Looking Ahead: God’s Faithfulness and the Future of the Church of God General Conference

A Lifetime of Service to the Church of God General Conference

I’d like to begin by expressing our sincere gratitude to Cornerstone Bible Church for hosting the 2026 General Conference. There is an incredible amount of work involved in hosting a General Conference—much more than most of us ever see. Long before attendees arrive, countless hours are spent planning and preparing. Throughout the conference, volunteers work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything runs smoothly. And after everyone has returned home, there is still a tremendous amount of work to be done.

This conference simply would not be possible without the sacrificial service, hospitality, and dedication of the members of Cornerstone Bible Church. On behalf of all of us, thank you for your willingness to serve and for making us feel so welcome. We are deeply grateful.

I am a 1973 graduate of Oregon Bible College (now Atlanta Bible College) and, since 1972, the grateful husband of Dana Eckerd Myers. During the 2026 General Conference, Dana and I celebrated our 54th wedding anniversary, along with Steven and Norma Knapp, who also celebrated theirs. Steven and Norma were married at the Oregon Church of God just a few hours before Dana and I exchanged vows at the Dixon Church of God.

We have two wonderful children, Bethany Ligon and Sam, both of whom, along with their families, are active members of Lakeshore Bible Church, where Pastor Levi Salyers faithfully serves. Bethany previously completed a four-year term on the Board of Directors. We are also thankful for our four grandchildren, including Yvette Lorraine Myers, who joined our family in March 2026.

Personally, my Christian journey began on July 30, 1970, when I was baptized by Pastor Ed Graham while attending our national youth camp, known then as the Berean Youth Conference and today as FUEL. I was 19 years old, and I’ve often said that July 30 is my birthday twice over. I was born physically on that date, and by God’s grace, I was born again on that same date 19 years later.

After graduating from Oregon Bible College in 1973, the Lord gave me the privilege of pastoring churches in Lakewood, Colorado; Little Rock, Arkansas; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Tempe, Arizona; and McDonough, Georgia. It was especially an honor to serve in McDonough from 2007 to 2012 and to return for the 2026 General Conference.

At the time of this address, I was in my 11th year of serving on the COGGC Board of Directors, including the previous seven years as chairman. Lord willing, I anticipate completing my 12th and final year of service at the conclusion of General Conference 2027.

Serving the Church of God General Conference in this capacity has been one of the greatest privileges of my life. I love this Church of God General Conference. I love the biblical truth for which we stand, and I love the church family that makes up this organization. It has been an honor to serve alongside so many faithful men and women, and I remain grateful for the opportunity God has given me.

Related: The Church of God General Conference: Our History, Beliefs, and Mission

God’s Faithfulness Through the Relocation Process

Because I care so deeply about this conference and its future, I’d like to share an update on the relocation effort that the delegates entrusted to the Board in 2025. At that year’s General Conference, I shared the Board’s recommendation that we relocate the COGGC headquarters and Atlanta Bible College to a more centralized location in Ohio. The advantages and challenges of that proposal were carefully discussed and thoughtfully debated. At the conclusion of the business session, delegates overwhelmingly affirmed that it was in the best interest of both the conference and the college to begin the relocation process, with the goal of completing the move as promptly as possible while exercising wisdom and good stewardship.

At that time, we had no specific property or address to announce. We simply believed that the Lord was leading us to central Ohio. While that understandably caused some concern, we also believed that, in His time, God would make clear where He wanted us to establish our new home.

We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Pastor Alan Cain, who tirelessly searched for potential properties. He spent countless hours making phone calls, meeting with property owners, visiting sites, and evaluating possibilities in an effort to find the best location for both the conference and the college. Additional visits by members of the Board, Executive Director Seth Ross, and Academic Dean Dr. Michael Cisler ultimately led us to the purchase of 10 acres of land in North Hampton, Ohio, for $200,000.

We also congratulate Dr. Michael Cisler on earning his doctoral degree in December 2025. We’re grateful for his accomplishment and his continued leadership.

At that point, we thought our mission was accomplished. Or, so we believed. As we continued our planning, however, we discovered that what we had hoped would be a $1.5 to $2 million construction project would actually cost substantially more than anticipated. We owned 10 acres of land, but we simply did not have the financial resources necessary to build the facilities we envisioned.

To be honest, the Board experienced a season of disappointment and uncertainty. We still believed Ohio was where God was leading us. We still desired to begin operations there in late summer or early fall of 2027. But we had no building in which to begin. Yet through it all, one truth remained unchanged: God is faithful.

What initially seemed like disappointment soon became an unexpected blessing. A property became available that included a church facility, classrooms, office space, a residence, and a gymnasium—all situated on five acres. It met nearly every requirement we had originally established, except for one: it included five acres instead of the 10 we had hoped for.

Then, once again, God demonstrated His faithfulness. The five acres immediately adjacent to the property also became available. That parcel included another home and a storage building. Together, the two properties provided everything we had been seeking.

And here’s the exciting part. The combined purchase price for both properties was less than $1.5 million. God has been so very good. As we shared at the 2026 General Conference, our hope, by His grace and should the Lord tarry, was to begin conducting Church of God General Conference and Bible College ministries at 2404 Troy Road, Springfield, Ohio, in the fall of 2027.

General Conference 2027 was also an exciting prospect. The conference sessions were scheduled to be hosted by the Lawrenceville Church of God, with an opportunity to visit the new campus together. I believe it will be a historic and exciting conference.

That leaves one obvious question: What about the original 10 acres of land we purchased in North Hampton for $200,000? Were we wrong to purchase that property? Our answer is “no.”

We remain convinced that the Lord directed the Board to purchase that land. The only thing that changed was our understanding of why He led us there. We believed it would become the site of our new campus. Today, we recognize that God may have had a different purpose in mind.

At the time of this address, we did not yet know what that purpose might be. We continued to pray for wisdom and seek the Lord’s direction. Whether He led us to sell the property, hold it for a season, or retain it for future General Conference ministry, we were confident that He would make His will clear in His perfect time.

We are also mindful of the financial resources needed to complete this relocation. As we continue to seek God’s direction regarding the North Hampton property, we are equally committed to exercising wise stewardship with every resource He has entrusted to us.

Pillars & Pathways: Investing in the Future

That brings me to our Pillars & Pathways initiative. The financial generosity of our COGGC churches and individuals has always been essential to the ministry of the Church of God General Conference and Bible College (ABC). Quite simply, without the faithful support of God’s people, these ministries would not exist.

Pillars: Supporting the Ohio Relocation

Pillars & Pathways was developed with two distinct purposes. Pillars is our short-term initiative designed to help fund the relocation and renovation of our new Ohio campus. While the COGGC owns valuable assets in Georgia, every dollar given to Pillars allows us to preserve proceeds from the eventual sale of those properties to strengthen the long-term ministry and financial health of the COGGC and ABC. By investing a portion of those proceeds, we hope to replace the income currently generated by leasing offices in our 2020 Avalon building. This is essential to meeting our current and future annual ministry budget needs.

Pathways: Sustaining Ministry for Generations

Pathways is our long-term initiative to sustain and expand the ministries of the COGGC for future generations. As the COGGC Board of Directors, we recognize that much of our financial support has faithfully come from individuals and families who have loved and supported this conference for decades. For that faithfulness, we are profoundly grateful.

At the same time, we believe this is an important opportunity for the next generation to carry that legacy forward. Those who have benefited from the ministry of the conference now have the privilege of helping ensure that these ministries remain strong for those who follow.

Our goal through the Pathways initiative is to enlist 1,000 new faithful monthly partners. Imagine what could happen if 1,000 new donors committed to giving just $10, or even $25, per month. Together, that would provide an additional 100,000–300,000 each year to support not only the ongoing ministries of the COGGC and ABC, but to allow us to do even more ministries in an ever-expanding way.

When you think about it, $25 a month is often less than the cost of taking your family out for dinner at Chipotle or Taco Bell. Yet when hundreds, and eventually a thousand people, join together in faithful giving, the impact can be extraordinary. I would simply ask that you prayerfully consider becoming one of those partners. Together, we can do far more than any one of us could ever accomplish alone, and together we can help ensure that the ministries of this conference continue to flourish for generations to come.

Celebrating the Ministries of the Church of God General Conference

As exciting as our relocation efforts are, they represent only one part of what God is doing through the COGGC. Every day, faithful men and women are serving in ministries that are advancing the gospel, strengthening our churches, and impacting lives both here at home and around the world.

Missions and Global Outreach

One of those ministries is North American Missions (NAM). Thanks to the leadership of Talon Paul, who was concluding his COGGC Board of Directors service in 2026, this ministry continued to grow and make significant strides. We were seeing increasing interest from churches that desired to affiliate with the COGGC, and we are grateful for Talon’s vision, leadership, and faithful service.

Our international ministry continues to thrive under the leadership of Annette Osborne and the dedicated team at Lord’s Harvest International. Through their efforts, lives are being changed around the world as they faithfully oversee our mission work and partner with believers across the globe.

Publications and Digital Discipleship

Our Publications Department has also experienced tremendous growth. Madison Cain has worked diligently to strengthen and professionalize this ministry, helping us communicate our message more effectively both within the COGGC and beyond. Their creativity and dedication are making a lasting impact.

We are also thankful for the faithful ministries of Steve and Young An and Sam and Sarah An, who continue to preach and teach God’s Word with conviction and compassion in their work with the ABC – Korean Extension. Likewise, we thank our Korean brothers and sisters for their faithful partnership in the work of the gospel and for the many ways they strengthen our conference family.

Congratulations as well to Josiah Cain, Levi Salyers, and their talented team for the outstanding work being done through The Disciple Collective. The videos and digital resources they are producing are reaching audiences far beyond our conference, introducing people to biblical truth and prayerfully leading many to place their faith in Christ.

Youth and Leadership Development

Another ministry for which we are especially thankful is Turning Point Youth Ministries, which continues to make a profound impact in the lives of our teenagers and young adults.

In 2026, my home church had the privilege of sending four teenagers and two adult sponsors to FUEL. One of those adults, Santiago, was so deeply impacted by what God did in his life during that week that when he returned home, he gave his two-week notice at work. At the time of this address, he was preparing to leave Arizona and relocate to Atlanta to become a full-time student at the Bible College.

Stories like Santiago’s remind us why these ministries matter. Whether through FUEL, reFUEL, the Young Adult Retreat, Midwest Family Camp, or the many other youth events held throughout the year, young people are being challenged to live lives worthy of the calling they have received. We thank God for the faithful leaders, volunteers, and churches who invest so faithfully in the next generation.

And let me not forget Christian Workers Seminar, held annually in Tennessee. For decades, this treasured retreat has encouraged pastors, church leaders, and lay members alike through biblical teaching, meaningful fellowship, and spiritual renewal. It continues to strengthen those who faithfully serve Christ and remains an important ministry of our conference.

Of course, these are only a few examples of the many ministries the Church of God General Conference supports. I hope they remind us that our conference is about far more than meetings, budgets, or even buildings. It is about people whose lives are being changed, churches that are being strengthened, leaders who are being equipped, and the gospel being proclaimed. That is why we gather each year to seek God’s direction, encourage one another, and faithfully support this work through our prayers, our service, and our generosity, trusting God to continue using this conference for His glory in the years ahead.

Board member Robert Alcumbrack has often reminded the rest of us that we cannot become so focused on relocation that we neglect the many other ministries of the COGGC. As Robert likes to say, “We need to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.” He’s exactly right. While relocating our headquarters and college is important, it is only one part of our mission. We must continue investing in the ministries that God has already entrusted to us while also looking for new opportunities to expand our reach and influence for His Kingdom.

Related: How COGGC Events Prepare the Way for God’s Kingdom

Opportunities and Challenges Ahead

As we celebrate what God is doing through COGGC ministries, we must also recognize the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. We cannot afford to stand still. The world around us is changing rapidly, and we must continue to seek new and effective ways to share the unchanging truth of God’s Word.

One of those opportunities is the responsible and intentional use of digital media. We must continue learning how to use social media and other communication platforms to reach people we might never have the opportunity to meet in person. These tools are not the mission, but they can be powerful instruments for advancing the mission.

We must also continue encouraging and challenging young men and women who are seeking a life of purpose to consider Bible college and the call to Christian ministry. Scripture instructs us to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send laborers into His harvest field. That prayer is just as urgent today as it has ever been.

While enrollment in our Korean Extension continues to be encouraging, we are experiencing a significant need for students on our main campus. Many of our pastors have served faithfully for decades and are approaching retirement. At the same time, too many COGGC churches are searching for pastors to shepherd their congregations.

We certainly hope that relocating to Ohio will make the Bible College more accessible to prospective students and encourage greater enrollment. However, we would be naive to believe that relocation alone will solve our challenges. Buildings do not prepare ministers—God does. Our responsibility is to create an environment where those whom God is calling can be equipped, encouraged, and sent into His harvest.

So, let us continue to pray, not only for students to enroll, but for God to raise up pastors, missionaries, teachers, evangelists, and faithful servants who will carry the gospel to the next generation. The harvest is still plentiful, and the need for laborers is as great as ever. May we be faithful in praying, preparing, and sending those whom God calls.

Preparing for the Future

At the 2026 General Conference, delegates were preparing to make several important decisions that would help shape the future of our conference.

One item was the election of a member to the Board of Directors. Because our Board consists of seven members serving staggered four-year terms, every fourth year we elect only one director. We were grateful to Larry Bolhous of the Oregon Church of God and Herb Evans of the McGintytown Church of God for allowing their names to be placed in nomination. Both men were highly qualified, and we appreciated their willingness to serve.

Delegates were also scheduled to review and vote on the proposed annual budget. I want to express our sincere appreciation to Denise Cramer for the countless hours she invested in preparing the 2026 financial reports and budget documents.

Four proposed constitutional amendments were also on the business-session agenda. We encouraged voting delegates to read each proposal carefully, discuss them thoughtfully with others, and prayerfully consider their votes.

Honoring Those Who Serve

Before I conclude, I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation to the staff of the COGGC and ABC. Much of what is accomplished throughout the year happens quietly, behind the scenes, and often without public recognition. Your dedication, professionalism, and servant-hearted spirits are deeply appreciated.

The 2026 conference also marked a season of transition for several members of our staff. Robert Jones and his wife, Nola, were preparing to enter retirement and remain in Georgia. We thank them for their faithful years of service and pray that God richly blesses this new chapter of their lives.

At the time of the address, Denise Cramer planned to continue serving the conference remotely from Georgia, and we were grateful for her willingness to continue sharing her gifts and experience.

David and Lynne Krogh also planned to remain in Georgia. David was expected to continue serving the COGGC in a role that was still being finalized, and we appreciated his continued commitment during this transition.

Our Executive Director, Seth Ross, and Academic Dean, Dr. Michael Cisler, were expected to continue leading in their respective roles, and we were pleased to welcome Pastor Jake Ballard to the Bible College staff as we prepared for the relocation to Ohio.

Moving Forward Together

To every staff member, Board member, pastor, volunteer, donor, church, and individual who faithfully supports the ministry of this conference—thank you. Your service, your prayers, and your generosity make this work possible.

There is still a great deal of work ahead of us. Relocating the COGGC and Bible College will require prayer, sacrifice, patience, and cooperation from all of us. But I believe the Lord has faithfully led us to this point, and I am confident He will continue to lead us in the days ahead.

So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work. Together, by God’s grace, we will continue proclaiming His truth, equipping His people, and serving His Kingdom until the Lord returns.