Church of God World Missions Celebrates 100 Years 

Members of the Church of God have the opportunity to become a part of history on January 5-7, 2010, as Church of God World Missions celebrates its 100^th birthday in Nassau, Bahamas. The theme, “Heritage and Horizons,” expresses where Church of God World Missions has come from and where it’s going in the future.

Several celebratory events will take place, leading up to the main event, around the world to mark this great achievement and commemorate the centennial of missions in the Church of God.

On New Year’s Eve of 1909, R.M. and Ida Evans and Carl Padgett left Florida and set sail for the Bahamas. They arrived in Nassau on January 4, 1910, and immediately began preaching. The Evanses worked hard and the fruits of their labor are still evident today. Establishment of the church in the Bahamas heralded the beginning of an expansion movement around the world. Growth has continued and today the Church of God is present in 168 countries with nearly 6 million members outside the United States.  

For more information about the Church of God World Missions Centennial Celebration or the heritage of World Missions please visit the new Centennial website at www.wmcentennial.org.
 

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Praise Chapel teams up with Operation Compassion & Gods Pit Crew to respond to the devastation left by Hurricane Ike

Praise Chapel has teamed up with Operation Compassion (Cleveland, TN) and God’s Pit Crew (Danville, VA) to help the Houston and Galveston area recover from Hurricane IKE.

Beginning on Thursday, September 18^th volunteers from Praise Chapel and God’s Pit Crew began handing out water, juice, yogurt, canned vegetables, fruit, and frozen chicken.  Praise Chapel has had thirty plus volunteers daily to distribute the relief supplies.  Along with the perishables and the non-perishables, the church has been handing out diapers, baby formula, and baby food for the children affected by this terrible storm.     

Not only has Praise Chapel stepped up to be a distribution center, they are also hosting God’s Pit Crew from Danville, Va.  This disaster relief team is made up volunteers who travel the country providing services to those suffering loss from natural disasters.  The crew has placed their base camp at Praise Chapel which includes a portable shower unit, a full portable kitchen, two tractor trailers with every piece of yard equipment imaginable and three freezer units.  They work from sun up to sun down helping to remove storm debris, cut down trees, gut homes,  and have just began repairing a community church in San Leon completely flood by the storm surge. For more information on God’s Pit Crew visit and their mission: www.thegodspitcrew.org.

Praise Chapel is also hosting the Church of God’s Chaplains Commission who is also here cooking meals for volunteers, and families displaced by Hurricane IKE. They are also ministering to the spiritual needs of the volunteers.  The Church of God chaplain’s commission has been in asset in every facet of this operation.   

The American Bible Society has provided bibles for distribution and will be on location Tuesday, September 23^rd to assist and video the impact of this tremendous soul reaching and life touching operation.    

Praise Chapel is a place of purpose, passion, and power.  While the church sustained some water damage to their children’s theater, offices, and sanctuary they have continued pressing on to win the lost.  While passing out food they are also passing out the bible in English and in Spanish along with information about the church and Jesus Christ.  On this past Sunday 80% of the churches first time visitors were results of the food distribution outreach efforts.    “In Genesis 9 Noah lived after the flood. After the storm and the flood there is life.  Praise Chapel is showing the community and the city there is life not only after IKE but in the storms of life. “Pastor Tracy Stone

1 John 3:17 ” But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”

Written by: Rev. Eric Medford Director of Music & Media Praise Chapel

Update submitted by Dr. Boling: "Over 1,100 people per day are being fed" by this joint effort, led by Praise Chapel and Pastor Tracy Stone.