Faith News Network

By David G. Roebuck

The Church of God Historical Commission announces the winners of the Charles W. Conn Historical Writing Award. The 2006-2008 award winners are Dr. H. Lynn Stone for his book, From the Manger to the Mountain: The Journey of a Local Church (Pathway Press, 2006), and Dr. Dale M. Coulter for his article, “The Development of Ecclesiology in the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee): A Forgotten Contribution?” published in Pneuma: The Journal of the Society for Pentecostal Studies (Spring 2007).

An unexciting future loomed for 60-year-old Beverly Lebold, when she received an invitation to join a team going on a two-week work/ministry trip to Nicaragua. “What I really need is someone to do prison ministry,” said the young college student who organized the venture.

An unexciting future loomed for 60-year-old Beverly Lebold, when she received an invitation to join a team going on a two-week work/ministry trip to Nicaragua. “What I really need is someone to do prison ministry,” said the young college student who organized the venture.

Early last Tuesday morning as Gustav was winding its way through Louisiana, the Church of God’s Operation Compassion had a team of volunteers with semi trucks loaded with disaster relief supplies setting up a disaster site in Baton Rouge. What no one had predicted was that Gustav only skirted New Orleans but cut a swath of destruction from Grand Isle to Baton Rouge before turning more northwesterly toward Texas.

Just hearing the word “evangelism” conjures up images of Bible-toters going door-to-door spreading the Good News. Most non-believers avoid answering the door, or feel strong- armed if they do get caught in the net called “witnessing.”

Just hearing the word “evangelism” conjures up images of Bible-toters going door-to-door spreading the Good News. Most non-believers avoid answering the door, or feel strong- armed if they do get caught in the net called “witnessing.” Even most Christians become nervous at the thought of evangelism. Why? Because they have been guilted into believing they are somehow “less than” if they do not follow a specific pattern of what some call soul-winning. The thing is, the Good News sounds an awful lot like bad news, starting with, “You must acknowledge you are a sinner.” This is off-putting for the one witnessing as well as the non-believer.