Actscelerate.com

Do you feel you "owe" the Church of God?

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1055 **2/27/18 12:22 pm**

This subject came up in a previous thread and I didn't want to hijack it. Over the years, I've heard people say things like, "I owe a debt of gratitude to the Church of God, for licencing me, educating me, and giving me the chance to pastor".

I wonder how many here feel that way and why.

I don't and was looking for some perspective.

When I started in COG ministry:

I paid for a background check.
I completed the ministry training programs.
I paid for the licencing study guides.
I passed the exams.
I volunteered to pastor a church, that NOBODY wanted.

Some might say, "Well, the COG approved you, trained you, licenced you and gave you the chance to preach".

My response to that is, "Baptist churches would have done that too. I was recruited to minister, by more than one of those congregations"

I had numerous chances to pastor, outside of the COG, long before I had the opportunity to preach in the COG.

I served on the staff of an Assembly of God congregation, 4 years before standing in a COG pulpit.

Long story short, ministry for me, wasn't, and still isn't, dependent on the COG. I could have just as easily become part of another denomination, or an independent church.

So what say you....Do you feel that you owe the COG and why?
_________________
Eddie Wiggins

I was the opposite...

Member Posts: 32 **2/27/18 1:18 pm**

I was at an AG and an independent church before I came into the COG, and neither would give me any direction as to how to become involved in ministry. The COG opened pulpits, credentialed, trained, and ultimately provided more than one church for me to pastor. So, my story is, while I don't say I "owe" them anything, I do hold a debt of gratitude to the COG.
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The lesser of two evils is still evil...

[Insert Acts Pun Here] Posts: 12817 **2/27/18 1:50 pm**

It seems rather self-evident that we all owe everyone essentially right dealing, that we do right by all and that we do no one wrong, that we treat others the way in which we would want to be treated. Echoing what Jesus said was the 2nd greatest commandment, Paul said to owe no man anything except to love one another; he that loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Acts-dicted Posts: 9027 **2/27/18 2:37 pm**

I'm thankful for the people that have been part of my journey.
Some of them were COG.

I believe they did what they did out of love. I owe them a debt of love.
_________________
I'm not saved because I'm good. I'm saved because He's good!

My website: www.bradfreeman.com
My blog: http://bradcfreeman.tumblr.com/

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1055 **2/27/18 2:59 pm**

Yeah, I feel like I owe the COG....

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 6042 **2/27/18 3:38 pm**

The happiest moments in my life would almost certainly not have taken place had I not been part of the COG.

Traveling with my dad to revivals.

Getting saved, baptized, and filled with the Holy Ghost in Churches of God.

The life-long friendships that came from connecting with people in the Church of God.

My best friends were members of the same Church of God I was.

I got married in the Church of God...to a Church of God girl.

Incredible roadtrips, vacations, etc., courtesy of the friendships I developed in the Church of God.

The wondrous years of attending the Florida State Camp Meeting--the music, the preaching, the glory, the joy!

And as far as pastoring in the Church of God, I owe that to them, too. (Yes, it's one of the smallest ones in the state, but it fits me.)

And all you scoundrels on here--I wouldn't have know of you, been able to educate you, been able to rebuke you and cast you out...without the Church of God.

So, yep, I owe 'em big time.

Re: Yeah, I feel like I owe the COG....

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1055 **2/27/18 4:14 pm**

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1865 **2/27/18 4:15 pm**

In short, no i do not owe the COG anything. I am however, very appreciative of all who have helped me along the way and the friendships.

Friendly Face Posts: 358 **2/27/18 4:25 pm**

If your related to someone in a position of power that can help you then yes they owe something to the cog. To the rest who arenâ€™t no. I wish I could have said yes but I canâ€™t.

According

Friendly Face Posts: 122 **2/27/18 10:52 pm**

The system has gotten way more out of me than it has given me. The people both colleagues and members have been a great blessing. A few ABâ€™s had a heart to really invest in pastorâ€™s, but most used us as a stepping stone or training field. They seem to care more about fake statistics to get the systems attention. The system has abandoned our region in my opinion. They are letting us die as long as we can keep paying an AB is all that matters. Our churches give everything we can trying just to keep the state going. So we have already given and owe nothing, but still keep giving.

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **2/27/18 11:16 pm**

As a member now, I still migrate to the COG. That is all I ever knew. Most of my childhood my dad pastored churches that paid a salary from offerings and tithe, so I do owe a debt of gratitude for that. My dad did not call me to preach, I think I did that my own self. But I just loved COG people because they were like minded. I am grateful I was allowed to pastor. I disappointed a lot of folks when I quit. But I would not stay and hurt these wonderful folk.

Now that I am back in the church, I migrate to the COG because I consider them my family. /We attend many different denominations and independent. Mega churches and churches of 10 people, I feel at home. I do not feel Quite at home at an AG or other Pentecostals, I have met wonderful friendly folk at other churches. But at a COG I feel at home.

I know a big part of that is because for 17 years that was all I knew, I cannot change that. So yes, I sorta feel I owe the COG for a worldwide family. Had I been raised AG I would probably feel the same toward them. I am speaking for me of course, history makes a lot of difference.. Cool

PS: When I would receive orders in the military and my dad found out, his first call was to pastor or pastors in the area. I have been so blessed because of that network. COG pastors have BLESSED my life. Even the ones I have met on ACTS. Aaron even invited us to to dinner. Truman did in Indiana. Great food and Great company.... Family!
_________________
Some facts but mostly just my opinion!
jacsher@aol.com
http://shipslog-jack.blogspot.com/

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **2/27/18 11:35 pm**

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1055 **2/28/18 7:04 am**

The picture seem to be coming into focus. From the responses so far, it seems that entire existences were/are connected to the COG. As a result, people feel grateful, or indebted to the denomination.

I attended a COG from the time I was born, until I was 8. Then a Methodist Church, from 8-15. We moved to another town when I was 15, and attended a Disciples of Christ Church. I started attending a COG, by myself, when I was 17.

In college, I attended an Assembly of God church, but went to the COG, when I came home.

I never went to youth camp. Never went to camp meeting.
_________________
Eddie Wiggins

01000001 01100011 01110100 01110011 Posts: 24285 **2/28/18 12:18 pm**

Acts-pert Poster Posts: 15570 **2/28/18 12:38 pm**

Yes, I owe the COG. The COG. The movement. Sure there are tares, Jesus said there would be. A few bad apples aint the whole. I owe my COG brothers/sisters in Christ.

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1055 **2/28/18 2:31 pm**

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1865 **2/28/18 3:34 pm**

This might sound arrogant, but I certainly donâ€™t intend for it to. In my lifetime I feel I have given just as much (if not more) to the COG than it has given me. But I donâ€™t think of it in those terms. We are in a covenant of sorts, so there are expectations of both parties.

I respect and appreciate all who have contributed to my development. But I donâ€™t owe the COG one red cent. I am reluctant to even share that because I realize how that might come across to some.

Friendly Face Posts: 358 **2/28/18 4:04 pm**

â€”.

Acts Enthusiast Posts: 1055 **2/28/18 4:30 pm**

Hon. Dr. in Acts-celeratology Posts: 7307 **2/28/18 6:42 pm**

In my situation a simple apology from the GO at the time would have gone a looooooong way toward smoothing things out.

The CoG does not owe me anything, it does owe my wife's family an apology though.

All those years working to raise money for YWEA. Rolling Eyes

_________________
Charles A. Hutchins
Senior Pastor SPWC
Congregational Church of God

www.spwc.church