roundup 12 - Church of God

NAC 

roundup 12 

Refresh! 

126th North American Convention of the Church of God 

Sunday Issue, June 24, 2012 

Anderson University, Anderson, Indiana • chog.org/nac 

Joyce Foggs & 

Robert Nicholson 

In the Spotlight 

Every Day 

6:00 to 7:00 am 

Early Morning Prayer Service 

School of Theology, Miller Chapel 

8:00 am to 6:00 pm 

(Sunday, 2:00 to 6:00 pm) 

Prayer Tent 

8:30 to 10:00 am 

LIVE Ministries Celebration Service 

Leader: Gary Campbell 

LIVE Ministries Tent 

5:00 to 5:30 pm 

Prayer Walking 

Reardon Auditorium 

Sunday, June 24, 2012 

2:00 to 3:30 pm 

Southern Gospel Concert 


2:15 pm 

Memorial Service for Julie and 

Timmy Kurrle 

Park Place Church, Sanctuary 

3:30 to 5:00 pm 

Asian Adventure: An Update on 

Ministries in Asia–Pacific 

Leaders: Don and Caroline Armstrong 

Church of God Ministries, Auditorium 

7:00 to 9:00 pm 

Worship Service 

Speaker: Hector Gonzalez 


continued on page 2 

A Shared Heritage 

Convention opens with music & storytelling 

NAC 2012 kicked off with congregational 

worship, special 

music, and a look back in time. 

James Edwards, president of Anderson 

University, and Ronald V. Duncan, general 

director of Church of God Ministries, 

welcomed guests. Vocalists Jay and Amy 

Rouse led the gathering in praise and 

worship, as hands, hearts, and voices 

were lifted heavenward. 

Lisa Fauntleroy Dawson, AU alum, 

took attendees on an audiovisual 

journey through the early days of the 

movement and AU up to the present 

day. Scenes of AU’s music groups from 

their humble beginnings to their present 

global influence highlighted the 

shared heritage of AU and the Church 

of God. The audience rejoiced, laughed, 

and cried at the tributes to heroes of the 

faith who have had a profound impact 

on both the Church of God and Anderson 

University. Special guests Ron and 

Carolyn Patty, James Rouintree, Susan 

By Carl Stagner 

Taylor, Robert Nicholson, Dale Bengston, 

Richard Sowers, Todd Braschler, 

and others contributed to the celebration 

through music and storytelling. Alumni 

from far and near formed a mass choir 

and wind ensemble, as these and other 

artists celebrated our shared heritage. 

In an emotionally powerful moment, 

Robert Nicholson and Joyce Foggs shared 

a story of the power of unity. Joyce Foggs 

was the only black student in Nicholson’s 

choir at the time, and they were 

on tour in a region where racial division 

still marked businesses, churches, and 

schools. Forty-plus college students sat 

down in a restaurant, ready to open their 

wallets to satisfy their hunger. When 

Foggs was spotted, management made it 

clear that she would not be served. Nicholson 

stood up and announced that this 

restaurant would therefore receive none 

of their business. The choir left the restaurant, 

bought food at a nearby Kroger, 

and had a picnic in the park. 

NACroundup • Sunday Issue, June 24, 2012 1

Spotlight cont. 

9:00 to 10:30 pm 

Heritage Hymn Sing-a-Long 


9:30 to 11:00 pm 

Youth-In: Concert Night 

Band: Reaul 

Byrum Hall 

Monday, June 25, 2012 

7:00 to 9:00 am 

Association of Pastoral Care 

Specialists 

Leader: Glen Cox 

Park Place Church, Covenant Room 

7:30 to 8:30 am 

Kid’s Place/Little Kid’s Place 

Registration 

Park Place Community Center, North 

Entrance 

8:00 to 10:00 am 

Uniquely You Ministry Training 

(Session 1) 

Hartung Hall, Room 167 

8:15 am to Noon 

Kid’s Place 

Park Place Community Center 

Little Kid’s Place 

Park Place Church, Educational Wing 

8:30 to 10:00 am 

CWC Annual Assembly 

Leader: Arnetta McNeese Bailey 

School of Theology, Miller Chapel 

Church Building Designed with a 

Passion for Ministry 

Leader: Earl Myler 

Fine Arts, Room 168 

Dealing Redemptively with Conflict 

in the Church 

Leader: John Aukerman 

School of Theology, Room 112 

Hot Topics: Ethics 

Leaders: Brett Spangler 

Decker Hall, Room 133 

Making Disciples of Peace 

Leader: Glenn Stassen 

Park Place Church, Newberry Room 

One-on-One Discipleship 

Leader: Jonathan Absher 


Responding to the Mission Call 

Leader: Kathi Sellers 

Church of God Ministries, Mid-Level 

Conference Room 

Secret Weapon 

Leader: Tina Houser 


LET’S STEP UP 

OUR DISCIPLESHIP 

Spiritual Checkup: Are You on the 

Path? 

Leader: James Feirtag 


Spiritual Formation: Empowering 

Your Inner Life & Relationship to 

God 

Leader: Sam Bruce 


Worship Music for Any Size Choir 

Leader: Nathan Stewart 


REG: $10.95 

NAC PRICE: 

$ 

7 

Meet the author in our tent exhibit after tonight’s service! 

Your Story Is His Story: Helping Kids 

Write and Share Their Testimony 

Leader: Judy Weeks 



Student Conferences 

Olt Student Center, Mocha Joe’s 


Worship Service 

Speaker: David Aukerman 

Park Place Church, 

Sanctuary 

For a complete list 

of events, see the 

program book or 

visit chog.org/nac. 

NACroundup is published by Church of God Ministries 

for the North American Convention of the Church of God 

on June 22–28, 2012. All parts of this newsletter may be 

copied for distribution. 

Church of God Ministries, Inc., Publisher; Ronald V. 

Duncan, General Director; Mary Baker-Boudissa, Chief 

Communications Officer; Stephen R. Lewis, Managing 

Editor; Carl Stagner, Editorial Assistant; Jennifer Engle, 

Designer; José Torres, Photographer 

2 NACroundup • Sunday Issue, June 24, 2012

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made 

“Uniquely You” trains leaders to cultivate giftedness for kingdom use 

By Barb Ferraro 

Everyone is divinely designed! The 

Bible tells us that we are “fearfully 

and wonderfully made” (Ps 

139:14). God has created and designed 

us with a purpose in mind. As followers 

of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been 

wired to care about some things more 

than others. When you know your 

God-given passion, spiritual gifts, and 

personal style, you have a better idea of 

how you can serve others in a fruitful 

and fulfilling way. 

Do you feel that you are capable of 

accomplishing more than you are presently 

achieving? Do you sense that God 

wants to use you in a meaningful way, 

but you’re not sure how? Do you feel 

frustrated and confused about not knowing 

just where you fit in the church? 

If you have asked any or all of these 

questions, there is nothing wrong with 

you. There are many who have the 

same questions and feel the same way. 

We would like to help you understand 

how God has made you and how you 

can help to build up each other and your 

church. 

If you have a desire to see more than 

half of the believers in your church 

serving God by using their uniqueness 

and gifts in a way that will bring him 

glory, join Dr. Mels Carbonell, who has 

a PhD in human behavior and leadership, 

as he teaches us how to use a tool 

called “Uniquely You.” Dr. Carbonell is 

an acclaimed speaker, minister, writer, 

and business owner. He is currently the 

president of Uniquely You, Inc., a company 

offering proven human behavior 

solutions to life’s complex “people puzzle.” 

He has written more than thirty 

profiles, with clear instructions on how 

to enhance giftedness and motivations, 

and avoid conflict with others. This is 

not another program, but rather a process 

that can help you and your church 

find your God-given purpose of knowing 

and using spiritual gifts, passion, and 

personality. 

The “Uniquely You” ministry conference 

at NAC 2012 in Anderson, Indiana, 

is designed for pastors, ministry leaders, 

and lay leaders interested in spiritual 

gift–based ministry. The first part of the 

conference will be held on Monday, June 

25, from 8:30 to 10:00 am, and the session 

will conclude with part two from 1:30 to 

3:00 pm. An advance registration of $35 

is required. 

“As each one has received a spiritual 

gift, employ it in serving one another as 

good stewards of the manifold grace of 

God” (1 Peter 4:10 nasb). 

The Next Step 

“ The AU SOT has 

become more to me 

than a training ground 

for learning how to 

walk worthy of the 

call given me. It has 

become a family that 

supports me in every 

way possible. I am 

grateful to be a part of 

a community that is not 

only concerned about 

providing students with 

the knowledge needed 

to carry out their call 

effectively, but is also 

concerned with helping 

students recognize their 

abilities and potential 

in the body of Christ.” 

De’Shana’ Edmond 

MDiv candidate ’13 

Degree programs include: 

• Master of Divinity 

• Master of Theological Studies 

• Master of Arts in Intercultural Service 

• Master of Arts in Christian Ministry online 

• Doctor of Ministry 

765.641.4526 • www.anderson.edu/sot 


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June24NACROUNDUPMACUAD(6.19.2012).indd 1 

6/19/12 4:11 PM 


A Heart for Worship 


Rodney Martin steps to the platform as the primary worship leader 

This year’s evening service worship 

leader for NAC is a gifted 

minister who has purposed to 

foster an atmosphere of worship. Rev. 

Rodney Martin, 

of Eastland 

Church of God in 

Lexington, Kentucky, 

desires to 

see the church 

worship the Lord 

in unity at NAC 

2012. 

Rodney Martin, a third-generation 

pastor, grew up in a musical family. At 

age five, he was already playing guitar 

and singing in church. Soon he’d take 

up the saxophone and discover a love 

for jazz music. Rodney received a call to 

ministry at age twelve, but when God 

got a hold of his heart at a leadership 

conference many years later, he fully 

accepted his call to vocational pastoral 

ministry. 

In anticipation of NAC 2012, Rodney 

offers some hints as to what convention-goers 

can expect to experience 

this year during worship. “There will 

be familiar elements and personalities 

through the week, but there is bound 

to be some style changes if for no other 

reason than I am a different person,” 

Rodney explains. “There is bound to 

be musical genre elements from jazz, 

soul, gospel, blues, and southern gospel. 

We will experience a taste from 

the past, as it seasons our palettes for 

who we are today. My goal is to help 

create an environment, through the 

arts, where everyone engages in worship 

and is able to forget about personal 

expectations, desiring only the Father’s 

expectations—an environment where 

secular seeded divisions are replaced by 

a unified body of Christ opening their 

hearts and singing to God at one place, 

at one time.” 

For those who look forward to participating 

in the camp meeting choir, you 

won’t be disappointed. Rodney directs 

the choir at Eastland Church, and he 

believes that choirs play an important 

role in leading worship. Rehearsals will 

begin at 5:15 pm, Sunday through Tuesday, 

in Reardon Auditorium. Everyone 

is encouraged to participate! 

Rodney is the husband of Marcia and 

the father of four children: Sarah, Jen, 

Ethan, and Zach. Listen for Zach at 

NAC this year—he’ll be on the drums! 

Just Call It Southern By Carl Stagner 

Music to rouse the soul will fill the air Sunday afternoon 

Perhaps you’ve heard of the 

Cathedrals, the classic Blackwood 

Brothers, or the legendary 

Kingsmen Quartet. Maybe your Gaither 

Homecoming videos are a bit worn out 

from continuous play. Whether new 

or old, country-flavored or modern, 

those who know the music best just 

call it southern. From 2:00 to 3:30 pm in 

Reardon Auditorium, NAC attendees 

will have the opportunity to worship, 

southern-gospel style. 

Senior pastor Mitchell Burch sings 

baritone for the Townesmen Quartet, 

from Towne Boulevard Church of God 

in Middletown, Ohio. Burch is wellknown 

in the Church of God for his 

preaching, but perhaps few know that 

he has sung with several gospel groups 

since he was child. These days he joins 

Jeff Allison, Greg Woodrum, and Aaron 

Ferry to produce classic four-part tunes 

that are sure to delight the soul. 

At this year’s gospel concert, you’ll 

hear the close-knit harmonies of the 

Means Family, from Lancaster, Ohio. 

William, Cathy, and Tim Means, as 

well as Angela and Paul Russell (daughter 

and son-in-law), hope that “you will 

be lifted and inspired by the songs [they] 

have selected with God’s direction, for 

they all tell a message.” 

Joyful Noyz, a ministry from the 

First Church of God in Galesburg, 

Illinois, has dedicated themselves to 

sharing the good news of Christ across 

the country with the gifts they’ve been 

given. Composed of Chuck and Lanni 

Hillery, as well as Rick and Nona Carroll, 

Joyful Noyz doesn’t just produce 

noise—they minister through music 

that is pleasing to the ear! 

Thank you, Anderson, 

for 107 years of friendship and hospitality 

during the North American Convention 

of the Church of God. 

LEARN MORE AT 

WWW.CHOG.ORG 


“Give Me Your Eyes” 

Global Missions conferences 

during NAC will give you a 

glimpse into the exciting world 

of Church of God missions. 

On Saturday, in the Covenant Room 

at Park Place Church, Art and Suetta 

Clawson, Africa liaisons, were joined 

by missionaries Dave and Bonnie Baylor 

and Jeff and Lisa Baltes, as well as 

new missionaries Tim and Josie Vickey, 

as they shared stories of vital ministry 

in Africa. 

On Sunday, June 24, at 2:15 pm, in 

the Park Place Church, a memorial 

service will be held for Paraguay missionary 

Julie Kurrle and son Timmy, 

who were killed earlier this spring 

in a car accident. Then at 3:30 pm, in 

the Church of God Ministries (CGM) 

Auditorium, Don and Caroline Armstrong, 

regional coordinators (RCs) 

for Asia and the Pacific, will tell of the 

dynamic ministry taking place there. 

Joining them will be Carrie Critser, art 

therapy minister in Central Asia, and 

Doug and Danette Beisley, missionaries 

to New Zealand. Terence Van Dam 

and Christy Snowden Van Dam, serving 

in Japan, and Donald and Stephanie 

Lyndgoh, teachers in Central Asia, will 

also be at the conference. 

On Monday, June 25, at 8:30 am, in 

the CGM Auditorium, all Living Link 

partners are invited to a special breakfast. 

Also at 8:30 am, in the Mid-Level 

Conference Room of CGM, Kathi Sellers 

will meet with anyone experiencing 

a call to missions. Join RCs for Latin 

America David and Barbara Miller at 

3:30 pm in the CGM Auditorium as they 

introduce the Lamelas family, a Cuban 

family that was recently granted asylum 

in the United States. Norberto Kurrle, 

missionary to Paraguay, and Tom and 

Jean McCracken, missionaries to Brazil, 

will also participate. 

Experience the world through God’s eyes as 

missionaries bear witness By Kathi Sellers 

On Tuesday, June 26, at 7:00 pm, in 

Reardon Auditorium, join us for the 

missionary commissioning service, followed 

by a reception in the Park Place 

Church Fellowship Hall to honor newly 

commissioned missionaries, international 

guests, and missionaries who 

have completed their terms of service. 

On Wednesday, June 27, at 1:30 pm, in 

the CGM Auditorium, Patrick Nachtigall, 

RC for Europe and the Middle 

East, will speak on global ministry in 

the twenty-first century. The Kihms 

and Langfords, new missionaries to 

Europe, will also be present. Then at 

3:30 pm, in the Covenant Room at Park 

Place Church, Don Smith and Ruben 

Schwieger will introduce Caribbean 

regional leader Eustace Rawlings and 

discuss ministries and mission trip 

opportunities. Missionaries John and 

Jodie Ackerman of Haiti will also be 

present. 

ALEXANDRIA CHURCH OF GOD 

302 N West St (Alexandria) 

724-4540 | alexcog@sbcglobal.net 

CELEBRATION CHURCH 

AT ARROW HEIGHTS 

1120 Arrow Ave (Anderson) 

642-4494 | anderson@wininlife.com 

www.celebrationchurchatanderson.com 

EAST SIDE CHURCH OF GOD 

2600 E 5th St (Anderson) 

649-3534 | eschog@eschog.org 

www.eschog.org 

PARK PLACE CHURCH OF GOD 

501 College Dr (Anderson) 

642-0216 | dmarkle@ppchog.org 

www.ppchog.org 

SHERMAN STREET CHURCH OF GOD 

1925 Sherman St (Anderson) 

649-2548 | shermancog@comcast.net 

www.shermancog.org 

SOUTH MERIDIAN CHURCH OF GOD 

2402 S Meridian St (Anderson) 

643-6695| rneidert@southmeridian.org 

www.southmeridian.org 

FLORIDA STATION CHURCH OF GOD 

1045 W 375 N (Anderson) 

641-2599 | j.hilligoss@floridastation.com 

www.floridastation.com 

MADISON PARK CHURCH OF GOD 

6607 Providence Dr (Anderson) 

PO Box 2479 

642-2000 | info@madisonpark.org 

www.madisonparkchurch.org 

CHESTERFIELD COMMUNITY 

CHURCH OF GOD 

123 Linden Lane (Chesterfield) 

378-7685 

chesterfieldcommunitychurch@comcast.net 

CATALYST CHURCH OF GOD 

8537 S 650 W (Pendleton) 

602-9225 | info@iamcatalyst.org 

www.iamcatalyst.org 

MAIN STREET CHURCH OF GOD 

4211 S Main St (Anderson) 

644-6555 | info@mainstreetcog.net 

www.mainstreetcog.net 

PENDLETON CHURCH OF GOD 

636 E Water St (Pendleton) 

778-8293 | pcchog@gmail.com 

www.pendletonchurchofgod.com 

MAPLE GROVE CHURCH OF GOD 

2729 E 38th St (Anderson) 

644-7532 | mgrove@access4less.net 

www.mgcog.org 


Breathe God In 

Speaker Erin Taylor emphasizes our reliance on God 

It was apparent that Erin Taylor—one 

of the movement’s creative, young 

leaders—felt she was among friends 

as she spoke to those gathered in Anderson, 

Indiana, for the Saturday evening 

worship service. Standing onstage in 

Anderson University’s Reardon Auditorium, 

Taylor looked right at home—and 

in very significant ways she was. 

Not only is Taylor is the pastor of 

adult Christian education at The Church 

at the Crossing, a dynamic congregation 

in nearby Indianapolis, but she also 

was born into and nurtured by a family 

with multigenerational Church of God 

roots. Taylor’s grandparents used to 

attend what was then known as Anderson 

Camp Meeting in their fifth-wheel 

camper. Her father, Bob Moss, is a longtime 

Church of God pastor and formerly 

by Sam Collins 

served as chair of the movement’s General 

Assembly. Taylor started attending 

the North American Convention as a 

small child. 

Her ease and familiarity with the 

church was evident as Taylor addressed 

the theme for the evening: “Refreshing 

Our Relationship with Our Creator.” 

She urged those assembled to breathe 

deep the breath of God. 

Taylor reminded her listeners of 

our physical dependence on breath for 

life. In like manner, she stressed, we 

must breathe in God to continue to 

live fully. “Life has moments that take 

our breath away, sometimes in joy and 

sometimes in sorrow. At times we find 

ourselves desperate for some breathing 

space in the midst of financial, church, 

relationship, and personal stresses. 

Erin Taylor 

We need wisdom, stamina, grace, and 

even a sense of humor. In all of life’s 

experiences—whether in pain, loss, 

disappointment, or celebration—God’s 

plan is that in him we would breath and 

move and have our being.” 

Appropriately, at the close of her message, 

Taylor asked her father to offer a 

prayer, which included these fitting 

words: “Lord, may we breathe deeply of 

your grace and inhale your forgiveness 

and draw in your Holy Spirit, hope, and 

assurance.” 

You Can’t be a Christian and Vote for… 

Attend the “Hot Topics” conference for lively debate on faith and politics By Brett Spangler 

Four years ago a group of Anderson 

University School of Theology 

students approached Dr. Ronald 

V. Duncan, general director of Church 

of God Ministries, about finding our 

voice in the church. One of the opportunities 

provided to us, as aspiring young 

leaders in the church, was the chance to 

lead a handful of conferences. Among 

those conferences were the “Hot Topics” 

conferences. 

This is the third year for the “Hot 

Topics” conferences at NAC, and we 

are incredibly excited about this year’s 

topic. Each year we address relevant and 

potentially divisive topics within the 

church during these sessions. On Monday, 

at 8:30 am, in Decker 133, the topic 

on the table is “You Can’t be a Christian 

and Vote for…” There is, perhaps, no 

better time to discuss politics and faith 

than an election year. 

For those who have never attended a 

“Hot Topics” conference, they are great 

fun! Each session begins with presentations 

on the topics being addressed. 

Following the presentations, at least 

thirty minutes are devoted to discussion 

and debate. In past years, we have 

dealt with issues of theodicy, same-sex 

marriage, and just war. In every case, 

insightful presentations were followed 

by lively debate. Perhaps the greatest 

blessing for me from these conferences 

has been the manner in which brothers 

and sisters in Christ are able to share, 

speak truths in love, and care for each 

other even when they disagree on such 

potentially volatile subjects. 

This year, our presenters are David 

Dominianni and Aly Hawkins. They will 

each present their viewpoint on some 

issue(s) in this year’s election. David is a 

graduate of Christian Theological Seminary, 

while Aly is currently studying at 

Anderson University School of Theology. 

Some of the primary points of discussion 

at the conference this year are: 

• Health care as a government 

mandate. 

• The involvement of the United 

States in the affairs of other nations. 

• Economic policy, borrowing, and 

taxes. 

• The role of Christians in changing 

the political culture. 

In the afternoon, Shannon New 

Spangler is leading a conference, along 

with presenters Jorge Palacios (general 

director of the Hispanic Council of the 

Church of God) and Jared Fields (AUSOT 

graduate). This conference is called “Hot 

Topics: Social Issues” and will focus on 

immigration issues. This conference will 

take place at 1:00 pm in Decker 133. This 

is also guaranteed to be an enlightening 

and fruitful discussion. 


We don’t believe 

that freedom 

exists without 

responsibility. 

800.428.6414 • www.anderson.edu 

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and afternoons 

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8 NACroundup • Sunday Issue, June 24, 2012 

Speaker in Focus By Carl Stagner 

David Aukerman steps into the pulpit on Monday morning 

David Aukerman is no stranger 

to the Church of God and to the 

North American Convention. 

He practically grew up on the campgrounds 

in Anderson, Indiana. When 

he was born, his father, John Aukerman, 

was a senior pastor. But when David was 

four, his father began teaching at the 

School of Theology and David would 

spend much of the year using the campus 

as a playground. Just a few years ago, he 

completed his seminary education with a 

master of divinity from Anderson University 

School of Theology. Aukerman now 

serves as the pastor of Mt. Haley Church 

of God, near Midland, Michigan. On 

Monday, Aukerman will preach in the 

morning service at 10:30 in Park Place 

Church of God. 

He’s no stranger to NAC. “I was in 

Kid’s Place as a child, I volunteered to help 

In the spirit of the Great Commission 

and the Great Commandments, the 

Transformation Teams of the Church 

of God will offer conferences during 

NAC designed to equip the church to 

transform culture. These teams have 

gone beyond encouraging the church to 

emphasize evangelism and loving God 

and neighbor—they have produced tools 

that will empower the church to carry 

out these practices. On Monday, June 25, 

you will have the opportunity to learn 

about these tools. 

From 8:30 to 10:00 am, join Jonathan 

Absher, senior pastor at Meadowbrook 

First Church of God in Bethalto, Illinois, 

for a practical discussion on discipleship 

for new believers. Absher has developed 

Next Step Discipleship to guide new 

believers to spiritual maturity. Learn 

more at the “One-on-One Discipleship” 

conference in Fine Arts Room 269. 

a few times, and more recently I worked 

alongside several seminary friends to 

prepare the building [Park Place Community 

Center] for its current use.” 

Aukerman will speak about our relationship 

with the Comforter—the Holy 

Spirit. “Only when we are appropriately 

connected to the Holy Spirit can we be 

appropriately connected to each other,” 

Aukerman explains. “The Spirit brings 

life, purpose, meaning, and direction to 

our lives. Any attempt to connect—or to 

find our identity—without an awareness 

of the Spirit who unites us, is destined to 

fail. In this sense, the Holy Spirit is much 

more than merely a Comforter!” 

David Aukerman will also lead a 

conference in Decker 231 during NAC 

on Monday, June 25, titled “Difficult 

Texts of the Bible.” All are welcome to 

attend—no preregistration necessary. 

Equip Your Church 

Tranformation Teams offer conferences on evangelism & prayer 

From 1:30 to 3:00 pm, join James 

Feirtag, senior pastor at Parkgate Community 

Church of God in Pasadena, 

Texas, and discover a prayer experience 

that can revolutionize your church. 

The conference is called the “360 Prayer 

Emphasis,” and it’s scheduled to be held 

in Fine Arts Room 266. 

Or, from 1:30 to 3:00 pm in Fine Arts 

270, hear the incredible story of the 

result of a focus on the Great Commission 

and the Great Commandments. 

During the conference titled “Transitioning 

from Small Church to Big 

Church,” Pastor Stuart Kruse, of County 

Line Church of God, in Auburn, 

Indiana, will share a powerful story of 

church growth. 

NAC 2012 offers a variety of conferences 

designed to equip the church for 

transformation. Check your program 

book for more details.

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Called by God to Worship 

Each morning, a different worship leader takes to the platform to lead us into God’s presence 

By Tori Allen 

NAC is pleased to welcome three 

outstanding men from across 

the country who have demonstrated 

exceptional talent as worship 

leaders. This year, Rod Dallas, Leo Flores, 

and Aaron Ferry will each lead worship 

at the 10:30 am services, Monday through 

Wednesday, during convention. 

Though he wasn’t born into a 

Church of God family, Rod Dallas 

explains that his friend introduced him 

to the movement at age ten. After high 

school, Rod attended Warner University, 

and has been a worship leader for 

three churches. At NAC, Rod hopes to 

“create an atmosphere where people 

feel free to just worship our Lord in 

a time of community.” Rod will lead 

worship on Monday morning. 

Leo Flores has spent the majority of 

his life using his gifts to glorify God. 

Like his father, Leo is no stranger to 

ministry in the Church of God. As a 

pastor’s son, he grew up playing drums 

in churches where his father ministered, 

but Leo says that he didn’t truly feel his 

calling until he was well into his teens: 

“When I was seventeen, I attended a 

conference where I felt the Lord calling 

me into worship. I didn’t know what 

it meant, but I knew that I had to use 

everything I had already learned and 

everything that I was going to learn for 

God’s glory.” Leo attended Mid-America 

Christian University, where he met 

Megan, his wife and talented singer. 

Today he serves at Centerville Christian 

Fellowship in Centerville, Ohio. Leo 

will lead worship on Tuesday morning. 

Worship leadership is second nature 

to Aaron, the pastor of worship arts for 

Towne Boulevard Church of God in 

Middletown, Ohio. The Warner University 

alum says he celebrates his Church 

of God heritage but looks forward to 

“greater days ahead,” referring to Haggai 

2:9. It is with this same spirit that 

Aaron comes to NAC, where he hopes 

his leadership makes a lasting impact: 

“It doesn’t matter if people remember 

the songs that were sung; it only matters 

that they had a fresh encounter 

with Jesus.” Aaron will lead worship on 

Wednesday morning. 

Shaped to Reflect the Image 

of God 

Conference on spiritual formation focuses on empowering 

the inner life and relationship with God By Tori Allen 

Are you struggling with relationships 

in your area of ministry? 

Have you ever wondered why? 

Transformation Team member Sam 

Bruce will lead “Spiritual Formation: 

Empowering Your Inner Life and Relationship 

to God,” on Monday, June 25, 

to discuss this very topic. In a recent 

interview, Bruce explained that issues 

preventing strong relationships can be 

traced back to what he refers to as an 

“inner life.” 

“Your inner life is who you are at 

your core being, which then determines 

what you do in your relationships with 

other people both inside and outside 

of your ministry.” So how do we alter 

our identities to create more effective 

vessels for ministry? Simple: we must 

undergo spiritual formation, or in 

10 NACroundup • Sunday Issue, June 24, 2012 

other words, shape ourselves to reflect 

the image of God through “the word, 

prayer, and worship.” 

Philippians 4:8 (niv) says, “Finally, 

brothers and sisters, whatever is true, 

whatever is noble, whatever is right, 

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, 

whatever is admirable—if anything is 

excellent or praiseworthy—think about 

such things.” 

This is the charge of the Christian: 

to live humbly in accordance to Christ’s 

teachings. When this message is forgotten, 

people are at risk of becoming what 

Bruce refers to as “holiness preachers,” 

or those who teach doctrines but don’t 

apply the instruction to their own 

lives. This type of behavior implies 

that Christianity is a social club rather 

than a lifestyle. In order to combat this 

understanding of Christianity, “Spiritual 

Formation: Empowering Your 

Inner Life and Relationship to God” 

will assist in the development of constructive 

patterns of empowerment to 

the inner life. Bruce states: “Together, 

we will understand the principles of 

becoming true people of God, not just 

in name only.” 

If you’re looking to empower your 

relationship with God and others, don’t 

wait any longer! Come to the Fine Arts 

building, room 240 on Monday, June 

25, from 8:30 to 10:00 am. Bruce’s book 

Spiritual Formation: Forming Your Relationship 

with God…Transforming Your 

Relationship with People will be available 

for purchase, and attendees will 

each receive copies of his PowerPoint 

presentation.

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sharing Christ’s 

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Call Don Smith at 800-848-2464, 

ext. 3047, or visit www.chogmissions.org. 

Have you remembered Project Link in 

your will? • 877-549-4438 

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June 22–25, 2013 

Anderson, Indiana 

chog.org/globalgathering 


Speaker in Focus 

Nueva vida means “new life.” It’s 

the name of the church Hector 

Gonzalez planted and has 

pastored for thirty-four years. It’s also 

what drives him to keep serving the 

Lord through changing seasons and circumstances. 

His relationship with Christ 

and his ministry 

experiences have 

shaped him into a 

dynamic Christian 

leader whom God 

has used to reach 

souls beyond cultural 

and ethnic 

boundaries. Glean 

from the wisdom of this pastor from 

Glendale, Arizona, at 7:00 pm edt on 

Sunday, June 24, at NAC. 

Hector Gonzalez grew up attending 

the Spanish-speaking Church of God 

in Corpus Christi, Texas. It was there 

that he first met Susan, the girl who 

would later become his wife. In 1978, 

he planted Nueva Vida Church of God, 

now a flourishing oasis in the heart of 

the Phoenix suburb. 

Hector Gonzalez is scheduled to 

address the theme “Refreshing Our 

Relationship with Christ.” As he looks 

forward to delivering the Sunday evening 

message, he hopes “to convey that 

Jesus wants to have a relationship with 

us, not just to make us nice Christian 

people, but to transform us and empower 

us for his honor and glory.” Gonzalez 

continues, “As we refresh our relationship 

with Christ, we will also renew our 

Pastor Hector Gonzalez challenges us 

to refresh relationship with Christ 


relationship and our identity as brothers 

and sisters in Christ and as members 

responsible for one another in the body 

of Christ. We will no longer focus on 

ourselves and what we want, but we will 

once again remember our mission and 

place our eyes on the world around us.” 

Gonzalez is happy to return to NAC 

this year. “I have not been able to attend 

as often as I would like, but the times 

I’ve attended have been some of the 

highlights of my life. Just the sheer 

sense of being in a place where almost 

everyone you see or meet is a part of 

the very same Church of God. And in 

a very real sense, you become aware of 

the greatness and the beauty of being a 

part of something that is bigger than the 

whole world.” 

Give the Cup 

By Paul Maxfield 

Join Children of Promise for lunch 

and learn about new sponsorship programs 

Give the Cup” is the focus for 

Children of Promise (COP) during 

2012. Nearly 4,300 children 

in twenty-seven countries are receiving 

the cups of nutrition, education, health 

care, and spiritual nurture through individual 

sponsorships. COP will host a 

special “Give the Cup” luncheon on Monday, 

June 25, from 11:30 to 12:50 pm, in the 

Church of God Ministries Auditorium. 

The cost is $10 per person, payable at the 

door (we need to know you are coming 

so we can have lunch ready for you). 

We are pleased to announce the opening 

of sponsorship in Bangladesh. The 

first children are ready to begin receiving 

their first cups of benefit. Featured 

at the Monday luncheon will be Skype 

interviews with the director of the new 

Bangladesh program, as well as with the 

directors of three other new programs: 

Kenya, the Dominican Republic, and 

12 NACroundup • Sunday Issue, June 24, 2012 

Argentina. Come hear how the children’s 

circumstances, living conditions, 

hopes, dreams, and challenges are being 

met through the Children of Promise 

ministry in these countries. 

Across the globe, the Children of 

Promise sponsorship ministry is helping 

children to develop into adults who 

will lead lives characterized by 

• Christ-centered living, 

• appreciation for, and pursuit of, lifelong 

learning, 

• physical and emotional health, 

• leadership and exemplary service in 

the Church of God and their communities, 

and 

• commitment to leading and providing 

for their families. 

This goal is being realized in the 

lives of many young adults across the 

COP - sponsored child 

globe—teachers, nurses, doctors, pastors, 

ministry leaders, church planters, 

evangelists, veterinarians, business 

people, and accountants—all carried and 

nurtured from very humble, destitute 

conditions to lives of productivity and 

Christian service. 

Stop by our display in the tent—and 

why not join us on Monday for lunch? 

(Please let us know by 8:30 am on Monday 

morning, if you have not yet notified 

us.) Learn how you can offer the cup to a 

child in need and how your sponsorship 

makes an eternal difference.

roundup 12 - Church of God

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