Executive Committee Approves Designation of ‘USA Missionary’

In the first move of its kind, the Church of God International Executive Committee, meeting in January 2014, approved a proposal to create the designation of “USA Missionary” for persons commissioned for or engaged in unique missionary ministries within the United States of America. The Church of God USA Missions Board, in its December 2013 meeting, had earlier approved the recommendation, which came from the executive director and administrative coordinator.

USA Missionaries are nominated by the executive director and administrative coordinator of USA Missions and approved by the USA Missions Board, subject to final ratification by the International Executive Committee. They are not compensated from the USA Missions Office, but the USA Missions Office may assist them from time-to-time with fund-raising, and Church of God congregations may receive donor credit for gifts given through USA Missions for a USA Missionary.

According to Dr. James E. Cossey, Administrative Coordinator for USA Missions, “Missiologists say that the United States of America is the third-largest mission field in the world….It is believed that there are 100 million unchurched Americans (75 million adults). When one factors in those who claim church affiliation but have not attended a single worship service in the past year, the number soars to some 125 million. While the Church of God will not, and must not lessen our emphasis on reaching the lost in other lands, our passion in USA Missions is to find new and innovative ways to reach those without Christ here in America.”

USA Missions will be announcing its first appointees soon and it is anticipated that additional USA Missionaries will be appointed in the future.

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