On Thursday, June 21, 2012 The Church of God was organized on the island of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea by Oscar Pimentel.  Isaiah prophesied that the Lord would hiss unto the nations, and they would come with swift speed.  For the people of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, this prophecy has been fulfilled!

The Church was initially organized on the volcanic tropical island with nine members, but additional meetings are being held on the mainland during the upcoming few days.

Equatorial Guinea is a country located in central Africa bordering Cameroon and Gabon.  It is a tiny country with a population just over 685,000 composed of a mainland portion plus five inhabited islands.  Malabo is the country’s capital, and Bata is the largest urbanized city.  Equatorial Guinea is unique because it is the only country in Africa with Spanish as its official language.

Let us pray for these special and precious saints who have made their way to the Church and for growth in this new nation...

The following article originally appeared in The Evening Light and was written by Stephen E. Smith, General Overseer of The Church of God.

A few weeks ago on our way to visit Church members in Turkey and attend the National Convention in Southern India, my wife and I had the joy of visiting Israel. It was an opportunity to walk through biblical history, to see the very places where the Old and New Testament events took place. We saw the valley of Jezreel, where Gideon and his 300 soldiers won the battle against the multitude of Midianites, and the caves of Ein Gedi where David hid from Saul. We walked the streets of Jerusalem, and saw the Garden of Gethsemane where it is said of our Lord, “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground” (Luke 22:44). We visited the Sea of Galilee and its coastal cities where Jesus worked most of His miracles and preached so many of His sermons.

In the month of February, World Mission Coordinator, Robert J. Hawkins, Jr., took his first tour of South America to get acquainted with the work and workers on the field in their respective countries.  Traveling with him were Headquarters Translator Oscar Pimentel as well as Bible Training Institute Director Ray D. Dupre.  

They were involved in three National Conventions and one Bible Training Institute school.  Also their journey would take them to the country for Panama for the annual National Convention.  While in South America they were privileged to stop by Chile for a day to encourage Brother and Sister Concha after the death of their daughter in a tragic car accident in December.  

Signs of good growth and encouraged people were the norm in each country.  It is hoped you will enjoy the photographs with this article.

The theme for the Mexico National Convention, held July 29-31, 2011, was "All That the Lord Hath Spoken We Will Do," taken from Exodus 19:7, 8. It was a special blessing for General Field Secretary and Sunday School Coordinator Bishop Robert Strong, his son Brother Frankie Strong and General VLB Coordinator Dustin Hays to attend this convention. God certainly met us there as the delegates began to gather, with a great spirit of expectation of God's blessings, and convention convened on Friday evening.

On Friday night Brother Juan Noriega preached a wonderful message regarding the battle that the Israelites had with the Amalekites and the hands of Moses being held up throughout the battle. Also on Friday night the state marches began. This was a special blessing as throughout the convention each state represented marched in with all of their delegates, carrying banners, sharing testimonies then typically singing a song. It was reminiscent of the state marches in the General Assemblies of times past. It was truly...

England National Convention convened July 8-10, 2011. It would be another record-equaling attendance for the Church in England. National Overseer Philip Bennett ably moderated this God-anointed and blessed Convention. His address to the saints of England was targeted and inspiring.

Field Secretary, Ray D. Dupre, was privileged to be in attendance at the Convention this year. His messages from the theme "The One Shall Be Taken and The Other Left", were a blessing to the Convention.

Each Auxiliary Secretary presented an inspiration program of special songs, skits and preaching. Oh, how wonderful the Word of God went forth from each minister in this Convention! All had found that stream of inspiration from the Holy Ghost, for each sermon continued where the last sermon ended. Over and over again the Spirit led us back to the all important thought, "The One Shall Be Taken and The Other Left."

The National Choir blessed the National Convention with two special numbers which delighted those in attendance as well...

Monday, April 11, 2011 was a historical day for The Church of God and an exciting one for our General Overseer and his wife, Bishop and Sister Smith. On this day, they would make a long journey and their very first visit to the continent of Africa. Accompanying them were our World Mission Coordinator and his wife, Brother and Sister Hawkins. The 18-day visit would include visits to Swaziland, South Africa, and the new country of Lesotho.

In Swaziland, our visitors were warmly greeted by the saints at the small national airport and escorted to their place of stay in the capital city of Mbabane. From here, they would travel all week long to our local churches in Esobovini, Dlangeni, and Manzini. A revival was also held in a new area called Gebeni, where souls were saved, sanctified, filled with the Holy Ghost and bodies were touched and healed as the sick were anointed with oil and prayed for. How glad The Church of God in Swaziland was to have their General Overseer minister the Word of God to them and to...

The following report was submitted by Clifford Thompson, National Overseer of Canada (West).

The Western Canada annual convention convened on May 21, 2011. The Lord was with us from the start. We were privileged to have Brother Kevin Werkheiser as General Headquarters Representative for the convention. He also conducted a five-night revival after the convention. Brother Werkheiser's messages blessed us greatly.

We were blessed to have Brother Michael Grant, Overseer of Alaska at this year's convention. Also Sister Bear, a regular attendee each year, was with us again this year. Thank you Sister Bear.

Thank the Lord for a surprise visit by Brother and Sister Flemmer from California. We enjoyed having them with us for a few days. Brother Lowell shared the testimony of his family, his father and their time in Canada. This history of their ministry in Western Canada was a wonderful blessing. A big thanks to Violet and Lowell Flemmer for coming our way!

Thanks to all our members and friends for their suppor...

The following report was submitted by Jasmin Verdan, National Reporter, from the Philippines highlighting the events of the 2011 National Convention.

There was joy in the hearts of everyone as the 24th Annual National Convention commenced. Thank the Lord for another opportunity to see our brethren from the different districts that are divided by many islands.

Convention began with music and singing by the praise and worship team of the Odiongan Church led by the Enopion worship team. Brother Eddie Venus of Mindoro, led the congregation with a prayer followed by the Scripture reading from the book of John 10:14-16 by Pastor Sammy Venus of Odiongan Church. Bishop Danilo Orcino, National Overseer officially opened the National Convention with the theme; "He died for you, now you live for Him." Sister Evelyn Verdan and Pastor Joseph Anigan, led the congregation in the Bible and Flag pledge respectively. The song, "Ikaw Panginoon," (You Lord) with its beautiful message was rendered by Jasmin Verdan...

After several wonderful days in the Philippines, the Lord gave an equally memorable visit to our two Asian travelers, Bishops Dupre and Hawkins, in the country of South Korea (March 14-31, 2011). They were met at the Incheon International airport by one of our missionaries, Deacon Eugene Powell, and traveled about two and a half hours by bus to the city in which our local church is located – Iksan. There, they would hold a revival and conduct a "pastors conference" that our respected National Overseer, Brother Choe Jong Dae, had organized with approximately 20 pastors from Korea and China that believe in holiness and the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues. In the conference and revival, messages were preached about repentance, sanctification, divorce and remarriage, Biblical adornment, and theocratic government. The Holy Ghost touched hearts and at times the hearers knelt in the aisles, lifted their hands, cried out to God, and tears welled up in their eyes. It was reporte...

After many delays and some dangerous circumstances, Field Secretary Ray Dupre and World Mission Coordinator Robert Hawkins landed in Manila, Philippines on March 16, 2011 to be greeted by our faithful National Overseer, Danilo Orcino. The next several days would find them a few hundred miles away and on the northern seashore of the island in a small, rural town called Gonzaga. A district-wide revival meeting was scheduled and various local churches were represented. God blessed wonderfully in these meetings and approximately a dozen people came forward to receive Christ into their lives and many others prayed in the altar.

It was exciting to see so many young people actively participating in this revival with a hunger for the things of God. Joseph Anigan, the host pastor, did a beautiful job moderating the services and was sensitive to the Spirit of God – many times speaking to the congregation with tears flowing down his face. Brother and Sister Anigan worked very hard to make their visitors feel welcome...