Some may wonder why we hold a conference for the ministry. What is the purpose of meeting together?
Before we answer this question, some background history might be helpful.
In July of this year, it will mark the 25th year of existence for the Church of the Eternal God (CEG). While this is a good and impressive milestone, what is most important is that we continue doing the Work of God with fervency and zeal. Many people at the time when CEG was started stated that this organization would not last more than a few months. Yet, by the grace of God, we continue to operate and God continues to help open doors for us to preach the Gospel to the world (Matthew 28:19-20; 16:17-18).
One of the core tenets of CEG found in our Statement of Beliefs is the following:
“The Church’s Commission:
“We believe that it is the Church’s commission to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations as a witness, to warn all nations, and especially the lost tribes of the house of Israel (mainly in the United States, Great Britain, certain Commonwealth nations and nations in Northwestern Europe) of impending danger, and to feed the flock of Christ – the Church – spiritually and physically.”
As we continue carrying out this commission, it is important that we maintain our focus and approach in doing the Work. In order to do so, we meet monthly in technical meetings over the Internet to discuss various ongoing projects and continually work to keep doing what we are doing, making improvements when needed, but also staying true to our core values that God has entrusted to us.
We have often stated that we are to be growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ, which includes remaining steadfast in the Truth that we believe. Quoting again from our Statement of Beliefs:
“The major doctrines of the Church are those, which were taught by Herbert W. Armstrong, derived from the Biblical teachings as followed by God’s faithful servants, and originally established by Jesus Christ through the founding of His Church in the time of His chosen early apostles. Since we are to increase in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, we are committed to review and alter any of our teachings, if and when proven to be wrong by the Bible.”
We continue to follow this principle, and it has served the Church well through the years. People have come and gone, but we continue to hold fast to the Truth and we persevere in preaching it. The Work that we are doing has been given to us by God, and by His grace and strength, we will continue.
On May 10, 2003, a Q&A was written asking the question: “Does the Church of the Eternal God and its corporate affiliates believe in and practice hierarchical government?”
The Q&A emphasizes that God is not working through independent, self-directed individuals, but through an organized structure under Christ. If God governs His Church through structure, then periodic gathering, instruction, and alignment within that structure are necessary and beneficial. The purpose of the unity is so that we can effectively preach the Gospel and help prepare the way for Jesus Christ’s Second Coming.
Quoting from that Q&A further should help us to understand how the Church operates administratively:
“We in the ministry of the Church of the Eternal God, the Global Church of God in the United Kingdom, and the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship in Canada, discuss things among ourselves, ‘submitting to one another in the fear of God’ (compare Ephesians 5:21). We are convinced, and experience has shown, that if a person is not willing to submit to others ‘in the fear of God,’ such a person will sooner or later cease to be a part of the organization. When we do not reach an agreement on a given point, we place the matter on hold, meditate and pray about it, and come together again for further discussion. When we decide an issue, we do it under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, expecting full consensus, as was the case in Acts 15.”
Unity is a clear theme that runs through the Bible. In order to fulfill our part in God’s Work, we are anxious to maintain unity.
Paul clearly wrote about this in Ephesians 4:1-5: “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism…”
The unity that is shared between God the Father and Christ should be the same unity with which we operate. But Paul doesn’t stop here. There is a reason why unity is so important in his view.
Continuing in Ephesians 4:11–16:
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
In participating in this conference, the ministry is working to do just this. We are working on behalf of the readers and those who are called. We do the Work because we have been called to do so to preach the Gospel as a witness and to help the growth of the entire body, by doing our part!
While the ministry continues to carry out its responsibilities, the membership also has a responsibility to grow spiritually. Together, the Church should be growing and maturing as one unified Body.
Ephesians 2:19-22 states:
“Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”
We must allow God’s Spirit to be increasing within each of us. The more this happens, the more God can move His plan forward. We are not static; rather, we are created to grow and develop toward the fullness of God’s character and Way of Life.
While unity and spiritual growth are vitally important, another question must also be asked: Why do all this Work?
As mentioned above, preaching the Gospel and all that it entails is the commission given by Christ, and it is the one that we are keen on fulfilling. Christ told us exactly what would happen before His return: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
The world is still standing, Christ has not returned; therefore, our commission is still in full force and effect. Christ plainly tells us that this is what we must be doing to the extent that we can. We read in Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” He added in Matthew 28:20, ”…teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Our job is to watch, warn and exhort! Our StandingWatch YouTube channel does exactly this in commission of Habakkuk 2:1-3. We must not be discouraged by small numbers. (Remember, Elijah thought he was all alone, but God had preserved 7000 in Israel, compare 1 Kings 19:18).
God will bring people into His Work to help as we prepare ourselves. We are seeing growth though, even if it’s not in ways that we always expect. Our video on the Fall and Rise of the Jewish People has now surpassed 2.4 million views. This demonstrates that God continues to open doors for the Work. Each week, we also send out large quantities of booklets to individuals requesting them.
When ancient Israel sinned and went into captivity, people remembered God and turned back to Him. We should recognize that the greatest portion of the Work may still lie ahead of us. We should pray diligently that God will provide additional laborers to help accomplish His Work.
Matthew 9:35-38 tells us:
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, ‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”
Christ cared about the people. This should also be a concern for us in such a way that we are dedicated to preaching the Gospel which contains good news to this world. In order to do this, there has to be unity so that we can continue to fulfill the commission of the Church.
One of the key takeaways from our conference is that we gather together to gain strength, encouragement, and greater understanding in how to better accomplish the Work of God. When the early Church met in Acts 15, they came together to seek greater understanding of the Truth. At that time, they discussed the issue of circumcision—a matter considered extremely important by some. Yet the conclusion they reached brought about a significant change for the Church. This aligned with what Peter had previously experienced through the vision he received before baptizing Cornelius and his household. The decision reached in Acts 15 helped open the door of salvation more fully to the Gentiles. It was a major development in the growth of the Church and the expansion of the Work.
As we conclude this year’s ministerial conference, we can move forward and be encouraged in continuing the Work of God. All of us are part of this effort together. Every prayer, comment, contribution, and act of support is deeply appreciated. This is not a one-person work. As Scripture says:
“For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12).
We can all continue praying and asking God for wisdom, strength, and open doors to preach the Gospel, while ensuring that we remain aligned with His Will in all things.
In closing, Psalm 90:13–17 provides a beautiful capstone to this Q&A:
“Return, O LORD! How long?
And have compassion on Your servants.
Oh, satisfy us early with Your mercy,
That we may rejoice and be glad all our days!
Make us glad according to the days in which You have afflicted us,
The years in which we have seen evil.
Let Your work appear to Your servants,
And Your glory to their children.
And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us,
And establish the work of our hands for us;
Yes, establish the work of our hands.”
Lead Writer: Kalon Mitchell