Skip to main content

Propelling toward Harvest

A THOUGHT FROM BISHOP HOWARD


"For the first 21 days of the New Year of 2010 we are inviting all that the Spirit will call to join us in the greatest Season of Seeking that the COGOP ministry family has ever participated in. We are not alone, in that many ministries around the world will be seeking God at the same time. Let the heavens open for millions of sincere and hungry believers seeking God for great things as we start a new decade of ministry for His Glory!

The needs are great at every level. That is beyond doubt. But I stumbled across the data below and it gave me a new perspective on seeking Him at this moment in our journey as a movement. Look at this information about the COGOP journey.

It took 50 years to reach 100,000 members, (1903-1953) [2,000 per year]
25 years to reach the 200,000 member mark, (1978) [4,000 per year]
16 years to reach the 300,000 member mark, (1994) [6,250 per year]
4 years to reach the 400,000 member mark, (1998) [25,000 per year]
Only 2 years to reach the 500,000 member mark, (2000) [50,000 per year]
Only 2 more years to reach 600,000 members, (2002) [50,000 per year]
Four more years to reach one million members (2006), [100,000 per year]
Four more years to reach 1.5 million members (2010), [100,000+ per year]

As I saw the accelerating trend of God’s work in this ministry I gained a new motivation to seek Him. By the grace of God, by the help of the Holy Spirit, and by the sovereign hand of God in His harvest reaping, this humble movement has been called to join many others in reaping hundreds of thousands of souls in the greatest Kingdom building effort the world has ever seen. We are part of God’s snowballing effect for His Gospel spread and His Glory revealed on planet earth. It will not be by might or by power but by the Divine work of God in our ministries.

Yes there are needs, but from this point of reference I am motivated to enter God’s presence anew for this new decade so that we may run on with God in what may be His Great Last Days Work. Our eyes have not seen and our ears have not heard what glorious things God is going to do in this generation. The testimony above reveals we have been greatly helped by God to participate in something wonderful. But the future will be even more awesome as we fully give ourselves and ministries over to our Harvest Focused Savior. Join us this January as we seek God to begin this decade of Harvest."

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Come Down From That Ivory Tower

Hebrews 11 has become known as the "Hall of Faith." The reason is quite simple. The writer spends a great deal of time giving a role call of the heroes of the faith. After all, this chapter is about faith, and what better way to teach faith than to illustrate with some real-life examples. Mos of the people in this chapter are well-known, at least by anyone who spent time squirming in a Sunday School class as a small child, or who watched the late-night movies on the local channels featuring their stories. Who were they? Abel, Enoch and Noah. Abel pleased God with his excellent offering, Enoch was so close to God that he actually walked with God to the point that one evening, while walking God said to Enoch, "we are closer to my house than we are yours, so why don't you just go home with me?" Of course, Noah built an ark (according to God's instructions) that saved mankind from total destruction. Then there was Abraham...the father of the faithful. He...

A question about your church...

This last few days I have been in the State of Kentucky. I came here with my wife, whose father was having medical tests as of the results of a probable heart attack. He seems to be doing well (as of tonight) and is scheduled for one more test, then hopefully he will be released and further treatments to bring him to health. While this is a scary moment for my wife's family it has also been a time to step away from the daily work and observe others around us. Since Debra's father is a pastor (Church of God of Prophecy, Central City, KY) there have been visits from the State Presiding Bishop, Scott Gillum, area pastors and of course some of his church members. It is heartening to watch the love and concern that is show by those visiting. There has also been quite a few of Debra's extended family here, along with her younger brother and his family. I've watch the nurses and technicians at the Owensboro Medical Center demonstrate concern and what seems to be good care...

On my way to a resurrection

Someone asked, "Are you on your way to another funeral?"  My answer was, "No, I am on my way to a resurrection."  Tonight, after having preached my sister's funeral, two church members funerals and visiting a friend whose brother had passed away, I had a little quiet time in my home office.  As I often do, I reach for an old book  I've found that some books written long ago can speak to my heart.  This time, it was a book published in 1946.  This passage from J.B. Chapman touched my heart, hope it does yours too.  Victor Hugo exclaimed, "The frosts of seventy winters are on my head, but the springtime of eternal youth is in my heart." "Sometimes we look at the gray hair of a ripening saint, and say, "Old man, the frosts of many winters are on your head."  But he answers, "That is not frost.  I am getting ready to wear the crown of life, and my hair is taking on tint agreeable to the color scheme."   We say, "Ol...