Newsletter Date

COGVA NEWS
September, 2017
Volume 1, Issue 1
Volume 4, Issue 11

Write the vision and make it plain on the tablet so that it might be read quickly.
Table of Contents: Habakkuk 2:2 (LEB)

Neaces Pieces 2

Joynes Road Continues to COGVA Announces Something Big!

Impact the Hampton

Community 3
RESTORE Family Conference
21st Streets Vacation Bible

School has a banner year

COGVA Unity Picnic 4

Broader Field Past and

Present 5

2017 Mission Trip to

Honduras 6

Fall Student Retreat Set for

October 20-21 7

CHOG Ministries General

Director Responds to

Charlottesville Violence 8

Help With Hurricane

Harvey 9 will be something for the Church as a whole.

We promised Something
COGVA Budget 10 Big! to be announced in
COGVA August 4th and
Mark Your Calendars 12
as it was revealed, there
COGVA Mens Ministry was, and continues to be
a sense of excitement
Stays Active 13
about the RESTORE
Event Flyers 17 - 23 Family Conference June
24 27 in Colonial
Williamsburg, VA. Given
the slate of those
preaching, leading in
conferences, planned
participation of various
entities within COGVA,
and the scheduling, there
every member of the
family. Family oriented
events that are exciting as
this event has the
potential to be are
becoming more and more
rare as we are now living
in a post-Christian era. It
is important to recognize
the significance of this
conference and its
opportunities to build
relationships among
immediate family
members, and strengthen
the bonds of family across
Such events can only be
afforded us as we take
advantage of them, and
as excitement continues
to build, we hope you will
make plans to be a part of
this great event.
Please be in prayer for
this tremendous event.
Time is running out for
Early Bird pricing so be
sure to register before
Sept. 30th
(Continued on page 9)
 COGVA News
Neaces Pieces
Civil unrest in
Charlottesville has shown
us a bit of what lurks
beneath the surface of our
society. It is a stark
reminder that evil is a
present reality in our
world. The United States
are not immune, and
some might argue that our
freedoms, when
unchecked by common
sense, afford the
opportunity for small but
vocal and active minorities
to dominate the news and
stoke our fears. Jim Lyon,
We must also Call for
General Director for
repentance. In order for Church of God Ministries confesses, dont act
people to escape sin, it has written an article that
must be repented of by appeared in MOVE a sin, as any other sin, and
confessing or national online publication
acknowledging the for the Church of God and
I have included it in this
problem..
issue of COGVA News on
page 8. He does a
tremendous job detailing
some history many of us
may not be aware of and I
urge your thoughtful
reading of it.
It is situations like
Charlottesville last month
that forces the church and
society to recognize what
the enemy is capable of.
Trilla Newbell, in her
article, How the Church
Can Lead the Charge
Against Racism,
https://factsandtrends.net/
2014/05/02/how-the-
church-can-lead-the-
charge-against-racism/)
gives us seven keys that
can help us move forward
in times like these.
Borrowing from her seven
points in the article, let me
share her points with
commentary:
We must Recognize that
racism exists. We should
never assume that the
Civil Rights Era fixed all
racism problems. As long
as there is sin in the
world, racism will be an
issue, and it is an area
where the church can lead
by example by addressing
and eradicating racism in
the pulpit and the pew.
When someone
shocked. Racism is a
the church should be a
safe haven where
confession of that sin can
take place.
Use biblical language.
The word racism seems
ambiguous. To get to the
heart of the problem, like
with all sin, we want to
find the root and call it
what it is. So, for the term
racism there could be a
number of sin issues such
as: pride, hate, jealousy,
bitterness, and partiality.
When we address racism
with the familiar and
helpful language in the
Scriptures, we can much
more easily fight that sin.
Racism isnt an opinion;
its a heart issue.
Provide the way of
escape. Again, the
church should be a place
Page 2 of 23
where the confession of
this and any other sin can
be recognized, confessed,
and forgiven. If the
church holds only the
standards of the world,
then there is no need for
the church, whose
responsibility is to show
Jesus, who is the way of
escape for all sin. We
should never assume the
world knows the gospel,
thus we should never
assume the world knows
the way of escape. Let us
be people who point the
way to Jesus, our escape
hatch from the bondage
of sin.
We must also Call for
repentance. In order for
people to escape sin, it
must be repented of by
confessing or
acknowledging the
problem. First John 1: 9
tells us If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just
to forgive our sins and
cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. We
must encourage those
who struggle with any sin
to repent and ask the Lord
for forgiveness and
freedom from it, including
racism.
We must forgive. If we
are to combat racism
anywhere, we must
forgive those who are
battling with or have been
guilty of this sin.
(Continued on page 7)
 Page 3 of 23
Joynes Road Continues to Impact the Hampton Community
Joynes Road Church of
God, Hampton, VA is the
new host for the Virginia
Peninsula Mobile Food
Pantry that takes place on
the third Tuesday every
month! The Foodbank
approached Pastor
Simeon Green and Joynes
Road Church of God after
one of our long running
sites informed us they
would not be able to
continue their 200 family
distribution site.
The Mobile Food Pantry is
a program of the Virginia
Peninsula Foodbank, and
serves anywhere between
50-200 families at any of
our 31 sites throughout the
month. For example,
Joynes Road has agreed
to sponsor the Mobile
Food Pantry for 100
families for $250 each
month. With this $250
sponsorship, the
Foodbank arrives on the
day of distribution about
an hour or so before go
time and unloads around
8,000 pounds of assorted
produce, frozen protein,
dry pantry goods, USDA
TEFAP commodities and a
dessert type item. This
food is rolled by pallet into
the Community Room at
Joynes Road where it is
then sorted onto tables
and produce is packed into
bags. A simple paperwork
process takes place in the
hallway outside where
clients have arrived to
receive their free groceries
from the Foodbank.
COGVA News
Team Members of Joynes Road Church of God and Virginia Peninsula Mobile Food Pantry
Volunteers from the positive manner with those
Foodbank, Joynes Road food insecure clients, in
Church of God and the hopes that they will
community make the continue to come back
packing of all this food a month after month so the
quick and fun process. Foodbank can serve their
There is great opportunity food needs. We also hope
for fellowship amongst this food distribution allows
those who have arrived to food insecure households
serve! to focus on other things,
such as medicine, utilities,
Once the distribution housing, etc.
starts, the visitors are
Here at the Foodbank, our
walked through the
mission is to distribute
community room where
food effectively through
they receive their fair
collaborative efforts that
share of groceries and
minimize hunger, promote
then escorted to their
nutrition and encourage
vehicle by a volunteer.
self-reliance through
Each visitor has a grocery
education. The Mobile
basket full of food, so the
Food Pantry is just one of
volunteers deliver it to the
the many programs we
vehicles to hurry the
have to help us fulfill our
basket back for the next
mission, and we are so
client. This system
grateful for partners like
ensures that each and
Joynes Road Church of
every visitor is able to
God that seek to also
participate and is another
nourish the needs of the
opportunity for these
community.
volunteers to engage in a

Glowing For Jesus!"
Departments Police Chief,
Alfred Durham
Grill Masters Harold Parker III
and Rev. Silas Oliver
COGVA News
21st Streets Vacation Bible School has a banner
year
In preparation for VBS
held July 10-14th, the
Youth and Coordinator,
Essie Henry, canvassed
the neighborhood
distributing flyers inviting
families to attend. This
effort contributed to a
banner year as
attendance reached 63
children/adults the first
night (ranging from age 3
to adults).
The theme was Glow For
Jesus. Each evening
was begun with a short
worship service including
prayer by a youth,
pledgees to the Bible,
Christian and American
flag, theme song (Glow for
Jesus) and a short
question and answer
session facilitating the
recall of the scripture and
lesson content.
On Thursday evening,
Richmond Police
Departments Police
Chief, Alfred Durham, was
the guest speaker. He
observed the number of
young people in
attendance and stated
COGVA Unity Picnic
Dont forget that the
COGVA Unity Picnic will
take place on the grounds
of the Bedford Camp
Saturday, September 16.
There will be a service
with Rev. Calvin Peterson
preaching beginning at
10:00 am.
Page 4 of 23
how happy he was to see volunteers and VBS
them in church. He Committee with tokens of
addressed issues appreciation.
plaquing the churchs
VBS was successful in
community and how the
reaching children/youth
church and individuals can
especially outside the
be advocates in assisting
church family, acquaint
the police. He spoke
them with God (if they
about social media and
werent previously), teach
how it had played a
them the importance of
significant role in the
having Jesus in their lives
recent death of a teenager
and going to church
in the community.
regularly. Several of the
Attendees were also given
neighborhood children
an opportunity to ask
have returned since VBS
questions and share
for Sunday School and
negative experiences
stayed through the
encountered with the
morning service. We
police.
continue our efforts to
After Fridays worship, reach the lost and the
each class gave a children in our community,
summation, some some who are quite gifted.
displaying posters made,
Matthew reminds us that
of the material they
Glowing for Jesus should
learned. A cookout was
be something Christians
held to wrap up the week
do daily. Let your light so
with Harold Parker, III and
shine before men, that
Pastor Oliver serving as
they may see your good
grill masters. Certificates
works, and glorify your
were distributed Sunday
Father which is in
during the mornings
heaven. (Matthew 5:16)
worship service.
Coordinator, Jacqueline Submitted by Cathy M.
Green, also presented the Atkins
This gathering of people is Each family is asked to
NOT relegated to bring a covered dish and
ministers only, but affords soft drinks to share and
us an opportunity to COGVA will provide ice,
worship and eat together. paper good, plasticware,
Gatherings like the and napkins.
COGVA Picnic help us to
Hope to see you there!
foster relationships and
encourage dialogue with
one another.
 Page 5 of 23
BROADER FIELDS - PAST AND PRESENT
By Racheal Baez, CWC/WCG State President
God often uses ordinary
women to influence and
impact the lives of others.
Throughout the Bible, we
find many examples of
women who spoke words
of courage, ministered to
the needs of others, and
shared the good news of
the Gospel.
Today, God still uses
women to minister and
influence others. There
were those who, over the
years, had a vision. It was
a vision that was driven by
purpose, driven by
compassion and driven by
hope. It was a vision that
would make a difference in
lives, in communities and
all over the world. Nora
Seins Hunter had such a
vision. It began when she
sat looking at a magazine
cover which pictured a
combine cutting a wide
swath through a wheat
field. Nora Hunter had just
returned home from a five-
month mission trip to
Europe, North Africa and
Syria. So, when she saw
the picture of the wheat
field, she was struck with
the analogy of that picture
to broader fields of
human potential. The
fields were broad and the
precious grain was ready
for harvest but were being
lost.
Church of God had forty-
seven missionaries on the
field during the Great
Depression. These
missionaries barely
managed with inadequate
salaries. Their salaries
were repeatedly cut as the
church struggled to stay
alive.
Nora Hunter could not get
away from her vision
those broader fields need
harvesting. In 1932, during
the Anderson Camp
Meeting, the National
Womans Home and
Foreign Missionary
Society of the Church of
God was born with Nora
Hunter as its first national
president. In its first year,
fourteen states joined the
society. By their next camp
meeting, they had a
budget of $1,000. Over
time, state and local units
were organized and
became a vital part of this
ministry.
In West Middlesex,
Pennsylvania the National
Association Women of the
Church of God was
organized. Jean May
Whitehead served as its
first president from 1951-
1961. She was very vocal
about the Society and the
Association working
together. They did come
together and worked on
umbrella of CWC in
projects such as the Christ
Birthday Offering, Penny a
Day and the Spiritual
Birthday. The first joint
national convention was
held in Nashville,
Tennessee in 2001. From
that time until now, the two
groups have come
together, working side by
side to further the
Kingdom of God.
COGVA News
In 1946 the society
changed their name to
National Women
Missionary Society, and in
1974 the society officially
changed the name to
Women of the Church of
God. Fundraising was a
major focus. In 2008,
Women of the Church of
God conducted a
Relevance survey to
determine the needs of the
women in the Church of
God. Due to the findings,
the national organization
set the ground work for the
next phase of the ministry.
In 2009, the name was
officially changed to
Christian Women
Connection. They
continue to help meet the We continue to work
needs of missionaries, towards spreading the
mission education in the Gospel by supporting
local churches and help
our missionaries.
support the various
ministries of the Church of
God.
Although the Women of
the Church of God (WCG)
in the state of Virginia has
not officially changed their
name to Christian Women
Connection (CWC), they
continue to fall under the
Anderson, Indiana. We
continue to work towards
spreading the Gospel by
supporting our
missionaries. Each year
we select a foreign and a
domestic project to
support.
(Continued on page 13)
 COGVA News
2017 Mission Trip to Honduras
Many of you may
remember that Waters
Edge Church of God in
Virginia Beach has a
sister church located in El
Ocote, Honduras. Having
a Sister church involves
regular prayer for them
Missions Team with First
Completed House and we support them
financially each month so
that their pastor, Pastor
Daniels, can be more of a
full time pastor. One year
we sent a couple of cases
of Spanish Bibles because
we found out most of the
church members did not
have one within their
home. It is small things
like this which makes a
big difference in their
Missions Team with Second
Completed House
spiritual lives.
For the past 5 years some
of us have made a week
long trip to Honduras. To
do this efficiently, we
partner with a missions
group called Heart To
Honduras (H2H). They
provide local
transportation, a Spanish
translator, and meals
while we are in Honduras.
They also have a
A Much Needed Break headquarters there where
there is permanent
housing for visitors like us.
Another thing H2H does is
to work with the local
pastors to determine the
kinds and types of
projects needed in the
community.
We never stay in the H2H
compound for a couple
reasons. First is the drive
to and from the compound
takes several hours. The
second and most
important reason is that it
Page 6 of 23
gives us time to interact Normally we have one
and know the people and main project to complete
for them to know us. each year. This year, we
decided to fund the
These trips have several
construction of six pilas.
main goals. One of them
Because it takes a skilled
is to provide some sort of
mason, that work was
construction in the
contracted out to local
community. These are of
craftsmen. This not only
two different types. Those
helped out the home
where local craftsmen are
owners but helped out the
hired to do small projects.
various craftsmen. Our
These are things like
main goal was to build two
providing a concrete floor
homes for people whose
inside a home, concrete
house was no longer safe
coating of adobe houses.
to live in. We were
Another project is building
successful and actually
pilas which always include
built two houses in two
laundry facilities
days. OK, so we had
(washboards along with
some help from the locals
a water reservoir at an
and the foundation and
appropriate working
floor were complete
height) and sometimes a
before we arrived. We
toilet and shower. The
constructed the walls
other type of projects is
(wooden) and roof (metal).
where we provide most of
We also built all the doors
the labor. The most
and windows by hand and
notable of these is to build
installed them. There is no
a complete house. Other
inside plumbing,
things were like when we
electricity, kitchen, bath or
built a bridge across a
closets. The owner later
stream which floods
only adds electricity.
during the storms and the
closest other bridge was a These houses are
several mile walk to work constructed by a
or church. We have even partnership between our
put a roof on a house and church, the new resident,
built a cover for an open the local government and
septic tank. the local church. Our
church provides about
In July of this year, we
50% of the cost with the
made our annual mission
remainder divided up
trip to El Ocote, Honduras.
between the others. It is
Normally, only have
always a surprise how the
people who attend our
government provides
church go. But this year
funds for these projects.
was different. We had 10
The new owners also
people go which included
have to provide some
a person from Ohio,
labor in addition to money.
another from Florida and
our very own Dr. Rev. Bob (Continued on page 7)
Neace.
Page 7 of 23 COGVA News

Fall Student Retreat Set for October 20-21

Rev. Jessica Willis,
Director/Fall Student Retreat
The theme for this years
Student Fall Retreat is
The Pause. In a world
where there is
tremendous pull for our
attention, we are going to
pause and learn how we
can cultivate a deeper
relationship with Christ.
Together, we will pause
and learn to stop and seek
Gods voice in the midst of
hectic lives through prayer
and study of Gods Word. lodging, meals, study
We are so excited to
announce this weekend
will take place Friday,
October 20 Saturday,
October 21 at Camp
Christi. Please mark your
calendars today, join us in
prayer, and invite your
busy students to pause for
a weekend that is sure to
be lifechanging. Cost is
$25.00 and includes
book, t-shirt (must be
registered by September
22) , and a follow-up
journal. Registration
begins at 4:00 pm.
Students may be
registered online at
www.facebook.com/cogva
or by mail using the
registration form attached
to this issue of COGVA
News.

2017 Mission Trip to Honduras (Continued)

To catch the readers
attention, place an
interesting sentence or
quote from the story
here. Other things we did were
Hmm...
These houses are a
standard 20 by 24 foot
two room houses with a
front porch. The cost is
around $8,000 per house.
go to the school and
presented a Christian
message. Yes, Jesus
Christ is allowed within the
schools in Honduras.
Actually, when the church
started going there and
teaching about Jesus, the
problems with the
students decreased
dramatically. Perhaps the had a very large waterfall.
Hondurans are much Some of us actually did
smarter than the people the zip line and others
(government?) of the went under the falls.
USA.
Submitted by Larry W.
One evening we provided Ebinger Elder, Waters
a community meal for the Edge Community Church
village. Our H2H cooks of God
prepared the food, the
leadership of the local
church served the meal
and we carried it to those
in attendance.
After all the work was
complete, we took some
time to go to a park which

Neaces Pieces (Continued)

Forgiveness does not
mean forgetting the past,
but rather, learning from it
and not dwelling on what
damage has been done.
Forgiveness means that
we allow people who have
repented of their sin to
grow in Christ as we grow
as well. Forgiveness is
difficult, and is a process,
but it is a mandate from
Christ to offer forgiveness tongue. If the church is
as freely as we have not a place where racism
received it. can be obliterated, then
there is no hope for
Proclaim the gospel. It is
mankind, but glory to God,
the gospel of Jesus Christ
he has given us a ministry
that ultimately sets us free
of reconciliation. Let us
from racism and all other
be found in the church in
sin. Jesus did not die only
our day doing all we can
for the Jew, black, brown,
to accomplish that
white or red man, but for
ministry.
every tribe, nation and

CHOG Ministries General Director Responds to Charlottesville Violence
Paul Goodloe McIntire was
an investment genius,
whose savvy management
of stock portfolios in both
Chicago and New York
empowered him to be one
of his hometowns
preeminent
philanthropists. Inspired by
the City Beautiful
movement dramatically
brought to life at the
Chicago Worlds Fair in
1893, he dedicated himself
to funding monumental
public spaces, city parks
and squares, most often
featuring heroic sculpture.
He was born in 1860 and
polished his fortune in
New York City before
retiring in 1918; he then
returned to the beloved
city of his birth:
Charlottesville, Virginia.
McIntire was a son of the
South. The Old South. His
father was the mayor of
Charlottesville during the
Civil War and negotiated
the citys surrender to
Union troops, saving its
buildings and leafy
neighborhoods from the
firestorms that engulfed
Fredericksburg and
Richmond. As a young
man, he attended
Charlottesvilles famed
University of Virginia,
studying under Thomas
Jeffersons elegant
Rotunda. He would
become one of the
Universitys most
extravagant donors,
endowing chairs and
schools that still bear his
name. And, McIntire gave
Charlottesville a statue of
Robert E. Lee, straddling
COGVA News
the horse Traveler,
commanding
Lee Park in the heart of
the citythe park itself a
gift from this wealthy
favorite son, who required
that access to the park be
for whites only. He also
gave the city Washington
Park, named to honor
Booker T. Washington,
asking that it be reserved
for colored children. No
statues there.
In the week following the
unveiling of Lees statue in
1924 (at a ceremony in
which the Confederate
general was proclaimed,
the greatest man who
ever lived), the Ku Klux
Klan burned crosses
across the town and set
bombs around a
Charlottesville church
popular with the African-
American community.
Events in Charlottesville
mirrored the tenor of the
times, as the Klan was in
its ascendancy. During the
1920s, up to 25,000
Klansmen, in full regalia
white hoods and all the
restannually marched
proudly down
Pennsylvania Avenue in
Washington, D.C., in a
show of force not lost on
the minority communities
they sought to both
marginalize and terrorize.
There were more black
Americans living (and
enslaved) in Charlottesville
and the surrounding
Albemarle County,
Virginia, before and during
the Civil War than there
Page 8 of 23
were white Americans.
When Lees statue took
the stage in the 1920s,
about 35 percent of the
citys population had
descended from those
slaves. Memorializing the
vanguard of the
Confederacy and
celebrated by the Klan,
Lee Park and its statue
received mixed reviews,
then and now. People of
color in Charlottesville Dr. Jim Lyon, General
Director/Church of God
during the McIntire years,
and for years, after had no Ministries
voice in municipal
Dr. Lyon presented
government, having been this article in the
systemically denied recent CHOG News
effective representation by dated August 25,
Jim Crow-era laws and 2017. COGVA News
processes designed to does not normally
move them to the dedicate as much
sidelines. African space to articles and
American slaves built ask articles submitted
iconic local landmarks (like to be limited to 500-
Jeffersons Monticello and 700 words. Given the
much of the University of solemnity of Dr.
Virginia campus) but were Lyons words, and the
timeliness of what is
not represented as
said, COGVA News
contributors in any public
is pleased to present
space, while those who
it in its entirety.
owned people as property
were raised up as heroes
decades after losing the
War.
In May 2016, after some
years of community
debate, the city of
Charlottesville established
a Blue Ribbon
Commission to explore
the future of the Lee statue
and another one similar,
also a 1920s McIntire gift,
of Confederate General
Stonewall Jackson,
proudly on a pedestal
elsewhere in town.
(Continued on page 14)
Page 9 of 23
Help With Hurricane Harvey!
Many churches across the
movement have been
asking the question, How
can we help our sister
churches in Texas. I have
spoken with the Regional
Pastor for Texas, Dr. Tim
West, and there is a place
on their website to
contribute funds for
disaster relief. We can
help our sister churches
directly by giving online to
Texas Church of God by
clicking here
http://www.texaschurchofg
od.com/resources/hurrica
ne-harvey.html
Church of God Ministries
is also working with the
Texas Church of God
COGVA Announce Something Big! RESTORE
Conference
Here is the SPECIAL
EARLY BIRD PRICING
good through September
30: VIP Registration: $200
(REGULARLY $250)
Includes registration for
your entire family (up to
4), 3 awesome days of
great speakers and music
for all ages. includes up to
4 general admission
tickets to Sunday evening
with THE NELONS, and
reserved VIP seating in
each session.
Family Registration: $159
(REGULARLY $199)
Individual Registration:
$129 (REGULARLY $159)
Sunday Night Nelons
Concert: $10
Also, we wanted to remind
you to make sure you
COGVA News
through their Disaster you are willing to go to
Relief Program and its Texas and we have
website is: opportunity to send a work
https://give.jesusisthesubj team. Lori Fehr of the
ect.org/default.aspx?tsid= Riverside First Church of
8168&fund=188971 God in Fredericksburg is
looking to form a missions
For those wishing to give team. She has
directly to Disaster Relief experience in this type of
in Texas to our Church of venture. I am asking a
God Congregations via response to this
check, please make the newsletter and/or an email
check to Texas Church of sent to pastors earlier this
God and earmark it for week to gauge interest
Hurricane Harvey Disaster and talent/gifting for the
and mail it to: two projects listed below.
Texas Church of God Once a level of interest is
3715 Preston Road established, we will begin
Pasadena, TX 77505. working on the logistics of
forming a team and
We also have opportunity ministering to our sister
for work teams to form. If
(Continued on page 11)
Family
Project 1 - Orange Church
of God Orange, Pastor
reserve your room at the Demetrius Moffett
Every 10 individual
Williamsburg Woodlands Projected materials cost:
registrations from ANY
to take advantage of $3,500.00; multiple day
church = Pastor (and
special COGVA pricing. project. Costs do not
family) have FREE
include flooring, just
Here is the contact info for REGISTRATION!
drywall. Rip up the flooring
hotel registration: Treva Register
and demoBEFORE the drywall.
Green - Colonial Septemberteams
Overnight 30 = $50
can off
Williamsburg Hospitality VIP Registration
lodge in the church $40 off
once
Group PHONE: (757) 565- Familywork
demo Registration
is complete $30in
8492 TOLL FREE: (800) Individual
the gym area. Registration.
Food
261-9530 E-MAIL: Please make
services every effort
are operational.
tgreen1@cwf.org OR visit: to promote
Fuel this great
is available but
https://aws.passkey.com/g event in your church.
scarce.
o/46856 It is IMPORTANT Make sure you use the
that you use code 46856 video found on the
for any reservations to get website2and
Project directOtis
- Pastor your
the special discounts.
folks Rockport,
Clay to registerPastor
at:
Lastly, we wanted to make www.restorefamilyconfere
Daniel Thomas Projected
sure you were aware of all nce.comIfcost:
materials you have any
$1,500.00;
of the incentives that are 5questions
day project at all please
A tree is infeel
in effect for EARLY BIRD freefront
his to reach
bedroomout toandthethe
Registrations: COGVA
ceiling in Office at 540- is
back bedroom
268-2040
falling in. Work Teams
need to know... 90% of
the city is without power
so generators will be
needed. There are NO
supplies in the area with
the nearest purchase
location in Corpus. No
 COGVA News Page 10 of 23

COGVA Budget
August 1, 2017 - July 31, 2018
Aug-Oct Nov-Jan Feb-Apr May-Jul
Categories Budget 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr 3rd Qtr 4th Qtr Balance
Exps. Exps. Exps. Exps.
1000 State Office
1100 Business Office $3,500.00 $91.27 $3,408.73
1200 Insurance 14,800.00 3,698.25 11,101.75
1300 Office Manager 14,437.50 1,203.12 13,234.38
1400 Income Taxes $3,320.00 $293.24 $3,026.76

Subtotal 36,057.50 5,285.88 30,771.62

1500 Chair $800.00 $800.00

2000 State Minister
Reimbursement Fund 16,050.00 $ 16,050.00

Subtotal 16,850.00 16,850.00

3000 Executive Council/Standing Ministries

3100 Executive Board $800.00 $177.56 $622.44
3200 Ministry of Church Service/Credentials $300.00 $300.00
3300 Ministry of Christian Education $75.00 $75.00
3400 Ministry of Evangelism $50.00 $50.00
3600 Ministry of Program $2,000.00 $2,000.00
3800 Ministerial Fellowship $100.00 $100.00
3900 Church Property Team $75.00 $75.00

Subtotal $3,400.00 $177.56 $3,222.44

5000 Property and Maintenance

5110 Camp Bedford
5110 Caretaker $5,000.00 $416.67 $4,583.33
5120 Campground Expenses (Maintenance) $1,000.00 $1,000.00
Capital Improvements $750.00 $750.00
Vehicle Maintenance $300.00 $300.00
Camp Bedford Mkt/Advertising $500.00 $500.00
5140 Utilities $6,000.00 $281.77 $5,718.23

Subtotal 13,550.00 $698.44 12,851.56

5200 Camp Christi

Page 11 of 23 COGVA News
5210 Caretaker 26,565.12 2,213.76 24,351.36
5220 Health Insurance $7,000.00 $596.00 6,404.00
5250 Utilities 14,000.00 2,333.27 11,666.73
5260 Maintenance $4,000.00 $4,000.00
Camp Christi Mkt/Advertising $500.00 $500.00
5270 Capital Improvements $750.00 $750.00
5280 Vehicle Maintenance $500.00 $500.00
5300 Legal Fees $500.00 $500.00
5400 Ministry Expenses $300.00 $300.00
Christmas Bonus $1,300.00 $1,300.00

Subtotal 55,415.12 5,143.03 50,272.09

Total Expenses 11,304.9

1
Total Income 7,739.85
Difference -3,565.06

Help With Hurricane Harvey (Continued)

Churches in Texas.
Projected materials cost: derived from the list of
Project 1 - Orange
$1,500.00; 5 day project projects needing
Church of God Orange,
A tree is in his front attention provided by
Pastor Demetrius
bedroom and the ceiling Brother Tim West.
Moffett Projected
in back bedroom is
materials cost: Please let me know of
falling in. Work Teams
$3,500.00; multiple day interest as quickly as
need to know... 90% of
project. Costs do not possible, as time is a
the city is without power
include flooring, just factor. Please respond
so generators will be
drywall. Rip up the to
needed. There are NO
flooring and demo the brobob4691@gmail.com
supplies in the area with
drywall. Overnight or calling 276-356-1433
the nearest purchase
teams can lodge in the and COGVA will
location in Corpus. No
church once demo work coordinate with Lori Fehr
accommodation or food
is complete in the gym and Texas Church of
in Rockport. Pastor
area. Food services are God Ministries.
Rojas (Corpus) is willing
operational. Fuel is
to house and feed the
available but scarce.
work team.
Project 2 - Pastor Otis
The information for
Clay Rockport, Pastor
these projects are
Daniel Thomas
 COGVA News Page 12 of 23

Mark Your Calendars

September
COGVA Unity Picnic Camp Bedford September 16, Rev. Calvin Peterson, Guest Speaker
Everyone asked to bring a covered dish, COGVA to provide ice and paper goods.
60th Anniversary Worship Services - Bellamy Avenue Church of God: A Fruitful Legacy : September
17th with Minister Alfred McClenney, 11am; September 24th with with Rev. Gertrude Goode, 11am; and
September 24th, 4pm with Minister Barbar Parker.
Revival 25th 29th Bluefield FCOG, Rev. Vondie Cook II, Evangelist, Rev. Scott Hodge to lead
worship.
27 Oct. 1- JRCOG Fall Revival, Conference, and Annual CWC Day; 7:30 nightly with Rev. Mikki
Merrit, Pastor, New Cote Brilliante Church of God, St. Louis, MO and Presiding Elder. National
Association of the Church of God,
30th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, JRCOG - Fall Conference, Rev. and Mrs. Mikki Merritt, followed by
fellowship lunch TBD
30th @ 6:00 pm.Southern Gospel Gathering Districtwide event at Atkins FCOG. Groups include
Eventide, Townesmen, Little Paint Quartet, Common Bond and Scott Snyder.
30th - Oct 1 Homecoming Gordon Road CHOG Spotsylvania Saturday: Service @ 7:00 pm, Sunday:
Sunday School @t 9:30 am Morning service @ 10:30 am, - No evening service.

October
1st 11:00am JRCOG Rev. Mikki Merritt, Speaker 4:00 pm, JRCOG Annual CWC Service, Rev. Carol E.
Merritt, Speaker
14th C.W.C./W.C.G. Luncheon Marion FCOG Rev. Jessica Willis, Guest Speaker
15th Pastors Anniversary Joynes Road CHOG/Hampton COGVA Chair Dick Gilbert speaking at
11:00 am and Rev. Calvin Peterson speaking at 4:00 pm
15-18 Revival Marion FCOG Rev. Jimmy Swogger, Evangelist
20-21 Fall Youth Retreat Camp Christi, $25.00 regsitration can be made online at
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fall-retreat-for-students-tickets-37105950898
22nd Homecoming Abingdon FCOG with Calvarys Mercy in the 11:00 Worship Service

November
4th C.W.C./W.C.G. Luncheon in Roanoke - Guest Speaker: Rev. Tammy Clark

February
17th C.W.C./W.C.G. Luncheon at Joynes Road Church of God Guest Speaker: Rev. Charlene Aaron
 Page 13 of 23
COGVA Mens Ministry Stays Active
The State Mens Ministry full bunks for the FE
team continues in COGVA
and providing training as
well as working for the
Lord helping other
congregations and
churches. We now have a
new Vice President and
would like to welcome
Rev. David Ansley as part
of the leadership in this
group.
We continue moving
forward and during our
August meeting the State
Mens Ministry sent
$786.00 to purchase two
Broader Fields (Continued)
We put together sewing
kits, health kits, bought
sewing machines and
even cows. We raised
funds for areas torn apart
by monsoons, health
clinics and prosthetics.
Local churches hold their
own fundraisers to help
contribute to these
projects as well as to the
Linen Chest and Christ
Birthday Offering, to name
a couple.
Our domestic project for
this year was to raise
money to replace the roof
and flooring in the
missionary cottage at
Camp Christi. To date, we
have raised close to
$5,000. This will cover the
roof with some money left
COGVA News
Minister to be a part of this
Indian Mission. Speaking meeting.
of this mission, Brother
Next years theme will be
Howard Helwig will be
"Christian men doing their
coming back to VA on
part in the furthering of
September 30th for a
Gods Kingdom. The
10:30am meeting at First
committee will be getting
Church of God, 8600
together soon to discuss
Granby Street to speak to
speakers and host
pastors and leadership of
churches during this
all the local churches in
month. We look forward Rev. Harold Boyd, State
the Hampton Roads area.
to serving once again as Men's Ministry President
Any and all pastors are
we continue in this most
invited to attend. Please
needed ministry. Please
put this on your calendar
keep us all in your
and plan to attend. We
prayers.
have also invited the State
.
over to go towards the looking forward to the
floor. We are thankful for upcoming luncheons
everyone who contributed which are as follows:
to this need. We will
Luncheon at Marion First
continue to raise funds for
Church of God - October
this project. If your church
14, (Guest Speaker: Rev.
would like to help with this
Jessica Willis)
project, donations can be
sent to Virginia WCG, attn: Luncheon in Roanoke -
Carolyn Ansley, 112 Nov. 4 (Guest Speaker:
Roanoke St, Blacksburg Rev. Tammy Clark)
VA 24060. Be sure to ear
Luncheon at Joynes Road
mark it for Cottage
Church of God February
Repairs.
17, 2018 (Guest Speaker:
The WCG also gather Rev. Charlene Aaron)
during the year for a time
May we never lose sight of
of fellowship, spiritual
that vision to reach the lost
refreshing and
at home and abroad! The
encouragement. There are
fields are broad and the
three regional luncheons,
harvest is ready.
a prayer breakfast, annual
spring convention and
Family Camp. We are
 COGVA News
CHOG Ministries General Director Responds to Charlottesville Violence
(Continued) The Commission snaking with torches My Terms of Employment
managed many months of
public conversation and
researchoften
contentious and dubbed
a moment of rupture by
one Commission
The Church of God memberand released its
must provide no quarter findings in December
2016. The City Council
to racism of any kind
voted in March 2017 to
and has consistently
remove and reinterpret
rebuked white
the Lee monument; this
supremacy . decision was challenged
in court; the case remains
unresolved, before the
bench. This controversy
and the Charlottesville
story became a cause for
the erstwhile guardians of
white supremacy,
nationwide.
In May 2017, white
nationalist (and University
of Virginia graduate)
Richard Spencer and
about a hundred others
joined in an after-dark
protest of the citys plans,
chanting Russia is our
friend, blood and soil (a
Nazi refrain), and we will
not be replaced (white
supremacist-speak
declaring that ethnic
diversity will render white
Americans an
endangered minority in
their own country). scourge of slavery, the
In August 2017, Spencer
and others aligned with
his tribe marched once
more through town at
night, torch-bearing,
chanting the same, only
this time hundreds strong.
Defiant. Angry. And,
armed. The newsreel
captures of preppy and
black-shirted white dudes
through otherwise
silent streets, loudly
prohibit me from making
voicing toxic phrases like,
Jews will not replace us,
are a chilling reprise of a
world my father (and so
many millions more like
him) suited up to erase
more than seventy years
ago.
On the next day, Nazi and
Confederate battle flags
marched in tandem,
ultimately destined for a
face-off with protestors
adamantly opposed to the
racism and white
supremacy both have
been used to promote in
two different centuries has not issued statements
and now a third. The
violence, injury, and death
that ensued has been the
stuff of a thousand
headlines and a stable of
talking heads on TV in the
days since, not to mention
government officials,
religious leaders,
corporate execs, and so
many more.
I share all this history to
better understand the
stage upon which these
events have walked. The
Civil War frame, the
context of the statue, a
citys honest attempt to provide no quarter to
process how it should
today tell its own story
with public spaces and art,
and the specter of racism
which haunts the whole,
all encompass the
proscenium. Watching the
drama unfold, it is time to
speak up.
Page 14 of 23
at Church of God
Ministries specifically
statements
that are political in tone or
that carry politically-
charged content. This
parameter is rooted
deeply in our Movements
DNA, historically apolitical
and also fearful that any
one voice be seen as
speaking for church (in the
way denominational
hierarchies are prone to
embrace). Consequently,
Church of God
Ministries during my
tenure (and long before)
in response to man-made
headlines. However, in
this instance, given the
temperature of the
controversies and
requests from the field
and after consultation with
our General Assembly
chair Diana Swoope, and
the Assemblys chair-
elect, Tim ClarkeI am
releasing this reply. I own
the content, drawing from
the General Assemblys
actions and voice on
behalf of the church, over
time.
The Church of God must
racism of any kind and
has consistently rebuked
white supremacy. Its
General Assembly has
many times (beginning in
1956) unambiguously
opposed racism, racial
segregation, political and
(Continued on page15)
 Page 15 of 23
CHOG Ministries General Director Responds to Charlottesville Violence
(Continued
social barriers to racial
harmony and
reconciliation, and racial
discrimination of all kinds.
We base our stand
toward basic human rights
on the teaching of the
Scriptures. God has
made of one blood all
nations of men (Acts
17:26). For we are all the
children of God by faith in
Jesus Christfor we are
all one in Jesus Christ
(Galatians 3:26, 28). The
first of these speaks as to
origin, the second as to
relationship. We believe
that in the Church of God
there should be no racial
barriers because we are
all brethren in Christ. We
believe that man was
made in the image of God,
that every person is of
intrinsic worth before God,
and that every individual
has a right to the fullest
possible opportunities for
the development of life
abundant and eternal. We
believe that these rights
are given by God and that
the church has a
responsibility to defend
them and work for their
guarantee. (General
Assembly Statement on
Race, June 1964)
The Church of God has
also consistently
acknowledged the
intentionality required to
overcome hells default
temptation to divide on
racial lines. Responding to
racially charged injustice
in 2015, the General
Assembly overwhelmingly
endorsed this text: We
resolve to express our
compassion and concern
(in the face of racism and
COGVA News
racial injustice) in the
following six ways:
Leadershipwe call on
pastors and leaders to
follow the guidance of the
Holy Spirit to live out a
countercultural lifestyle
that works to expose and
repent of the sin of racial
division and
acknowledges the
suffering of our brothers
and sisters in Christ.
Prayerwe pray for
healing, repentance, unity
and peace, and we plead
for Gods mercy on our
nation and on those who
are compliant with the
racial violence and racial
disparities being
manifested in the church
and in the systems of this
world;
Lamentwe mourn in
solidarity and sympathy
with the people of
(Charlestons) Emanuel
AME Church and the
families, congregations
and communities affected
by the traumatic impact of
these incidents, and we
confess our past and
present failure to walk
faithfully and consistently
in the light of our belief in
a God who has no respect
of persons;
Forgivenesswe affirm
radical forgiveness of the
persons whose motivation
for doing harm to others is
racial hatred and
discrimination,
acknowledging what
Jesus taught and showed
us by His death on the
cross, that love is stronger
than hate;
Justicewe acknowledge
that ministers in our own
General Assembly and
We believe that man was
fellow congregants have
made in the image of God,
been victims of racial
that every person is of
profiling, we stand for
intrinsic worth before God,
justice to be administered
and that every individual has
on their behalf in a fair
a right to the fullest possible
and impartial manner, we
opportunities for the
urgently call for justice in
development of life abundant
all cases of racially- and eternal.
motivated violence, and
we support those
agencies and officials who
enforce the law and
administer justice
equitably to ensure the
safety and security of all
of our citizens,
congregations and
communities; .
Vision of reconciliation
we commit ourselves as
people of Christian faith to
envision, strategize and
work toward the
realization of a reconciled
church, nation and world.
(General Assembly
Resolution on Race, June
2015)
In a world of soundbites
and 140-character Twitter
posts, it is easy to
overlook the seminal
contexts and histories of
moments of rupture. It is
easy to drive by a story
without pausing to explore
the stage-framing events.
We must all be committed
to studying, listening, and
thoughtfully responding in
a world so desperately
broken, divided, and
tense. Charlottesville has
become a kind of emblem,
a marker for our time. It
has already become a
shorthand for controversy,
media debate,
(Continued on page 16)
 COGVA News
Church of God
in Virginia
CHOG Ministries General Director Responds to
Charlottesville Violence (Continued)
4704 Roanoke Road tragedy, and the
Christiansburg, VA 24073 resurgence of ideas many
thought vanquished years
PHONE: ago.
(540) 268-2040
FAX: But, whatever the lens, we
(540) 268-2040 stand united in our
defiance of racism and our
E-MAIL:
vociferous opposition to all
brobob4691@gmail.com
ideologies and conduct
clothed by white
cogvaoffice@gmail.com supremacy. As followers
of Jesus, transformed by
His Holy Spirit, we will be
neither separated or tiered
by race, ethnicity, national
origin, culture, gender, or
economic station. We are
loved equally by Him
and we must love others
the same.
About the Church of God in Virginia
Were on the Web! The Church of God in
See us at: Virginia consists of 50
www.virginiachurchofgod.com churches across the
Commonwealth and
according to current
accounting serve over
CHURCH OF GOD IN VIRGINIA
4704 Roanoke Road
Christiansburg, VA 24073
Page 16 of 23
Charlottesvilles long reconciliation and the
journey to the present actual experience of many
hour, wrestling with a of our brothers and
complex history that has sisters; And, let us learn to
not always honored all listen to the stories our
who call it home, has brothers and sisters
become a flashlight share, express in word
shining into every corner and deed our feelings of
of the country. From empathy, and commit to
Jeffersons plantation to walk together as we boldly
Lees defense of slavery stand against every form
to McIntires vision of of racism. (General
segregated public spaces Assembly of the Church of
crowned by Confederate God, June 2015)
statues to Klan
Be bold. Reclaim what hell
autographs on twentieth
has stolen. Jesus is the
century history to todays
subject. The Way. The
reality, let us come to a
Truth. And, the Life.
thorough awareness that
there is a disparity I am, humbly, your brother
between our vision for in Christ.
Jim Lyon
General Director
2,500 constituents each Secretary Sister Cathy
Sunday Morning. Our Atkins, and State Minister
SHARE THIS:
current State Leadership Dr. Bob Neace.
consists of Chair - Rev.
Dick Gilbert, Vice-Chair
Rev. Henry Haskins,
Page 17 of 23 COGVA News
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