the Phoenix metropolitan area and greater Southwest with resources to meet the growing need for pastoral leaders.

General Overseer Tim Hill (center, blue shirt) is joined by Assistant General Overseer David Ramirez, Secretary General John Childers and Bahamian church leaders (click photo to enlarge)

As reports continue to stream in on the level of destruction and loss in the Bahamas due to Hurricane Dorian, Church of God leaders and relief agencies are continuing to ramp up efforts to assist as the situation evolves.

In the summer of 2018, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission-a collective of five appointees-sidestepped the Michigan Legislature and issued an Interpretive Statement regarding the usage of the word “sex” in Michigan’s Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976. In the statement, the Commission announced it would be expanding the meaning of the word to include “gender identity” and “sexual orientation.” At the request of the Legislature, the Attorney General at the time, Bill Schuette, responded to the overreach, denouncing the action as unlawful and mandating that the Commission retract to within the boundaries of its office. The Commission responded, saying it would stay the course as noted in its Interpretive Statement.

If you watched the Democratic Party’s presidential debate last week, you’ll know why San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro got poor marks from so many commentators and viewers. Castro seemed to be attacking former Vice President Joe Biden for his age, implying that the 76-year-old candidate is losing his memory.