I love this organization...

[Phil Hoover]

and I love the organization and what it teaches and stands for.

I've told more than one of my friends that if I ever live near a strong, stable congregation again, that I would definitely RETURN....

What I am about to ask is not something to "stroke my ego"...or to "feed my own sense of worth..." It is something I really want honest, heartfelt answers about.

"Why should I return to the Church of God of Prophecy?"

Anyone want to give reasons?

[dawgs10]

for the same reasons i would never want to leave. its full of people that love you. Because its your family.

[PastorDaniel]

In your own words...you love the organization, what it teaches, and stands for...thats the only reason I can think of to be apart of any specific church or organization...

[paul]

and I love the organization and what it teaches and stands for.

I've told more than one of my friends that if I ever live near a strong, stable congregation again, that I would definitely RETURN....

What I am about to ask is not something to "stroke my ego"...or to "feed my own sense of worth..." It is something I really want honest, heartfelt answers about.

"Why should I return to the Church of God of Prophecy?"

Anyone want to give reasons?

It was becaue of my love for the church that to be Church of God I had to leave the Church of God. I can give you no reason to return to cogop, nor can any man. If God had led you out..then only He can lead you back. If God did not lead you out then you should have never left, then go back, you don't need any reasons

[dolfan]

Wow. Phil, your ties with the organization are deeper than mine ever were. I never really knew anyone and was in and out rather quickly. Still, as I've said before, COGOP is where I "learned Christ". And, boy, I'll tell you I think it was the best possible place to do that. Maybe I'm nuts. But, that's my heart on it and I don't regret one minute of it.

We have, since early this year (Feb. or early March, I think) attended a local COG church. We have some family there, our daughter LOVES it (and, as some here might recall, that was a major issue for us to dive back into a local church -- a pentecostal one -- that we were just plain wrong for not being in church especially considering our daughter's needs). And, I like it fine enough. I'm not expecting much from them, except to just be there and do what they do. I have not, I confess moved from a feeling of "they" to a feeling of "we". I don't know when that might happen.

But, it has rattled around my brain that if we're willing to go there, why not be willing to go back to COGOP? Well, I'd suppose there are lots of reasons, the main one being just the bottom line of "this is easier". I wouldn't disparage any local COGOP congregations, either, but I will say that for my daughter, the COG we attend is really doing a nice job of building some things into her that I really wouldn't want to leave there. I like the folks, graduated from high school and grew up as buddies locally with some of them (some of whom, like me, were not even Christians when we were teens but funny how 4 of us from the same graduating HS class are at this little church), and the pastor is a shepherd in the style of the pastor who influenced me the most, Vernil Sides. Even though he's my age, I'm drawn to his heart, and so that's good enough for now for me. My wife is forming relationships there maybe a little better than I am, and that encourages me and makes me quite happy to be there.

We haven't joined as members. We've privately talked about it. I'll be honest and say that my own personal understanding and belief about Pentecostalism has been a serious bump on the way to doing that. I don't know that the church here would view my beliefs as a barrier to it, but I have assumed that they would so far and haven't really discussed it with anyone. I've been content, as I've said, to just be there. I'm no closer to returning to a Pentecostal understanding of the NT than I was before we arrived. I remain quite convinced that my view on it is correct. I don't know how people overcome divides like that to be in real body/fellowship together. I haven't personally experienced that kind of bridging anywhere. For my part, it doesn't matter -- be Pentecostal all day, all night and in the cracks of dusk and daylight. Fine with me. I'll stand and clap while you roll around in the floor, it's okay with me. I'm not put off by it in the least. I just sort of shrug and smile and say Amen and never tell you what I think about it all unless you ask me. But, I'm not in the least bit convinced or convicted toward it, either. So, having said all that.....I remain a non-member of the local church I attend.

I couldn't imagine ever being part of COGOP again with those views, either. Of course, I could be wrong. It wouldn't even be the first time today that I have been.

[Phil Hoover]

I see so many WONDERFUL things that are happening in the Church of God of Prophecy...

But I also see some things that I think are not very wise....and that is what troubles me most.

[Jennifer Smith]

I want to apologize to everyone on this board for my somewhat negative or mixed attitude about the CoGoP in the past. I have had to grow a lot.

Phil, I think it's wonderful how you feel and I would concur and say the same thing, if God led us to a CoGoP church that was healthy and strong we would gladly attend there. I'm thankful for the church that I attend now though but would go where God gave us a nudge.

We have, since early this year (Feb. or early March, I think) attended a local COG church. We have some family there, our daughter LOVES it (and, as some here might recall, that was a major issue for us to dive back into a local church -- a pentecostal one -- that we were just plain wrong for not being in church especially considering our daughter's needs). And, I like it fine enough. I'm not expecting much from them, except to just be there and do what they do. I have not, I confess moved from a feeling of "they" to a feeling of "we". I don't know when that might happen.

But, it has rattled around my brain that if we're willing to go there, why not be willing to go back to COGOP? Well, I'd suppose there are lots of reasons, the main one being just the bottom line of "this is easier". I wouldn't disparage any local COGOP congregations, either, but I will say that for my daughter, the COG we attend is really doing a nice job of building some things into her that I really wouldn't want to leave there. I like the folks, graduated from high school and grew up as buddies locally with some of them (some of whom, like me, were not even Christians when we were teens but funny how 4 of us from the same graduating HS class are at this little church), and the pastor is a shepherd in the style of the pastor who influenced me the most, Vernil Sides. Even though he's my age, I'm drawn to his heart, and so that's good enough for now for me. My wife is forming relationships there maybe a little better than I am, and that encourages me and makes me quite happy to be there.

We haven't joined as members. We've privately talked about it. I'll be honest and say that my own personal understanding and belief about Pentecostalism has been a serious bump on the way to doing that. I don't know that the church here would view my beliefs as a barrier to it, but I have assumed that they would so far and haven't really discussed it with anyone. I've been content, as I've said, to just be there. I'm no closer to returning to a Pentecostal understanding of the NT than I was before we arrived. I remain quite convinced that my view on it is correct. I don't know how people overcome divides like that to be in real body/fellowship together. I haven't personally experienced that kind of bridging anywhere. For my part, it doesn't matter -- be Pentecostal all day, all night and in the cracks of dusk and daylight. Fine with me. I'll stand and clap while you roll around in the floor, it's okay with me. I'm not put off by it in the least. I just sort of shrug and smile and say Amen and never tell you what I think about it all unless you ask me. But, I'm not in the least bit convinced or convicted toward it, either. So, having said all that.....I remain a non-member of the local church I attend.

I couldn't imagine ever being part of COGOP again with those views, either. Of course, I could be wrong. It wouldn't even be the first time today that I have been.

dolfan, it's so funny I related to much of what you said. Only now we're attending a Baptist church, and I've had some of the same thoughts and feelings you described. God is using the experience to help me reevaluate a lot of things, too. But we had membership Sunday a couple of weeks ago and we didn't fill out the card, yet. I don't think it would be an issue, after we struggled through some feelings when faced with their "official doctrinal standpoint" we had to confess that we haven't agreed with every point of doctrine in almost any church we've been a part of. I'm more convinced that so much of our carefully formed doctrinal standpoints are non-essential to the heart of the gospel and the Christian life. I don't forsake God's moving or speaking to me in any way because that would be dishonest and disrespectful, but I appreciate the perspective of the Christ-like individuals that are a part of this church that He has brought us to. We had went through a lot in local charismatic churches. This church does believe in spiritual gifts and is still figuring out the practical application, but they are pretty reserved in worship, which is ok. The main thing is the gospel is the center of what is being taught and preached, so we're very thankful and it does remind us more of the type of church(s) we grew up in.

I try to encourage myself not to be afraid of differences because they have embraced us and been open with us, being aware of our background and the differences. I hope that you won't hesitate to merge and take the membership step if you find yourself being there more indefinitely. It probably isn't such a barrier as you might think for them for you to be a member and have slightly different doctrinal views. I hope you continue to enjoy it, either way! Very happy for you guys.

[Phil Hoover]

I am a card-carrying member of a local church that is NOT Charismatic/Pentecostal.

When I was in the United States Air Force, I was a regular attender at the Denver First Church of the Nazarene, when I was stationed at Lowry...

But I never became a "member" there....

The same can be said of every other place where I worshipped...I always tithed and kept my membership at the Peerless Road Church, while I was serving in the USAF...that was home.

Things changed when I left the USAF and returned to Cleveland to attend seminary....

[scooter]

Well I started to say why I wouldn't come back, it's because I haven't left.

However upon further reflection the Lord used this organization to help call me back from the edge of destruction.

I was a wayward teen to say the least. That lasted pretty much until I was in my mid twenties.

One day at dusk I noticed the garbage had been missed being picked up. I grabbed the phone book to call the garbage collectors. I stabbed the phone book to curl it open. Looking down I realized that the point of the knife was pointing to the CoGop.

A bit of history, my wife and I were talking divorce. I was into everything you could imagine, drinking, drug, sex and rock n roll.

The Lord spoke to my heart and said "Son it's getting late. You're sitting all alone in the dark and YOU have a lot of garbage that needs to be picked up, I can cut through everything and point you to where you need to be."

As I looked through the pages of the phone book, which was over three inches thick I noticed a single page that was folded over which could have impacted the outcome of where the knife pointed or cut to. Having been raised in the organization, the Lord used that fact to call me to my church home.

There was only one CoGop in that phone book. I ended up preaching my first sermon there at that church. That church is no longer there. Now the CoGop I pastor is the only one in the county.

Thank God for the CoGop.

[Phil Hoover]

Pastor Gary was my youth leader AEONS ago in the Church of God of Prophecy at West Huntsville....

He has modeled fidelity and faithfulness to me....

I have MANY, MANY friends in the denomination, and I do love them dearly.

I miss the fellowship and camaraderie....

[Phil Hoover]

the whole "renewed emphasis" on restarting Tomlinson College....under the guise of "needing train our own ministers...."

I'm just not buying it....I think restarting Tomlinson College is an AWFUL waste of money and energy.....especially when the denomination has full access to Lee University right in Cleveland TN....

[Jennifer Smith]

scooter, that's a great story.

[DeWayneTN]

Great testimony, Scott. Thanks for sharing.

[scooter]

Thanks! Congrats on the new job TC job big D!

[Phil Hoover]

That was a terrific testimony.

There is something VERY special about the Church of God of Prophecy...