|
Indiana Ministries Update
October 24, 2011 - Vol 3, Issue 21
|
|
|
DNA Transformation
by Doug Talley
Every five years the Church of God holds a Strategic Planning Conference where approximately 150 leaders gather to look to the future. At the recent 2011 conference, Rev. Milton Grannum, Senior Pastor of New Covenant Church of God in Philadelphia, was one of the speakers. He made a statement that gripped everyone there: "The Great Commission has never been part of the DNA of the Church of God." When I heard those words, my first thought was, "I can't believe someone of his stature in the Church of God finally admitted that."
In the Church of God we have dabbled in the Great Commission. Some have had more interest in and commitment to it than others. Historically, we were more of a movement to reform the church rather than a tribe focused on making disciples, i.e. more and better disciples. I've heard and read stories of Church of God folks picketing outside churches of other tribes on Sunday mornings urging attenders to come out of Babylon and become part of the Church of God. Even if this wasn't common practice, we have tended to lean more to proselyting than winning people to Christ.
|
