08/19/2023
Happy Birthday Church of God! Celebrating 137 years of ministry!
On August 19, 1886, R.G. Spurling preached in a sermon calling for reformation of God’s church and concluding with this invitation: “As many Christians as are here present that are desirous to be free from all men made creeds and traditions, and are willing to take the New Testament, or law of Christ, for your only rule of faith and practice; giving each other equal rights and privilege to read and interpret for yourselves as your conscience may dictate, and are willing to sit together as the Church of God to transact business as the same, come forward.” Eight people responded to his invitation, including his father, Richard Spurling. With help from his father, who was an ordained minister, they formed Christian Union. We adopted the name Church of God in 1907.
From that small meeting in a mill house along Barney Creek near Coker Creek, Tennessee, today more than 8 million members in 187 countries and territories rejoice in God’s blessings and endeavor to fulfill the Great Commission!
