“A Compelling Event of Unity, Commitment and Compassion”
Church of God General Overseer Dr. Timothy M. Hill recently returned from a critical gathering of eight Pentecostal leaders in Charleston, S.C. The following is a report on the proceedings.
Charleston, S.C.– If ever our nation and world needed a sign of hope and the clear demonstration of unity within the Body of Christ, it is certainly now. As news of national and global struggles have become headlines that capture our hearts with concern, it is only the Lord who can bring light and life into our current realities.
The heads of eight Pentecostal denominations came together on February 20 – 21, 2017 in Charleston, South Carolina to pray, collaborate, listen, share, and tackle some of the great issues facing our world. This is the third consecutive year that these leaders have come together to stress unity as brothers and sisters in Christ. Each year has forged deeper levels of trust, mutual understanding and an inspired collaboration as the Holy Spirit moved in power, nourishing, encouraging and establishing ongoing and intentional partnerships between leaders of different denominations. The eight leaders present for this strategic event were:
• Rev. Randall A. Bach, President, Open Bible Churches
• Bishop Doug Beacham, Jr., Presiding Bishop, the International Pentecostal Holiness Church
• Bishop Charles E. Blake, Sr., Presiding Bishop of the Church of God in Christ, Inc.
• Dr. Glenn Burris, Jr., President, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel
• Bishop Sam Clements, General Overseer, Church of God of Prophecy
• Bishop Dan Coleman, General Secretary, Pentecostal Church of God
• Dr. Tim Hill, General Overseer, Church of God
• Dr. George O. Wood, General Superintendent, The General Council of the Assemblies of God
The conversations targeted tough topics of great concern and importance. Issues brought to the table and addressed head on were those of racial reconciliation and cross-cultural relationships, refugees and immigration, urban socio-economic conditions, education, the restoration of children and families, engaging the next generation, and global conflicts due to the adverse effects of terror and fear in the world.
At the end of the meeting, an unprecedented opportunity opened to the leaders. They made an unexpected visit to the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in downtown Charleston [This is the church where the tragic event that shook our nation occurred on June 17, 2015. Nine individuals’ lives were taken in an unspeakable act of hatred during an evening Bible Study]. As the leaders stood in the sanctuary with the pastor and listened to his heart, the Lord poured out His Spirit as they prayed for the pastor, the church and its future. It was a moment of miraculous grace, arranged for and touched by a blessing from Heaven.
Clearly directed and designed by the Lord, the lasting effects of this two-day meeting will be seen in the months and years ahead, as the fruits of unity, commitment and compassion set the course for the furtherance of the Kingdom of God.
