The official opening of the 2011 Annual Assembly of The Church of God was announced by Stephen Smith, general overseer, on Tuesday evening at Ridgecrest Convention Center near Asheville, N.C.

Flag pledges and prayer led the first service which was attended by representatives from the United States and several countries. Gene Hopkins of Alabama preached the opening message followed by an hour of prayer. The program and sermons were built around the theme of the assembly, "... from glory to glory."

Delegates from the Cleveland area were on program Wednesday morning. Shanna Weekes, Spanish translator, and A.L. Harris of Tunnel Hill, GA, both spoke. Progress reports from North America and the Caribbean Islands were given by Robert F. Strong Sr., the general field representative.

Another local minister and pastor, E. Roger Ammons, directed the evangelism program on Saturday afternoon...

The 106th annual Assembly of The Church of God, which has its general headquarters in Cleveland, will commence on Tuesday at the Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville, N.C., and will continue through Aug. 28.

General Overseer Stephen E. Smith will open and moderate the worldwide gathering with various directors coordinating sessions and events during the week.

The Assembly will focus on the theme "from glory to glory," taken from 2 Corinthians 3:18, which says, "...even as by the Spirit of the Lord." Smith says, "...it must become our priority to go from 'glory to glory' deeper and richer and fuller with God. Complacency is our enemy. Time is short and we must stir ourselves to move onward and upward into the full glory God has prepared for his church."

Flag and Bible pledges will be given after the official opening. Gene Hopkins of Alabama will preach a message on prayer followed by an hour of prayer by assembly delegates...

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...