Cleveland, Tennessee was the site of the Church of God Ministerial Internship Program (MIP) Commissioning service this past weekend.
By H. Lynn Stone, D.Min.
Following nine months of intensive study, a practicum of ministerial internship in a local church, participation in monthly state-sponsored seminars, and countless hours of prayer, travel, and fellowship, over 400 interns and spouses from across the United States and Canada gathered in Cleveland, Tennessee, for an exciting weekend of celebration and commissioning.
On Friday evening, May 15, over a thousand congregants of interns, family members, friends, and MIP leaders filled the historic North Cleveland Church of God. Excitement commenced even before the 7:00 invocation as the interns marched alphabetically by states behind their MIP coordinators from the Bryant Fellowship Hall into the spacious sanctuary. Even greater exhilaration filled the auditorium as each state MIP coordinator called the names of their interns, spouses, and supervising pastors who walked across the stage to be personally congratulated by Assistant General Overseer David Griffis and Ministerial Development School of Ministry personnel.
But the glorious highlight of the evening was the anointed worship. The Mt. Paran Central Church of God Sanctuary Choir, under the direction of Mark Blankenship, led the audience into the holy presence of God through songs of praise. Dr. Griffis challenged the interns to surrender their lives to become servants of God instead of striving for the life of an earthly king. The celebration of Communion quickened the hearts and souls of surrendering saints in the conclusion of the dedication service.
A totally new and thrilling event added to this year’s celebration was a trip on Saturday morning to Murphy, North Carolina, where over 200 persons visited the historical origins of the Church of God. Saints wept with tears and rejoiced with praise as Dr. David Roebuck explained the significance of the locations where the first Church of God congregation was formed with eight members in 1886, where the Holy Spirit was poured out in the famous Shearer Schoolhouse revival in 1996, and where the first Church of God General Assembly was held in 1906.
The Commissioning service on Saturday evening was the highlight of the weekend as worshipers from 22 states/regions and Canada were led in praise and worship by Janton Barrineau and SpiritSound Ministries and blessed by the special singing of Aaron and Amanda Crabb. General Overseer Raymond Culpepper challenged the hearts and lives of all as he eloquently explained in his unique preaching style, “The Transformation from Your Ministry to God’s Mission.” Following the Commissioning prayer, Dr. Culpepper anointed with oil every intern and spouse, praying for God’s will upon their homes and the fulfillment of His mission in their lives.
On behalf of the Church of God Division of Education Ministerial Development/School of Ministry, heartfelt thanks are extended to every intern and spouse, supervising pastor, MIP leader, board member, administrative bishop, the North Cleveland Church of God, and to every department personnel who helped to make this year’s MIP Commissioning a wonderful success.
————————-
Dr. Lyn Stone is administrative assistant for the Church of God Division of Education