Wikepedia, in part, says, "The Church of God (Anderson) is a non-denominational, Holiness movement believing group of Christians with roots in Wesleyan pietism and also in the restorationist and anabaptist traditions.
One of its more distinctive features is that there is no formal membership, since the movement believes that true biblical salvation, which will result in a life free from sin, makes one a member. Similarly, there is no formal creed other than the Bible. Accordingly, there is much official room for diversity and theological dialog, even though the movement's culture is strongly rooted in Wesleyan holiness theology."
Th
e members of the Richmond First Church of God, Inc.
affiliate themselves with the Church of God, Anderson.
About the Area we live in: Chesterfield County, Virginia
Why I attend the Church of God
After our family started to grow, my wife and I began to have a deeper thirst for the spiritual things of God. We were even baptized (sprinkled) again which did no more than it did the first time. For four years we studied the Bible and went from church to church looking for someplace that aligned up with what the Bible taught. Finally an old friend of mine invited us the Church of God.
Here was a place that not only had the biblical name, and all of a sudden the good news they were proclaiming aligned up with what we had been studying. We learned that membership was no problem, because when we were âBorn Againâ we were automatically born in the Church.
We had read about the Holy Spirit, and after Baptism by immersion did I receive the Holy Spirit in my life. This is exactly what I needed. I needed the Holy Spirit in me to comfort, guide, teach, and direct me in my life. Such joy. Saved from sin as well as free from sin. We learned the Kingdom of God is within, which begins with salvation and will carry us through all eternity. And, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, the Church carried out itâs affairs. There was no ecclesiastical dictates or external hierarchy which controlled the Church.
And the fellowship was immediate. Everybody called each other, âBrotherâ and âSisterâ. That was something new to us. Washing Feet was something else that was new to us. I knew it was biblical, but I learned Jesus meant for saints to practice that today too.
Soon after we were in the Church, our oldest child had a physical problem and required surgery-but, the Church prayed and surgery was not needed. We continually saw plain Biblical teaching practiced in the Church of God. At first my parents thought we were going to become fanatical, but in time they too realized the joy in Godâs Church.
Later, I learned of other notable people who had been in the Church of God. They are: Charles Schulz (an ordained minister in the Church of God) who wrote the Peanuts comic strip- Two-time Dove Award-winning gospel singing veteran Doug Oldham who ministered in song with Jerry Falwell for many years- Bill and Gloria Gaither, Christian singers and songwriters- and Sandi Patty, also a well know Christian singer.
So my friend, I commend to you the Church of God. We here in Richmond are endeavoring to be Biblical Christians through the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is His Church and he wants you to share in the Kingdom too. Gerald Hilton