Dear Ministry Partner/Leader,

In this month's ELEAD, I want to share with you an excerpt from an article by the General Overseer, Dr. Raymond F. Culpepper.  The title is, How To Embrace Change.

Blessings,
Bishop Corder How To Embrace Change

Life and ministry are processes of growth and change. As we grow in life we change! This is in response to awareness, experiences, and maturity. Change impacts our lifestyles, our goals, and our relationships. If change does not take place in the growth process, there is dullness, stagnation, and restricted achievements.

Growth in life and growth in church have similar characteristics. Church growth today, or plans for growth, calls for change! Change is necessary in order to respond to the challenging  characteristics of different age groups, the religious climate in our country, and the lack of stewardship stability. If change is not embraced, there will be a growing decline in church loyalty, financial shortages, and outreach poverty.

There are three imperatives in embracing change with a positive mind-set.
1. CONTROL. Change cannot be viewed with an out-of-control spirit—negative emotions, a critical disposition, or with restricted participation. Control must be exercised by not moving too quickly or too slowly, by showing willingness to face current circumstances, and by accepting the pressing facts about change. There must be studious and scriptural balance, prayer, and plans for addressing the various elements involved in progressive change.
2. CONFIDENCE. Change calls for steadfast confidence in the leadership of the Lord. The foundation for confidence is trust. We are instructed to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways [decisions] acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths [plans]” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NKJV).  Confidence must be conveyed by those directing change. It is also imperative to pray for wisdom to understand the necessity for change and for trust and unity in embracing the various facets of change.
3. CREATIVITY. God is the author of form and design, “In the beginning God created” (Genesis 1:1). He brought about earth-shaping change through His unlimited power to create. Changes in strategy and structure can be performed successfully by exercising God-given creativity—new operational procedures, new streams of revenue, and new systems to minister to the unchurched. Creativity is the force for meeting the challenge of churchshaping change. As we embrace change with a clear vision and vibrant faith, we will witness divine
assurance that the Church of God will move forward like a mighty army.***
--Dr. Raymond F. Culpepper, General Overseer

EVANGELIZING

1. Vision for Growth—Compassion for the Unchurched
2. Confidence to Achieve—Recognition of Spiritual Resources
3. Positive Church Image—Reputation for Caring
4. Churchwide Expectation—Creative Teamwork
5. Influential Hospitality—People Loving People
6. Transforming Worship—Life Enriching Praise
7. Accountability for Growth—Recognition of Harvesttime

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EQUIPPING
 

Equipping our church leadership:
TRAINING VIDEO Series
A Leader's Relationships (2-part Video Series)

Bishop Mitchell Corder, Administrative Bishop for the Church of God in Virginia shares his four point training series about A Leader's Relationships in two impacting 30-minute video sessions. This leadership training applies to church staff, general leadership positions, or volunteer constituents.

Stay tuned to see more about this valuable training series, A Leader's Relationships, that will be posted around May 17 on our website, linked here.

Topics Include:
1. Models Who Inspire You
2. Mentors Who Instruct You
3. Partners Who Assist You
4. Friends Who Support You

Equipping our churches to pray . . . Be watching for the Summer issue of the Virginian, "Partnering in Prayer."  This upcoming issue is packed with valuable specific resources geared toward preparing pastors and their churches to be strategically praying people.

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ENCOURAGING

1. Am I worried about what people think of my message or what God thinks? (Preach with fear.)
2. Do I genuinely love these people? (Preach with love.)
3. Am I accurately presenting this passage? (Preach with accuracy.)
4. Am I depending on the Holy Spirit's power or my own cleverness? (Preach with power.)
5. Have I applied this message to my own life? (Preach with integrity.)
6. Will this message draw attention to me or to God? (Preach with humility.)
7. Do the people really need this message? (Preach with urgency.)

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EMPOWERING

2012 Pentecost Sunday Initiative

Empowered21--a broad coalition of churches, ministries and organizations working together to help shape the future of the Spirit empowered movement around the world--has announced plans for a Pentecost Sunday Initiative this year (http://www.pentecostsunday.tv/). It is a global initiative scheduled for Pentecost weekend and Pentecost Sunday, May 27, 2012, in which pulpits all over the world will proclaim the transforming, renewing, empowering truth of the Holy Spirit.

Empowered21 (www.empowered21.com) is committed to seeing new generations experience the power and presence of the living God by preaching and teaching about the Holy Spirit through this one day, one message international movement--a movement to discover anew God's presence and power on Pentecost Sunday.



Empower 2012 (Camp Meeting week) starting June 13, going through June 19, will be held in three regions and hosted by four different churches.

Southwest Region: We will begin on Wednesday night, June 13, in Pulaski Church of God (The Refreshing Center) with two days and three nights in Pulaski.
Coastal Region: The evening of June 16, we will hold service at Chesapeake, Kingdom Life and Sunday night, June 17, we will be at Newport News, WOW Center.
Northeast Region: Monday night, June 18, we will be hosted by Richmond, Victory Tabernacle.

More details about area hotels and downloads are available on our website: www.vacog.org/campmeetings_new.php.


Other Events to Remember. . .

• Ministers Meeting, October 1-2
• General Assembly, July 24-27