Common Faith Network's Annnual Christmas Weekend Will Have Lecture On Using Psychology And Research To Keep Members From Leaving The Church

 

It is almost that time of year when several of the Churches of God hold their annual Christmas weekend parties filled with lectures and sports activities in resort locations surrounded by glorious Christmas decorations, beautiful Christmas carols, and Christmas foods and desserts.

The Common Faith Network and Church of God Cinincatti has released the schedule of speakers that will be featured. Bob Thiel, the world's foremost theologian will be pleased that his Spiritual Advisor Norm Edwards will be featured. Bob has to get his theology from others since he seems to be incapable of coming up with anything on his own, but that's a story for another time.

Here is the list of fun things they plan on doing:

Every year at the Winter Family Weekend we are blessed to have 20 or more informative and instructive seminars on a wide range of subjects.

Seminars are presented by gifted and engaging speakers from a variety of backgrounds. 

 

Here's a sneak peek at a few more seminars you can choose from at this year's event.

The Churches of God have an abysmal track record of keeping members engaged, actively contributing financially and time-wise, and remaining in the church. 

Now they are looking at using psychology to influence members into remaining active. Shouldn't we call this "brainwashing"? I thought psychological manipulation was already well embraced by certain church leaders. Who knew!

Daniel Kaplan

Church Services 2.0

In the modern era people are getting more and more distracted with technology and Church attendance is dropping everywhere. Is there anything we can do about this? Let's look at best practices from psychology and presentation research and see what can be done to make engaging gatherings for the current time.



Daniel Kaplan is a lifelong Christian commandment keeper who learned under his father, Dr. Mark Kaplan. Currently, he works as a multimedia specialist and creative writing instructor.

Do you easily get offended by COG leaders and inconsiderate members who have turned into Gestapo agents for certain leaders? Have your parents turned their backs on you because you are in another COG group than they are? You will be taught how to improve your responses to these offensive people. 

Linda Benton

A Christian's Perspective on Offense

Are you easily offended? Are you known to cause offense? Are you estranged from someone due to offense? Let's discuss the impact of offenses on our relationships and fellowship and how to improve our responses moving forward.

Linda is a native Texan who lives and works in East Texas. She is the Managing Editor for Christian Educational Ministries (CEM) and she is primarily focused on the Born to Winnewsletter, the annual radio programming, and the Youth Educational Adventures program. Prior to her work at CEM, Linda worked as a consultant specializing in team building and training for large call centers. Her passion for aiding and supporting orphans and widows in Kenya, lead her to start a small non-profit, Their Daily Bread.

Everyone knows by now how fractured the Church of God movement is. With hundreds and hundreds of offshoots led by self-appointed spiritual bankrupt gurus, the COG is now more divided than so-called Christianity is! Never fear though, you will be taught how to heal those divisions. I truly would like to wish them success in this endeavor but as long as there are men like Dave Pack, Gerald Flurry, Bob Thiel, Ron Weinland, and other dictators ruling their churches there will be NO unity in the church whatsoever!

Church of God Network

Approaches to Community Building: Healing Our Divisions One Person at a Time

Scripture is not ambiguous about God’s desire for His people to love one another and maintain the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. However, when we see the current divisions within the Church of God, it’s easy to get discouraged. It’s understandable to wonder how we as individuals could possibly make a positive impact on such a big problem. Join Church of God Network Board members Daniel Russo, Chantelle West, and Corbin Rose as they discuss the work of CGN and how to find creative, non-threatening, and non-competitive ways to heal our divisions one person at a time.

Then we have Norm Edwards. Norm.

Norm Edwards
The Elementary Doctrine of Christ Part 1 

 

Most Christians cannot name all six of the elementary doctrines in Hebrews 6:1-2. Many churches are missing some in their doctrinal statements. Come to learn the first five doctrines and why they are the most important: 1) repentance from dead works, 2) faith toward God, 3) the doctrine of Baptisms, 4) the laying on of hands, and 5) the resurrection of the dead. This teaching includes answers to difficult questions asked by previous audiences. Your questions will be welcomed.

The Elementary Doctrine of Christ Part 2
This will conclude the teaching, questions and answers on the resurrection of the dead and tackle the least understood doctrine of eternal judgment. Most Christians view an individual's eternal judgment as either "heaven or hell" or "1st/2nd/3rd resurrection". Yet the Bible has numerous prophecies, parables and pronouncements of diverse eternal judgments, good and bad. We will all stand before the judgment seat of God (Rom 14:10, 2Cor 5:10). What does He expect of us to do now to obtain a more favorable judgment?

Still no teaching about basic Christian principles of grace, redemption, reconciliation, justification, sanctification. But, this is a COG production, after all.

Norman Edwards, 65, has run independent non-denominational Sabbatarian ministries since 1995, from Servants’ News magazine to a Port Austin Michigan homeless ministry which provided an average of three months housing to 639 people during its eight-year operation. He continues to write and teach on a variety of biblical subjects—including “Norman Edwards Bible Teaching” videos on Youtube and Rumble. He and Marleen are now semi-retired in Nashville, near their three married sons and nine grandchildren. They attend Mercy Collective, an independent Sabbath congregation where Norman is one of the teachers.

After Norm tells you you are not going to heaven you will be instructed on how to prepare for the end times. 

Tom Kerestes
The End Times – Planning and Preparing for Events Prophesied to Come

End Time events prophesied in the Book of Revelation, will result in mass deaths. Does planning and preparing a defense against such events beforehand ever enter your mind? How would one survive such catastrophes? The ant prepares for the coming winter, by instinct knowing it will need food. God provides and we rely on Him; yet He expects us to do our part and not be a sluggard. Our gardens grow by the sun and rain God provides, yet we need to work by planting, weeding, harvesting and storing the produce. There are even steps one can take to survive nuclear war, despite the “Mutually Assured Destruction” (MAD) myth!

Tom and his wife, Marlene, live in West Central Wisconsin, attending God’s Church for over 46 years. They have three children and seven grandchildren. When not attending the UCG – Eau Claire Congregation, they enjoy participating and sharing in Studies with Independent
Congregations.

Since the Church of God is now a senior church with most members over 60 years of age, what is the average member to do that can benefit one's spiritual life and others? 

Diane Taylor Webb
Even in Old Age They Will Still Bear Fruit Psalm 92:14


A testimony of how God can use us at any age to do His work. 

 

Diane is now 80 years old. 

 

She will share pictures and updates of the work being done with widows and the fatherless in Kenya that God called her to do at the age of 76. 

 

She will share her personal testimony of how God opened doors for her to be able to serve him, as a woman of age! It is her hope to inspire others to use their talents as God leads them, no matter their gender or age.

Diane is a mother of 6, grandmother to 8 and great grandmother to 3. At the age of 76 she had a strong desire to serve God in her senior years. An invitation to visit Kenya in 2018 led to her current involvement with the fatherless and widows and the founding of a 501 C3 called the Tabitha Outreach Foundation.

Last but not least, it is vitally important for COG members to know just where the location was for the crucifixion of Jesus. I doubt many people ever think about this or truly care. It has no relevance if you are following a risen Lord who is leading one's life with grace and mercy. But, this is a COG after all.

Larry Carmichael
The Significance of the Crucifixion Location

We know many specifics about Jesus Christ's life. Where He was born, His lineage, His words but where did He die? Does that location have Biblical, geographical or theological importance? Yes, it does!

Larry has been in the faith since the late 1960s. He and his wife regularly visit a number of congregations. Larry lives in Kentucky on a small cattle farm.

Overall, it sounds like a butt-numbing weekend. The sports activities sound more enjoyable.