Division of Education Sponsors ‘Big M’ Summit
The Big M Summit, sponsored by the Church of God Division of Education, was held September 13-14 at the Church of God of East Flatbush, Brooklyn, NY. Dr. R.C. Hugh Nelson serves as the lead pastor at East Flatbush, where he is creating a new model/approach to ministry for the 21st-century church.
The Big M Summit provided a world-class training by seasoned pastors and leadership to church leaders, pastors, and laity on ways they can better engage, empower, and release their lay members to share the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit and pursue the FINISH Commitment with a relevant ministry approach.
The Summit had more than 500 worshipers on Friday night and 186 registered participants during the day. The worshipers and Summit participants were church leaders, administrative bishops, Mobilize directors, pastors, and laity. They came from Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, and several states.
The summit began with a plenary session led by Dr. David Ramirez, third assistant general overseer and executive liaison to the Division of Education. Dr. Ramirez challenged the delegates to activate the living forces of the church by minimizing the ecclesiastical dichotomy between the clergy and laity and unite all our energies to work together toward one goal— mobilizing the church to reap the harvest. Dr. Reynolds, director of Ministerial Development/ School of Ministry, motivated the audience to let the Great Commission mandate be the core goal that leads us as we mobilize.
The Friday night service was an electrifying night of worship and praise. The special guest speaker and psalmist, Pastor Smokie Norful, led the session in a time of worship, followed by a timely word, which challenged delegates not to settle for the status quo, but go outside the walls of the church in the power of the Holy Spirit and take the gospel to the lost and dying. He said, “We have the answer to the cultural demise.”
The major portion of the summit included times to address how the Church of God Division of Education program—Mobilize—would benefit pastors, lay leaders, lay ministry workers, and mobilize administrators.
Finally, Dr. Daniel Vassell announced the release of a new training program for laity called, Lay Ministry Workers. He mentioned the program is designed for members who feel called to serve in the church and in the marketplace, but not necessarily as leaders. He further explained that the Lay Ministry Worker program has two levels, designed to run for four months. It will operate similarly to the Lay Leadership model. Students in Level I will explore their call, service, and partnership . . . and in Level II, they will demonstrate their understanding of the mandate of the Great Commission, their role as a disciple, and their love for Christ through daily exercises. Like the Lay Leadership program, the Lay Ministry Worker program is available in English, French, and Spanish. For more information, go to cogmobilize.org.
The delegates left the Summit charged and energized with a wealth of information, resources, networking skills, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. They went to their homes, churches, and communities with the intention of making a difference for God.
(Source: Church of God Division of Education)
