8.8.08 will signal the start of the long-awaited 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on Friday with the elaborate opening ceremonies.

The Chinese consider eight a lucky number because in Cantonese it sounds like the word for “get rich” or “prosper.”

By Steve Strang, publisher, Charisma magazine

August 5 is a special day for me. Thirty-three years ago the first issue of Charisma magazine rolled off the press. It was our August/September 1975 issue. Thurlow Spurr was on the cover. It had 32 pages and sold for 50 cents.

Members of the General Council of the Church of God have finished nominating leaders for departments at the International Offices. By the close of the Tuesday afternoon business session, the Council had selected all the executive and department leaders slated to be nominated.

By Cameron Fisher

(l-r): Nick Park, David Munguia, Donald M. Walker, Grant McClung, William Isaacs, Oliver McMahan, Gary W. Sears, Mark Walker, H. Loran Livingston, T. Bryan Cutshall, R. Lamar Vest, Michael Chapman, M. Thomas Propes and Jentezen Franklin.

Chosen to represent them on church matters for the next two years, the General Council completed election of the 18 members of the Council of Eighteen during Wednesday morning’s session.

The three activists were physically removed from Tiananmen Square by Chinese officials after displaying a banner which said “Jesus Christ is King”, laying roses to honor those brutally killed during the massacre in 1989 and praying for human rights in China.

Some people walk with God because they were brought up that way. It often takes a crisis for someone to become fully devoted to faith in God. Such was the case of Noah. He grew up in the sheltered society of the children of God. All around them was a world so depraved and corrupted that “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” (Genesis 6:5 NIV)

The Summer Games begin this week focusing all eyes on Beijing. Gospel Light Worldwide has issued an Olympic challenge that carries double blessings and eternal consequences.

Nominated 2008-2010 Executive Committee (l-r): David Griffis, Tim Hill, Raymond Culpepper, Mark Williams, Wallace Sibley.

By Cameron Fisher

San Antonio, Texas–The Church of God General Council met for its first session on Tuesday, August 5 in the AlamoDome in San Antonio, Texas.

By Cameron Fisher

A one-day conference for Church of God educators was highlighted on Tuesday afternoon with the announcement of the anticipated Distinguished Educator Awards.