500 Saved: Realizing God’s Vision Region by Region

February 9, 2012

By Carl Stagner

Can you imagine twenty-five thousand new disciples? It may be difficult because it’s a God-sized goal. That means it cannot be reached without involvement from the Almighty. Jesus stressed the power of God to accomplish the seemingly impossible when he said, “With God all things are possible” (Matt 19:26 NIV2011). At the 2011 Strategic Planning Conference of the Church of God, leaders from across the movement humbly and earnestly sought God’s vision for the church. The assembly rallied around the conviction that the salvation of souls should be the central focus of the church in 2012. Focus 40 would serve as the launch for an emphasis on the Great Commission that would ultimately result in twenty-five thousand believers added to the kingdom. In Georgia, regional pastor and overseer Rev. Hosea Anderson is taking this initiative very seriously.

At the 2011 Strategic Planning Conference, Randy Montgomery, leader of Transformation Team Cultivate and Refresh, said that Focus 40 needed to be about reaching the lost. Believing that God could do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think, the number twenty-five thousand was determined to be more than doable. Hosea Anderson sat in the meeting that day listening to the compelling voice of God. “The Lord began to speak with me. What if every state could be responsible for five hundred souls,” he explains. He concludes that if every state is fully engaged in the mission, this great number will be met.

Last fall at a clergy retreat in Georgia, Anderson presented the challenge to the pastors. Out of this fellowship, the initiative “500 Saved” was born. The campaign began in November, will continue through Focus 40, and will conclude with celebration and thanks to God for souls saved at a regional meeting in September.

While Georgia did have several congregations participate last year, they are going to urge each one to get on board in 2012. “We’ll let people know that Focus 40 is the overall strategy of the church and that we’re believing in five hundred saved in our state.”

Anderson developed a team of individuals to contact every church in the state with information and encouragement to join the campaign. By the start of Focus 40 at the end of February, they believe the momentum will be strong going into this pivotal time of fasting and prayer. They plan to track each church, collect and pray for lists of names from each church for salvation, and post prayer requests and testimonies of salvation and restoration on their website. In addition, Georgia plans to provide helpful action steps to each congregation on a monthly basis to guide them as they witness and pray. For example, “when you go out to a restaurant, don’t just order your food. Ask the wait staff how you can be praying for them.”

Since November, Georgia Fellowship has been holding prayer rallies, at which the focus has been intercession for pastors, churches, and the lost. When Focus 40 begins, the congregations will already see the goal of five hundred saved in focus.

“I’m encouraging the ministers to lead; we’re galvanizing them to do this,” Anderson explains. “We believe that at the end of the day, our ministry’s about saving the lost and discipling the found. The Lord is helping us and we’re going to keep hammering this and asking pastors and leaders to get involved.”

It’s not too late to plan to join us for Focus 40! Focus 40 is February 29–April 8. Sign up today at www.chog.org/Focus40, and download free resources to guide you through the experience.