Cleveland, TN–Over 1,000 have registered for the 36th Ministerial Internship Program Commissioning Celebration, the capstone of the 2014—2015 program.
This Friday and Saturday, hundreds of candidates and their families will gather in Cleveland, Tennessee. Registration will be taking place on Friday, May 15 in the Chapel of the International Offices, followed by the first of two keynote gatherings of the weekend on Friday evening. There will be many special activities. The MIP candidates, supervising pastors, and their spouses will be recognized for completing the eight-month program.
The services will feature worship led by Steve Allen and the Westmore Church of God choir on Friday evening and led by Dr. Randy and Debbie Sheeks on Saturday morning. The services will feature inspiring preaching by Robert Madu on Friday evening and by Mark L. Williams, general overseer of the Church of God, on Saturday morning.
Williams will conclude the Saturday morning service by leading in a Commissioning prayer. Administrative bishops, general church leaders, and supervising pastors will participate in the Commissioning prayer by laying hands on the MIP candidates and their spouses and praying for them. It is believed that this spiritual exercise will be an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to commission the candidates and their spouses to be effective ministers.
State ministerial training leaders will participate in a special seminar that focuses on making ministerial training relevant in the states and regions. Bruce Rabon, administrative bishop of Kentucky, and Stephen Darnell, administrative bishop of South Georgia, will explain how they are recruiting younger people into ministerial training and enlisting people to better prepare themselves for ministry through training. Rick Shelby, the state MIP coordinator for Kentucky, and Dan Tomberlin, state MIP coordinator for South Georgia, will assist their respective administrative bishops in their presentations.
In addition to the focus on the relevance of ministerial training, others will address the theme of the International General Assembly—One Lord, One Faith, and One Mission. Dr. Terry Cross, dean of the School of Religion at Lee University, will speak on the topic, “One Faith in a Pluralistic Society.” Erin and Sam Burleson will discuss, “One Lord in a Pluralistic Society.” Erin is the director of LEAD INstitute Georgia, and Sam is the Family Ministry pastor at The Bridge in Cleveland, Georgia. Jeremy Isaacs, campus pastor for Mount Paran North in Canton, will speak about, “One Mission in a Pluralistic Society.”
“We are asking everyone to join us in praying for the services to be anointed by the Holy Spirit and a turning point for the MIP candidates and their spouses,” stated J. David Stephens, assistant general overseer for the Church of God.
The Celebration is May 15-16 at the North Cleveland Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee. The Friday evening service begins at 7:00 p.m., and the Saturday morning service begins at 10:00 a.m.
For more information, visit the MIP Commissioning Celebration website at mipcommissioning.cogdoe.org. Services will streamed live at the website.