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A brief history of the Church of God General
Conference
 THE
CHURCHES OF GOD (headquarters Morrow, Georgia) in many parts of the world form a unique
segment of the religious world with which you as a seeker for truth should be familiar.
While small in size, its contribution to Bible understanding has been great. In many ways
its leaders have pioneered a reawakening in the understanding of Bible truths that were
long hidden in the darkness of human traditions and philosophy.
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THE CHURCH OF GOD
What It Is Not
The
Church of God is not a "Reformation Church." It does not trace its origin to the
Reformation nor to Reformation leaders. The Church of God has its taproots in the Word of
God and not in the revolt of the church.
The
Church of God is not a "founded" church; that is, it was not established by any one
leader. It does not trace itself back to any individual other than Christ. It has no
prophet or prophetess, nor a single founder. It has had outstanding leaders in its past
history, but it did not radiate out from any one person.
The
Church of God is not a "splinter church"; that is, it did not break off from any older,
established denomination. While the family tree of many churches shows them as branches
of other denominations and those denominations as branches from others, etc., the Church
of God was never so affiliated.
Where It Began
The
Church of God as it is known today came into being as small groups of individuals in
England and North America who, through personal Bible study, became convinced of the
doctrinal truths that are set forth as the Statement of Faith. In most cases, these
groups and their leaders did not even know of the existence of the others.
In
the mid-1800s, however, some of the leaders, Joseph Marsh in Rochester, New York, the
Wilson family who had migrated from England to Geneva, Illinois, and other leaders in
Texas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Pennsylvania, began to publish papers which gained wide
circulation. Through these publications the small groups of Bible students and
individuals became aware of one another and began to exchange correspondence. Circuit
preachers visited back and forth among these various local groups, and new churches soon
grew up in other places.
Over a period of years, groups of churches formed state conferences and eventually
a General Conference was organized in 1921.
What It Is
Churches of God are congregational in government. They maintain complete local
independence. There is close cooperation, however, in the maintaining of publishing
facilities, the operation of Atlanta Bible College, and the mission programs of the
Church of God. There are established standards for the ministry, cooperation in the work
of the Sunday schools and the Berean youth fellowships, and close fellowship between the
scattered members of the Church of God.
The
Church of God places great emphasis upon the Word of God, and Bible preaching and
teaching are prominent. Bible classes and Bible study groups are the backbone of its
work.
The
Church of God is "adventist," in that it believes in the literal, visible second coming
of Christ. It is "baptist," in that it believes in adult immersion for the remission of
sins. It is "congregational," in that it has a congregational form of government. It is
"conditionalist," in that it believes that man will inherit immortality on the condition
that he accepts Christ as his Savior and is found in Him at His coming.
It
is "unitarian," in that it believes that God is one, the Father, the Creator, who is
above all, and that Jesus Christ is His Son who came into existence by the power of God
by birth to the virgin Mary. It is "fundamentalist," in that it believes the Bible is the
only inspired Word of God, and adheres to it only as authority for faith and doctrine. It
is "premillennial," in that it believes Jesus will come before the millennium and that
the Kingdom of God will be established on the earth when Jesus comes.
It
is of the "Abrahamic faith," because it believes that the promises made to Abraham will
be fulfilled in the church and in the faithful of Israel through Christ. "If you belong
to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Gal.
3:29).
What This Means to You
We
are living in an age of crisis when all thinking persons are contemplating world events
and their present and future place in the scheme of things. With the threat of war,
morality and ethics at a low ebb, and economic uncertainty, no person can long hide his
head in the sand and say, "This does not affect me."
The
Church of God can help each person find a place in this life and a secure hope for the
future. Standing upon the promises of God and trusting implicitly in the grace of God,
the believer can find a solid foundation for this life and for life in the age to
come.
With confidence in the ability of God to lead and bless His own even in crisis
times, and with assurance in the promises of God for a better day to come, the child of
God has a distinct advantage in this life. With proper understanding of the Word and will
of God, the Christian also has a challenging and rewarding work in this life to witness
for the Lord in life and word. Christ offers to the believer a full, rich life now, and
hope for an eternal life in the perfect Kingdom of God on earth in the age to
come.
The
Church of God can help you find the way to this new life and the stability that it
offers. It does not offer psychology or philosophy or schemes for social reform or
legislative proposals or the solutions of authors, but the plan and will of God revealed
in His Word, the Bible, presented in an easy to understand and practical way.
If
you attend a Church of God, you will find the people are friendly, dedicated, and
interested in the spiritual welfare of their neighbors. Services emphasize worship, Bible
study, and Bible-based sermons. You will find a friendly welcome and great personal
benefit in the Church of God.
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