By Victor Lee

He was fed up. Over it. Had seen enough of the big leagues. The boozing. The carousing. The lives centered on self. He was, frankly, pretty disgusted. Not that all Major League Baseball players were or are that way, but he saw the gravitational pull to self-fulfillment, and it moved him the opposite direction. So he retired. Walked away. Bowie Kuhn, then baseball’s commissioner, wrote him a letter to ask him if he was sure that’s what he wanted to do. After all, he was only 21 years old.

Colorado Springs—The Church of God Colorado Conference, lead by State Minister Larry Taylor, recently hosted a ThinkNEXT church revitalization conference at the Vista Grande Church of God in Colorado Springs, Colorado. These regional conferences are being hosted by state associations as part of their ongoing partnership with Church of God Ministries and their desire to bring health and growth to Church of God congregations across the country.

What could be better than a few days of peaceful renewal in the North Carolina mountains at the peak of the fall color change? Add to that picture the company of some of the finest folks you will ever want to meet. Then mix in CBH host Jim Lyon, Sandi Patty Peslis, along with husband Don, Sandi’s parents Ron and Carolyn Patty, and CBH cohosts Kimberly Majeski and Obadiah Smith. Well, what a time it will be!

Listen to an interview with Marcos Kurrle as he describes how he came to be involved in an exciting Youth ministry in Paraguay.  Click here to play audio.

By Wes Helbling

Bastrop, La. - Dennis Irby of Bastrop has joined an annual mission team to the South American country of Peru for eight years and counting. This year’s journey, from which he and two other members of the First Church of God in Bastrop recently returned, held a special surprise.

By Diane Davenport

I had a conversation the other day with a Maori woman who attends the local university where Dan Blanton and I are doing chaplaincy work. Not long after we met, she said, “I wonder if you’d pray for me. I’m trying to stop doing drugs.” In further conversation, it became evident that the drugs were interfering with her studies, her family, and especially her relationship with God. She said, “I’m just too ashamed. I want to fix things, but I don’t think God will accept me.”

Church of God Ministries accepted the resignation of Cayla Dyer as career missionary to Brazil, effective July 16, 2008.

Cayla has turned in her ministerial credentials to Indiana Ministries.

Please pray for the Lord's leading in Cayla’s life as she makes her career transition.

Click here to read more about about how IYC changed lives for Christ.

By David Farlow

Nigel Parker, director of financial planning and education for the Board of Pensions of the Church of God, has earned the Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®) professional designation from The American College, Bryn Mawr, PA. Individuals who earn a ChFC® are prepared to provide expert advice on a broad range of financial topics.

“I think it is important as I work within the world of finance to have a commitment to improving and increasing my knowledge and education,” said Parker.  “The Board of Pensions strives to provide our clients with the best possible advice and counsel.  This continued education is just one way I can enhance the skills that will serve the servants of the church.”

By Deborah Lilly

In the early 1970s, the General Assembly of the Church of God expressed concern over the lack of ongoing education for Church of God pastors. The assembly charged the Anderson University School of Theology to develop a program to meet the needs of working pastors. The seminary has done that and more. Creating the Center for Pastoral Studies, now the Center for Christian Leadership, the seminary has furthered the church’s ability to equip pastors and laypeople to be disciples for kingdom work and created a network through which believers can come together and study.

Over the years, T. Franklin Miller, Jerry Grubbs, and Jim Bradley have guided the program. By 2000, the program was running virtually on its own, offering pastors the same sort of courses it had for the past 18 years. It was in 2000 that SOT Dean David Sebastian, Vice President and Dean Carl Caldwell, and Vice President Sena Landey discussed whether or not the program had run its course or if it could be revived. They decided to ask David Neidert to step up as center director and refresh the program.