Church of God (Holiness)

History:
The Church of God (Holiness) began on March 29, 1883 with the founding of the Centralia, MO Church. The people involved were come outers from the Methodist Church and had been active in the Southwest Holiness Association. Their concern for leaving the mother church centered around their interest in propagating the doctrine of entire sanctification.

They believed that this was a biblical doctrine and described the teaching as a second definite work of God's grace worked in the heart and life of the believer subsequent to regeneration, at which time the believer is cleansed of the effects of original sin and is completely submitted to the controlling hand of the Holy Spirit. The motivation of the born again believer who is entirely sanctified is to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. The founding fathers felt that the mother church had neglected her responsibility to preach this message.

About 120 anglo congregations in the USA are affiliated with the Church of God (Holiness). A large concentration of these congregations is located in the states of Missouri and Kansas. The Home Missions Department has a work with the Haitian people in New York City, a Navajo mission including about 10 congregations, a rapidly-expanding work among Hispanics in the U.S. who now have 11 congregations, and a work in Mexico.

The World Missions Department has works in Africa—Ghana, Liberia, and Nigeria; Asia—India and Myanmar; British Virgin Islands—Tortola and Virgin Gorda; British West Indies—Anguilla and Cayman Islands; Central America—Panama; Eastern Europe—Ukraine; Middle East; Oceania—Papua New Guinea; South America—Bolivia and Colombia; U.S. Virgin Islands—St. Croix and St. Thomas; West Indies—Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, and St. Vincent.

In addition to the Kansas City College and Bible School, the COGH has many day schools around the USA. Mt. State Christian in West Virginia; Kirksville Christian in Kirksville, MO; Ft. Scott Christian in Ft. Scott, KS; Mt. Zion Bible School in Ava, MO; Gravette Holiness Bible School in Gravette, AR; and Overland Christian Schools in Overland Park, KS (affilated with KCCBS), are the larger schools. Other Christian day schools are sponsored by and are operated in local churches.

The Harmony Hill Youth Ministries is an effective youth emphasis. The ministry maintains a beautiful campground about 10 miles east of Fulton, MO. Each year they offer ministry to young people through their boys' camp, girls' camp, and youth camp. They also have weekend retreats for married couples, singles, and senior citizens.

The printing establishment for the movement is called the Herald and Banner Press. It is located next to the KCCBS campus. A thriving bookstore offers a good stock of books, tapes, CD's and other Christian items. Sunday School literature for all ages (The Way, The Truth and the Life series), devotional books, and the periodical The Church Herald and Holiness Banner are published at this site as well.

The Church of God (Holiness) is an association of autonomous congregations. They are held together by common beliefs and an annual General Convention. Each congregation may send a delegate to the General Convention each June to represent its interests. One vote is allowed for every 25 members in the congregation who are born again. The main function of the General Convention is to elect members to various boards and committees from its delegates.


Statement of Beliefs:
God
There is one God, who is infinite, sovereign, eternal, and the creator of everything. He is holy in His attributes and His nature. He is triune in His essential being and is biblically revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever; the Creator of all things, and in whom all things consist. (Deut. 6:4; Heb 11:3)
Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ is very God and very man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He died upon the cross, the Just for the unjust as a complete and final sacrifice, and all who believe in Him are justified on the merit of His shed blood. He is the Supreme Head of the Church. (Matt 3:16-17, Heb 1, Philippians 2)
Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is a divine person sent to indwell, guide, teach, and empower the believer, and to convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He is the third person of the Holy Trinity, who is now the representative of the Godhead on earth. (John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26, Acts 1:8)
Trinity
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three persons, united and inseparable, of one substance and eternal. (Matt 28:19; 2 Cor 13:14)
Scripture
We emphatically affirm the divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, infallibly true as originally inspired, constituting our only divinely authorized rule of faith and practice. ( 2 Tim 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21)
Man
Created by God, man willfully sinned and, as a result, is separated relationally from God and without hope. Man's only recourse is to turn to God through Jesus Christ seeking forgiveness for his sinfulness, asking for mercy and redemption. (Gen 6:5; Psa 14:2, 3; Matt 15:9; Rom 3:9-23)
Salvation
The forgiveness of sins (which are defined as willful acts of disobedience against a known law of God) comes by grace through faith in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is offered to all persons of all races. It is impossible to be saved except by faith in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. (John 3:16; Rom 6:23; Acts 3:19; John 1:12; Rev 3:20; Eph 2:8-9)
Christian Lifestyle
The Bible clearly outlines the pattern to follow to receive Christ as Lord: To believe in Christ as God's Son the Savior of the world, to repent of personal sin, to be converted, and to confess Christ publically. To repent means to turn from the lifestyle of sinful living to follow carefully after Jesus according to the instructions found in God's Word. To be converted means to change allegiance from that of selfish willfulness and rebellion against God to submission and obedience following Jesus Christ. To confess Him means to openly communicate the reality of your relationship with Jesus Christ to people you know. (1 Thess 4:1-12; Eph 5:1-11; Gal 5:22-25)
Entire Sanctification
The Holy Scriptures clearly affirm the necessity of entire sanctification. This work of divine grace was provided as part of the atonement in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It includes the deliverance from inbred sin (the inherited continuing affects of the original sin), the complete moral purification from this nature of depravity, the complete renewal of the human nature in holiness (an inner inclination toward godliness), empowerment for Christian service, a perfect love for God and a holy love toward mankind. This gracious act of moral purification is accomplished instantaneously for the believer when he confesses the need, consecrates his all, and with faith in God requests the cleansing of his nature. This work of God's grace takes place subsequent to, the believer's regeneration, being preceded by a definite conviction of remaining inbred sin. (Luke 1:73-75; John 17:17; 1 Thess 4:3; 5:23-24; Heb 10:14-15)
Eternal Existence
Death seals the eternal destiny of each person. At dead the sentence of judgment begins whether to life eternal with Christ or complete and final damnation in hell. Formal judgment is given when Christ returns. At this time He will pronounce the eternal fate of each individual, both living and dead. The saved will formally be assigned eternal life; the unsaved will formally suffer eternal separation from God. (Dan 7:13-14; Matt 24:30-31; Acts 1:11; 1 Thess 4:15-17; Rev 22:20)
Ordinances
Two ordinances are taught and observed, namely: Water baptism, and the Lord's Supper.