CLEVELAND, TN—The 2008-2010 edition of the Church of God International Executive Council (IEC) is meeting in their first session since being elected at the 72nd Church of God General Assembly last month in San Antonio, Texas.

A Trinity Broadcasting Network initiative created to impact the nation’s soaring recidivism rates is gaining in popularity with correctional officials. Launched in 2007, TBN Second Chance is a faith-based program designed to give inmates a second chance to make good choices by providing positive, life-affirming television programming around the clock. The program is fully funded by TBN, the largest faith-based network in the world, and provides up to four different channels for diverse inmate populations-along with the equipment necessary to receive them-completely free of charge to correctional and rehabilitative facilities.

According to The Associated Press, Pastor Bernard Crabbe of the True North Community Church in Port Jefferson, New York, announced recently that an anonymous parishioner had donated a winning lottery ticket worth $3 million to the church. A state lottery official said the independent congregation of 650 members would now receive $100,000 annually through 2028.

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.