A wrap-up

The North American Convention of the Church of God officially begins this Friday, but activities in the area commence Thursday--and, naturally, convention-goers have already begun to fill up campsites and hotel rooms. As a reminder, the NAC ChoGger wishes to highlight a few notable events.

• THURSDAY: Crist Family in concert at Main Street Church of God (4211 S. Main St., Anderson) at 7 p.m.



• FRIDAY: LIVE Celebration Service in the "red-and-white tent" begins at 8:30 a.m., Friday through Wednesday; Kickoff presentation sponsored by Anderson University at 7 p.m. at Madison Park Church of God



• SATURDAY: Children's Ministry Fair at East Side Church of God (2600 E. 5th St.), 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Celebrating the Global Family of God, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Madison Park Church of God; evening services daily at 7 p.m. at Madison Park Church of God, Youth-In Game Night at Madison Park Crossroads Auditorium



• SUNDAY: worship services daily at 10:30 a.m. at Park Place Church of God; Southern Gospel Concert at 2:30 p.m. at Park Place Church of God; Heritage Sing-Along, 9:15 p.m. at Madison Park Church of God; Youth-In Concert at Madison Park Crossroads Auditorium



• MONDAY: Kid's Place at Hartung Hall, 8:15 a.m. through Wednesday; Little Kid's Place at Park Place Church of God, 8:15 a.m. through Wednesday; Equipping the Church of God's Dreams with Todd Braschler, 8:30 a.m.; Church of God "Facebooker's Luncheon" at Main Street Church of God, 11:30 a.m.; Youth Oasis at Fine Arts Breezeway, 2:15 p.m.; Missionary Commissing in the evening service at 7 p.m.; Youth-In Movie Night (all Youth-Ins same time and location)



• TUESDAY: General Assembly at Reardon Auditorium, Tuesday and Wednesday at 8:15 a.m.; PK/MK retreat--meet at Olt Student Center at 3 p.m.; Youth-In skit night



• WEDNESDAY: School of Missions, Miller Chapel, 1 p.m.; To Save a Life movie premiere for youth leaders and pastors in Byrum Hall; Youth-In Worship Night
  

See program booklet or go online to www.chog.org/NAC for more information and exhaustive list of NAC 2009 activities.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "These are not very spiritual memories, but here goes: Cotton candy, candied apples, hot summer days, grandparents coming to visit, flags on the stage of the old wooden tabernacle, sawdust on the floor of the tabernacle, singing the heritage hymns, the big red thermometer that showed how much money we had raised for World Missions and how much was yet to be raised, visiting the AU recruiting booth and seeing my Dad..."--Connie Hippensteel (daughter of Robert Reardon), Anderson University Kardatzke Wellness Center

Memories to get you in the mood

Get in the Camp Meeting spirit and reminisce with these three personal memories from NACs past!

Paul Yerden, music minister: “I remember the dorms on the camp grounds, the old white tabernacle, the early morning prayer meetings in Byrum Hall with Sister Cotton, raising one million dollars for World Service (the large thermometer), the CBH building on the grounds, hearing Herb Thompson sing, and Dr. Dale Oldham preach every year.”

Lori Salierno, speaker: “One of my favorite childhood memories of Camp Meeting was listening to Ben Reid, going out to dinner, spending time talking with friends, and learning about the Church of God from the older pastors and people who had been in the movement for years.”

Ron Patty, music minister: “One of my favorite memories of Camp Meeting is when we were in an old tabernacle, even before the dome was built. We were having a Camp Meeting service and our quartet, the Christian Brothers, was singing “I Bowed on My Knees and Cried Holy,” and it just seemed like there was a wonderful spirit there. And Dr. Dale Oldham spoke. It was a wonderful, momentous time.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "[The NAC means] having opportunity to speak into the direction that the church of god is going. Many, many educational opportunities! And wonderful times of worship."--Dr. MaryAnn Hawkins, Associate Professor of Christian Ministry, Anderson University School of Theology

Kids want to go to NAC, too!

Kid’s Place is the place that kids go during the NAC. It’s the children’s program at camp meeting. Since its beginning, Kid’s Place has focused on missions around the world. Each year’s theme has centered on one region or nation of the world. Some years have provided a taste of several cultures of the world. The experience is hands-on, the learning is fun, and the worship abounds. Kids have the opportunity to taste foods, play games, and sing songs from other cultures. They learn words from other languages and hear how God is working through all kinds of situations. Kids also get to meet actual missionaries who are in town for NAC. This kind of experience is one that only Kid’s Place provides.

Kid’s Place at this year’s NAC is sure to be better than ever. “Missions: Then and Now” is the theme, highlighting the historical significance of missions around the world as the Church of God celebrates its missions centennial. The learning stations will focus on the wide variety of ways missionaries serve around the world. Kids will learn about specific mission work accomplished in unique ways, such as through medical service, schools, radio, and even through the opening of a bookstore. One of the stations, “Then and Now,” will take a close look at missions as it was a hundred years ago, comparing it to how it is today.

This year, Kid’s Place will be held in Hartung Hall on the Anderson University campus, Monday through Wednesday (June 29–July 1) from 8:15 AM to noon. Kindergarten grads through fifth-grade grads are encouraged to attend. There will also be Little Kid’s Place in Park Place Church of God for children from three to five years old who are potty trained and not yet in kindergarten. For more information, visit www.chog.org/KidsPlace. See this year's program book for many other opportunities for children taking place at NAC 2009.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “The North American Convention of the Church of God brings together people from so many states and even overseas countries. It is a chance to worship and fellowship with the broader church. It can be a wonderful, inspirational time. There are conferences, special interest sessions, training events and, of course, the nightly services with preaching and music."--Paul Yerden, music minister

Three brief NAC testimonies

Sarah Blake was recently prompted by God at NAC. “I had been considering going to seminary for several years,” she explains, “and was prompted to begin the process because of something that happened at NAC 2006. I attended a seminar given by David Neidert called ‘The Seven Questions of Jesus.’ The final question was the question Jesus asked Peter: ‘Do you love me?’ I had done one of my devotional writings on this passage a couple of months prior. The revisit was very convicting concerning the fact that I was sitting on the fence about seminary. I realized that if I was going to ‘feed sheep,’ I needed to equip myself to do so.” Sarah will be graduating from the Anderson University School of Theology with her Masters of Divinity this coming August.

God has used the North American Convention to strengthen and equip Tim Means throughout his life. “I would say that I have definitely been restored many times while visiting NAC. I have attended NAC for all of my life and I take pride in the fact that I am a third-generation pastor that has attended. I have grown up through Kid’s Place and the youth-ins.” This year, Tim will be attending NAC for the first time as a full time youth pastor at the First Church of God in Saint Elmo, Illinois.

Pattie Jantz Thompson and her family regularly finds renewed strength for the ministry while attending NAC. “We have always found the commissioning of missionaries to be a renewing of purpose for us. The lighting of candles in expressing our unity, as well as the testimonies of how God is working around the world, revitalizes our passion for ministry.” She continues, “It helps the minister, or the lay person who may serve a small church all alone, refresh and renew. It also helps us carry the message that we are not alone in serving Christ back to those congregations. This is why we travel across the country to attend.” Pattie will be traveling from Elk City, Oklahoma to attend this year’s NAC.

QUOTE OF THE DAY: “This is potentially one of those big picture times in the life of the church. We have so few opportunities to connect and see ourselves together. The combination of worship, teaching, and thinking together about the church is an opportunity that should not be passed up."--Arthur Kelly, Christian Education, Church of God Ministries

Last chance: NAC promo material available!

NEWS FLASH! This Sunday (June 21--Father's Day) is your last opportunity to promote the North American Convention of the Church of God at your church! NAC 2009 will be unlike any other, offering Global Communion for the second time--and Global Baptism for the first time!

NAC, affectionately called "Camp Meeting," is an event you won't want to miss. Inspiring worship, powerful preaching, a variety of insightful conferences and special programs FOR ALL AGES take place during these six days toward the end of June. Some of the many favorite events include the Heritage Sing-Along (led by Robert Nicholson, Dean Shield, and Paul Yerden), the LIVE Tent revival services, the commissioning of missionaries, Kid's Place, Global Communion AND Baptism, youth activities, and the opening extravaganza on Friday night. If you've never attended, try it! Prepare for an unforgettable experience, full of blessing and drawing closer to God, as brothers and sisters in Christ fellowship from all over the globe! Furthermore, if you are alumni of Anderson University, it's the perfect opportunity to come back to town for a visit!

Click on the following link to obtain official promotional resources! Download text for bulletins, text for inserts, text for newsletters, slide show presentations, flyers, posters, logos, and more! It's all available, just for you and your church, from Church of God Ministries!

http://chog.org/Resources/Downloads/ByCategory/NACPromotionalMaterialsDownloads/tabid/2013/Default.aspx

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I can't wait to experience the congregational worship in this new venue! It will be exciting and alive!"--Steve Williamson, Worship Arts Pastor, Madison Park Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)

The headlines say it all...

The evening services of the North American Convention of the Church of God had to be moved out of the Kardatzke Wellness Center due to high costs of transforming the gym to an auditorium. Some wonder why they didn't move services to Reardon Auditorium. Watch the video blog to find out why...and enjoy!

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "It's a global event that brings us into fellowship, communion, Christian network, worship, and reunion. It really gives me a look at what the Kingdom will look like. A global community, it's our community."--Jeff Whye, speaker/comedian/Azusa Pacific University Chapel Production

NAC's very own gospel concert

Do you love four-part harmony and lyrics with a message? Then you probably like southern gospel music. Did you know that the North American Convention of the Church of God hosts a southern gospel concert? It’s true. This year, at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, there will be a southern gospel concert at Park Place Church of God. Hosted by the popular Woody Wright (as seen on the Gaither Homecoming videos), this concert will also feature music by Eventide (singing the doctrine of the Church of God), and the Disciples Quartet (sponsored by Anderson University in January 2007).

For those who can’t get enough southern gospel, there will be other opportunities to hear the popular style during NAC. For those who arrive early, plan to attend a free concert on Thursday at 7 p.m. by the Crist Family, from Maynardville, Tennessee, at Main Street Church of God (4211 S. Main St., Anderson). The Disciples Quartet will appear at the Church of God at West Anderson (2205 Park Rd., Anderson) during the morning service on Sunday beginning at 10:45. Each morning at 8:30 in the LIVE Ministries tent, the Vision of Hope quartet will minister through song, and also present a special concert in the tent on Tuesday afternoon.

So plan ahead to attend the southern gospel concert on Sunday at NAC. Enjoy the music, receive a blessing, worship God, and don’t feel restrained to clap your hands or tap your toes! Take your Sunday-afternoon nap before or after the southern gospel concert. Woody Wright, Eventide, and the Disciples Quartet will surely energize and inspire. Daniel Howell adds that if you attend, “We’ll show you that the only thing tired at the end of the concert will be your hands!”

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I like NAC because it keeps me up on where the Church at large is headed. I rub shoulders every day with people I would have never met otherwise. I come home blessed and inspired."--Todd Braschler, Recording artist; speaker

"Facebookers" invited to lunch get-together

For all those who like social networking, this year's NAC will have an event just for you! For the first time in the history of the Church of God camp meetings, there will be a Facebook barbecue lunch. On Monday, June 29, Main Street Church of God (4211 S. Main St.--that's only about three miles south of Anderson University on Main Street) in Anderson will host the FREE event from 11:30 a.m. until about 2:30 p.m. All "Facebookers" are invited to attend! There is no cost, but attendees are encouraged to RSVP on the 123rd North American Convention of the Church of God event page. Click the link for more details: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?sid=0ddd5c3a67720178b0878a1a3e9cd14f&eid=78698018491&ref=search or search (include caps, "CHOGNAC FB Luncheon." You may also call the church at (765) 644-6555.

It's Facebook--face to face, at NAC!

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "I especially enjoy the worship services. Singing together with a large crowd of people...hearing the resonance of the voices, singing spontaneously outside on the campgrounds or around campus and being joined by other voices, and friends from all over the country getting together."--Don Billey, Senior Pastor, Main Street Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)