Dixon Pentecostal Research Center

08/19/2026

Today, Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the Church of God celebrates its 140th birthday. This day marks the anniversary of a small group of people responding…

08/04/2026

There appears to be a growing number of churches working to recover the practice—never entirely lost, but not as popular as it used to be—of singing from books.

Hymnals offer perceived permanence and stability in a musical landscape that changes quickly and often. The decision to reintroduce congregations to hymnals is often an ideological one, especially for churches that made the transition away from them in recent decades.

But a notable number of churches are making that choice, choosing the printed page over lyrics projected onto a screen.

Dan Kreider, a composer, arranger, and music minister who designed the Sing! Hymnal said hymnals aren’t going to replace projection or any of the tech tools that undergird contemporary worship music. But they offer something valuable and different.

“If you’re in a church that just goes with the most popular songs, where is your sense of permanence? Think of the kids growing up in your church. Where is their sense of permanence? What songs are they going to remember and sing as they age? The hymnal slows us down,” Kreider said.

From the CT archive:

07/28/2026

The Church of God International General Council has nominated David Ramirez as General Director of World Missions. This is the first nomination to this position of a person born outside the United States of America. The International General Assembly will vote on this position on Friday.

07/25/2026

Coming to the Church of God General Assembly in Orlando? Our team is busy setting up the Church of God History Exhibit, “Making a Joyful Noise: Our Church of God Musical Heritage.” If you are a pianist, we have a grand piano for you to play. Stop by and see the exhibit, and play your favorite gospel song or two.

07/22/2026

Attending the Church of God General Assembly in Orlando? Visit “Making a Joyful Noise: Our Church of God Musical Heritage” in the exhibit hall! This extensive exhibit features the stories of Church of God music and musicians from the Appalachian roots of our founding in 1886 to the many varied contemporary worship practices in 2026, which is the 75th anniversary of the famed “Red Back” Hymnal.

Born as a Baptist Reformation Movement and transformed by the Holiness and Pentecostal Movements, for many decades gospel songs were the predominant music of the Church of God. Following our establishment of Tennessee Music and Printing Company in 1931, we quickly became a leader in publishing shape-note, convention style songbooks and sheet music. Our publication of the "Church Hymnal," affectionately known as the Red Back Hymnal, shaped worship for decades. In recent years, changing cultures, diverse contexts, and global expansion have produced a variety of contemporary music styles. Particularly significant are our educational institutions that continue to nurture students and worship leaders.

07/02/2026

Attending the 80th Church of God International General Assembly in Orlando? Your free copy of “Making a Joyful Noise: Our Church of God Musical Heritage” is available in your registration bag or at the Church of God Heritage Exhibit in the Exhibit Hall.

05/01/2026

We are pleased to report that the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center has located and digitized four recordings of the Reverend Kohatha Culpepper. They are available at https://www.dixonprc.org/kohatha-recordings.html #/Kohatha02.

Kohatha DeLoach Culpepper (1927–2014) served the Church of God faithfully as a popular speaker in a variety of contexts. She was married to the Rev. J. Frank Culpepper, who served the...

04/02/2026