COGOP name change

[soulsearcher]

I wish I could remember the exact words... I honestly do not... but I can assure you that at that moment there was NO DOUBT in my mind and spirit what was going on...

It was early 80s... I was totally ambushed by the Holy Spirit in that meeting, and remember feeling heavy conviction and wanting desperately to get out of there, but I was on my knees in total awe and fear.

I was right there with you, Brother.

[Joey]

I wish I could remember the exact words... I honestly do not... but I can assure you that at that moment there was NO DOUBT in my mind and spirit what was going on...

It was early 80s... I was totally ambushed by the Holy Spirit in that meeting, and remember feeling heavy conviction and wanting desperately to get out of there, but I was on my knees in total awe and fear.

I was right there with you, Brother.

I was in that assembly meeting as an 18 year old.
I think some really took it to heart and it changed them, while others repented, got up and thought it was over.

[Pastor Bill]

On the name change, I think there are two issues.

1. Those that know NOTHING about the CoGoP or it's history just see a VERY long name, with an emphasis on prophecy. I drove past a CoGoP every day of my life growing up, and always wondered what the deal was with that church, and why the long name and focus. A simpler name would be easier, which is why so many local churches don't use COGOP in their name, but focus on a local name. In that, it's not a HUGE problem, but it might be one less stumbling block. (BTW, the church in my hometown that I drove past everyday did not, to my knowledge, have a "bad name" or anything like that, but I can say after a building project, and moving to a new name, they became one of the stronger and more well known churches in town.

2. Those that know the CoGoP, and their past, need to see a change. For many, they aren't looking inside, so a name change might be a more public way of saying "we aren't who we once were".

As for the public apology, I agree it would be good, but I also know that it would be hard to pass through the Assembly officially, and I believe we have heard it from some of our leaders unofficially, it just doesn't ring true when there are still churches teaching the old ways.

[one love]

I wish I could remember the exact words... I honestly do not... but I can assure you that at that moment there was NO DOUBT in my mind and spirit what was going on...

It was early 80s... I was totally ambushed by the Holy Spirit in that meeting, and remember feeling heavy conviction and wanting desperately to get out of there, but I was on my knees in total awe and fear.

I was right there with you, Brother.

I was in that assembly meeting as an 18 year old.
I think some really took it to heart and it changed them, while others repented, got up and thought it was over.

I can agree there.

[DaJudge]

... I would add this though. The "of Prophecy" part of our name drives away people who otherwise know nothing about us. People immediately think we are a cult with a name like that, even knowing nothing about us. ...

I wonder if you have any stats to support this, or perhaps if it is a regional thing. I have no experience at all with anyone ever being dissuaded by the Of Prophecy part of the name of the church - none. I am not sure that I have ever even heard of anyone being dissuaded by it (except for mentions like this here on J2).

Uhmm, yeah Rambo, I took a poll.

No, I don't have any STATS. But I have talked to dozens of people who have started coming to our church in the last 10 years, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them have told me that they came to our church IN SPITE of the name, and that they had second thoughts about coming after they were invited because of the "of Prophecy" weirdness".

[RamboPreacher]

... I would add this though. The "of Prophecy" part of our name drives away people who otherwise know nothing about us. People immediately think we are a cult with a name like that, even knowing nothing about us. ...

I wonder if you have any stats to support this, or perhaps if it is a regional thing. I have no experience at all with anyone ever being dissuaded by the Of Prophecy part of the name of the church - none. I am not sure that I have ever even heard of anyone being dissuaded by it (except for mentions like this here on J2).

Uhmm, yeah Rambo, I took a poll.

No, I don't have any STATS. But I have talked to dozens of people who have started coming to our church in the last 10 years, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them have told me that they came to our church IN SPITE of the name, and that they had second thoughts about coming after they were invited because of the "of Prophecy" weirdness".

right, I see - you live in teh SouthEast. you probably drink sweet tea, or a coke, or a soda. We drink real tea, and have lots of flavors of pop.

[one love]

... I would add this though. The "of Prophecy" part of our name drives away people who otherwise know nothing about us. People immediately think we are a cult with a name like that, even knowing nothing about us. ...

I wonder if you have any stats to support this, or perhaps if it is a regional thing. I have no experience at all with anyone ever being dissuaded by the Of Prophecy part of the name of the church - none. I am not sure that I have ever even heard of anyone being dissuaded by it (except for mentions like this here on J2).

Uhmm, yeah Rambo, I took a poll.

No, I don't have any STATS. But I have talked to dozens of people who have started coming to our church in the last 10 years, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them have told me that they came to our church IN SPITE of the name, and that they had second thoughts about coming after they were invited because of the "of Prophecy" weirdness".

actualy me and Dajudge traveled to 20 different cities where there are COGOP

we asked
25,000 people in all how they felt about the name COGOP and should it be changed. In all these cities across the country they all 100percent said the same thing


that is not the church that Gerald Creasy goes to is it

[DaJudge]

right, I see - you live in teh SouthEast. you probably drink sweet tea, or a coke, or a soda. We drink real tea, and have lots of flavors of pop.

No, I don't know what a pop is. I have never uttered the word, "soda". I drink Coke. Period.

[MacUser]

I drink Coke. Period.

Something I can FINALLY AMEN!

[Paully_44]

[ We drink real tea, and have lots of flavors of pop.

as do we.

[EagerBeaver]

[ We drink real tea, and have lots of flavors of pop.

as do we.

Yeah and we have people who are put off by the name "of Prophecy" as well.

To WA state's credit I think the only time I really ever saw the COGOP name mentioned was during official state events.

[Mat]

removed

[one love]

... I would add this though. The "of Prophecy" part of our name drives away people who otherwise know nothing about us. People immediately think we are a cult with a name like that, even knowing nothing about us. ...

I wonder if you have any stats to support this, or perhaps if it is a regional thing. I have no experience at all with anyone ever being dissuaded by the Of Prophecy part of the name of the church - none. I am not sure that I have ever even heard of anyone being dissuaded by it (except for mentions like this here on J2).

Uhmm, yeah Rambo, I took a poll.

No, I don't have any STATS. But I have talked to dozens of people who have started coming to our church in the last 10 years, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them have told me that they came to our church IN SPITE of the name, and that they had second thoughts about coming after they were invited because of the "of Prophecy" weirdness".

actualy me and Dajudge traveled to 20 different cities where there are COGOP

we asked
25,000 people in all how they felt about the name COGOP and should it be changed. In all these cities across the country they all 100percent said the same thing


that is not the church that Gerald Creasy goes to is it

Dajudge are you going to back me up on our traveling poll?
I think it is not the name that is the problem folks according to our POLL...

As a note there was no real poll nor am I implying that Gerald is the cause of all cogop problems

[Dr. Ron]

Well, I'm back.......great vacation!

Hope you understand this post. For some churches, a name change is a great idea. We recently changed our name and it has been a great blessing to us. We are seeing the results of it weekly. Especailly in the office.

For other churches, it is simply "re-arranging the deck chairs". A name change will have no effect at all, if the attitude inside has not changed.

It is more than vital, that a "corporate" name change promote the vision of the organization .....or promote the location. With a denom., it has to promote the general believe structure of the organization.

So, I really don't see the need to change the name for name change sake. if the people are going to get the same stuff inside that they have always gotten. That is called "bait and switch". Like Ha Ha we fooled you...... you didn't even realize it was us all along......changed the name and you took the bait......

If you do change the name (locally or generally) there needs to be a very concerted marketing plan to accompany that. When we changed our name, I went to the paper and made a big issue out of it.....and we are just now getting geared up to really hit it big time with some mail outs etc.

To effectively change the name of the denomination, would likely cost you a million dollars to do it properly. Just a vote at the IA would be only one hurdle.

[KBevangelist]

No, I don't know what a pop is. I have never uttered the word, "soda". I drink Coke. Period.

PREACH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

KB