Church of God General Overseer Mark Williams has announced the theme for the 2016 International General Assembly will be a single word: “Go!” The General Assembly (GA16) takes place in Nashville, Tennessee on July 19-22, 2016.
Williams cited Matthew 28:19-20 as the foundational scripture for the theme where Christ speaks saying, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
[1]“We stand at a crossroads in time where certain things are clearer than they’ve ever been before,” Williams stated. “He has chosen us to carry His gospel into the world and we need to take seriously the responsibility we have been given.”
“Jesus gives us a command,” Williams continued. “That command is called the Great Commission, and it resonates throughout history as the singular driving force behind our mission… individually and together as a church.”
This theme follows the 2014 General Assembly emphasis of “ONE,” coupled with the tag line of “One Faith, One Lord, One Mission.” The theme has been adopted by many local churches, carrying over into the 2014-2016 assembly period, with the ONE logo being sported on coffee mugs, shirts, and lapel pins.
Planning for the 2016 General Assembly is well underway. The Music City Center in downtown Nashville will be the location, which will feature several preliminary events leading up to the official launch on Tuesday, July 19 with the gathering of the General Council of ordained bishops.
Williams stated that further development of the theme is to come, but in the meantime issued a challenge to ministers and laypersons as we approach the Assembly period.
“Think about it,” Williams concluded. “He (Jesus) didn’t say, ’If you have time.’
He didn’t say, ‘If it’s not too much trouble.’ Jesus simply said… ‘Go.’”