BEACONS OF HOPE:
The Church of God Division of Care
D. E. "Gene" Mills, Jr.
Named director of benevolence in 1994, John Nichols shared a vision: “Wherever there is a Church of God, no one will go hungry in that community; wherever there is a Church of God the elderly will not be forsaken or forgotten; and wherever there is a Church of God, the beacon of hope will shine brightly in that community.” Nichols was signaling a reinvigoration of an early Church of God theological ethic: Pentecostal ministry is by nature holistic—it is God’s Spirit empowering the body of Christ to meet the needs of the whole person. In Nichols, the Church of God had found a leader for this revival. As Paul Conn described it:
Who would have guessed that when the Church of God finally gained a real champion for what used to be pejoratively called the social gospel, but which is in fact the ultimate expression of Christ’s love in a hurting world, who would have thought that when that happened, that champion would be that evangelist who threw the red back hymnal clear across the old Lee College auditorium when I was a student…He would be the one to take benevolence in our church clearly way beyond the level of emphasis and effectiveness than it’s ever been before.
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As the Church of God looked toward the twenty-first century, a determination to make our global ministry more efficient and mission-directed led to the creation of umbrella divisions, which are today’s Divisions of Care, Discipleship, Education, Support Services, World Evangelization, and General Ministries. The Division of Care, with First Assistant General Overseer Raymond F. Culpepper serving as executive director since 2016, provides ministry in specialized crisis and chronic situations. The six ministries within the division partner with regional and local ministries, governmental, not-for-profit, and parachurch organizations as the Church seeks ministry “for the body, mind, soul, and spirit.” While the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home is perhaps the division’s best-known agency, other integral ministries are the Center for Ministerial Care, Iris B. Vest SpiritCare Center, Chaplains Commission, Ministry to Israel, and Operation Compassion. These ministries provide Spirit empowered care to vulnerable people in their immediate need and often away from a church building—true beacons of hope in today’s world.
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Center for Ministerial Care
“I just couldn’t handle it. I didn’t know what to do. I was so desperate. I didn’t know where to turn…we had always been the one that people turned to, but when we were hurting, we didn’t know where to go, we didn’t know what to do.” Into that void in the life of a pastor’s wife, stepped the Center for Ministerial Care. A phone call led to counseling and a sabbatical break from the labor of ministry that allowed a pastoral couple to heal and rejuvenate for continued service. As Paul Henson described pastors and their spouses, “These are men and women who at times carry an almost impossible load. They are required to be positive when all around them are negative. They preach good news when all about them is bad news. They at times pray for the healing of others when they themselves are sick. They preach faith when at times they struggle with doubt.”
The Church of God General Council commissioned the Office of Ministerial Care in 1982 to meet the urgent needs of clergy. It was increasingly clear that ministers and their families were enduring unprecedented levels of stress and burnout. Many were suffering from intense emotional problems, some of which led to behavioral issues; others felt stressed because of assignment changes that led to family disruption; and some just needed advice on how to handle issues in their congregations. An initial effort within the Department of General Education began with a toll-free, telephone counseling service that ministers and their families could call for confidential conversations with trained personnel. By the late 1980s, leadership recognized that this was insufficient—for many issues a phone conversation was inadequate. Beginning in 1989, Robert Crick coordinated a restructuring based in a small facility near the seminary. The ministry grew in effectiveness and reach, leading to the appointment of Samuel Crisp as full-time director in 1992. Also that year, the Office launched SpiritCare to help meet the needs of retired ministers, spouses, and widows. Louis Willis was the first coordinator.
Under Crisp, the Office of Ministerial Care offered more comprehensive care to families. The toll-free counseling line continued with the addition of referral to trusted professionals for face-to-face treatment. By strengthening communication with overseers and others, the Office increased pastoral contacts with ministers’ families who experienced life-changing events. The Office developed enrichment programs as preventive measures for emotional and relational health and gave advice to pastors who had questions regarding their own care of others. Another avenue of support was ministerial advocacy for ministers undergoing discipline. Those desiring to return to ministry have a “program of restoration designed or approved by the Office of Ministerial Care” as part of the process.
“I just couldn’t handle it. I didn’t know what to do. I was so desperate. I didn’t know where to turn…we had always been the one that people turned to, but when we were hurting, we didn’t know where to go, we didn’t know what to do.” Into that void in the life of a pastor’s wife, stepped the Center for Ministerial Care. A phone call led to counseling and a sabbatical break from the labor of ministry that allowed a pastoral couple to heal and rejuvenate for continued service. As Paul Henson described pastors and their spouses, “These are men and women who at times carry an almost impossible load. They are required to be positive when all around them are negative. They preach good news when all about them is bad news. They at times pray for the healing of others when they themselves are sick. They preach faith when at times they struggle with doubt.”
The Church of God General Council commissioned the Office of Ministerial Care in 1982 to meet the urgent needs of clergy. It was increasingly clear that ministers and their families were enduring unprecedented levels of stress and burnout. Many were suffering from intense emotional problems, some of which led to behavioral issues; others felt stressed because of assignment changes that led to family disruption; and some just needed advice on how to handle issues in their congregations. An initial effort within the Department of General Education began with a toll-free, telephone counseling service that ministers and their families could call for confidential conversations with trained personnel. By the late 1980s, leadership recognized that this was insufficient—for many issues a phone conversation was inadequate. Beginning in 1989, Robert Crick coordinated a restructuring based in a small facility near the seminary. The ministry grew in effectiveness and reach, leading to the appointment of Samuel Crisp as full-time director in 1992. Also that year, the Office launched SpiritCare to help meet the needs of retired ministers, spouses, and widows. Louis Willis was the first coordinator.
Under Crisp, the Office of Ministerial Care offered more comprehensive care to families. The toll-free counseling line continued with the addition of referral to trusted professionals for face-to-face treatment. By strengthening communication with overseers and others, the Office increased pastoral contacts with ministers’ families who experienced life-changing events. The Office developed enrichment programs as preventive measures for emotional and relational health and gave advice to pastors who had questions regarding their own care of others. Another avenue of support was ministerial advocacy for ministers undergoing discipline. Those desiring to return to ministry have a “program of restoration designed or approved by the Office of Ministerial Care” as part of the process.
The Office quickly outgrew its space, so Ladies Ministries adopted a new facility for Ministerial Care as their 1992–1994 project. The renovated building at 2460 Oakland Drive near the International Offices opened in 1994. Under Paul Henson’s tenure as director in the mid-1990s, the overall strategy focused on three elements: (1) Preservation through developing coping skills for dealing with stress, (2) Restoration through therapy and oversight, and (3) SpiritCare of retirees. Robert Fisher became the director in 1996, and by the end of 1998, the Center for Ministerial Care was making more than 5,000 care contacts each year with ministers and their families. Additionally, they were placing even greater emphasis on preventive mental health care, as well as launching Helping Hands—a medication cost reimbursement program for qualified, retired recipients. John K. Vining led the Center from 2000 to 2002; Bill Leonard served until 2018.
The Center’s core ministries have continued with added elements. A Conference on Care held at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville highlighted 2002. More than 2,000 took part in the 34 workshops and plenary sessions for education and edification. Attendees developed care ministry networks across the church. A second Conference on Care followed in Atlanta in 2006. Leonard also prioritized marital health among ministers, including leading a ministerial couples’ retreat, which incorporated recuperation and marriage-enrichment sessions.
Today, the Center for Ministerial Care continues in its mission. Raymond F. Culpepper II now coordinates the program of ministerial restoration, which includes intensive counseling and ongoing contact with the minister. Culpepper works with the appropriate administrative bishop and a mentor pastor to promote successful completion. Tim Maness coordinates pastoral counseling and SpiritCare. The Center also provides the Fulbright Sabbatical House for ministerial families undergoing counseling at the Center.
The Center for Ministerial Care offers God-centered counseling, accountability, and enrichment activities to Church of God ministers and their families. They have created both short-term events and accessibility to long-term programs to heal the healers, shepherd the shepherds, and reignite the beacons.
The Center’s core ministries have continued with added elements. A Conference on Care held at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville highlighted 2002. More than 2,000 took part in the 34 workshops and plenary sessions for education and edification. Attendees developed care ministry networks across the church. A second Conference on Care followed in Atlanta in 2006. Leonard also prioritized marital health among ministers, including leading a ministerial couples’ retreat, which incorporated recuperation and marriage-enrichment sessions.
Today, the Center for Ministerial Care continues in its mission. Raymond F. Culpepper II now coordinates the program of ministerial restoration, which includes intensive counseling and ongoing contact with the minister. Culpepper works with the appropriate administrative bishop and a mentor pastor to promote successful completion. Tim Maness coordinates pastoral counseling and SpiritCare. The Center also provides the Fulbright Sabbatical House for ministerial families undergoing counseling at the Center.
The Center for Ministerial Care offers God-centered counseling, accountability, and enrichment activities to Church of God ministers and their families. They have created both short-term events and accessibility to long-term programs to heal the healers, shepherd the shepherds, and reignite the beacons.
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Iris B. Vest SpiritCare Center
In 2003, the Division of Care expanded its Sevierville Care Campus with the opening of the Iris B. Vest Widows Ministry Center. Its mission was to honor and care “for the widow while serving as a resource and template for other ministries through practical teaching on how to find, minister to, and empower the widow.” This unique venture was envisioned to provide not only room and board for widows but also to be a place for intergenerational ministry with widows ministering to children and youth living at the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home. Widows served as daycare volunteers and tutors in the after-school program, thus receiving a renewed sense of accomplishment and purpose. They also ministered to each other. Telling stories is powerful; and telling their shared stories of the loss of their husbands provided comfort and opportunities to work through grief. As Judith Moore, the first ministry coordinator, stated, “It is not just to come and live and exist, but to actually come and have an abundant life.” As one resident stated, “I have found a peace—an absolute peace—here. It helps to heal that inner wound.”
In 2003, the Division of Care expanded its Sevierville Care Campus with the opening of the Iris B. Vest Widows Ministry Center. Its mission was to honor and care “for the widow while serving as a resource and template for other ministries through practical teaching on how to find, minister to, and empower the widow.” This unique venture was envisioned to provide not only room and board for widows but also to be a place for intergenerational ministry with widows ministering to children and youth living at the Smoky Mountain Children’s Home. Widows served as daycare volunteers and tutors in the after-school program, thus receiving a renewed sense of accomplishment and purpose. They also ministered to each other. Telling stories is powerful; and telling their shared stories of the loss of their husbands provided comfort and opportunities to work through grief. As Judith Moore, the first ministry coordinator, stated, “It is not just to come and live and exist, but to actually come and have an abundant life.” As one resident stated, “I have found a peace—an absolute peace—here. It helps to heal that inner wound.”
Yet, the Center reached beyond the Care Campus. Residents became active in the community by volunteering in clinics and food kitchens, checking on shut-ins, visiting hospitals, and ministering in local churches. Based on experiences at the Center, leadership developed and made available to churches a thirteen-week course, From Loss to New Life, as a process to encounter grief. They also led workshops to empower local churches to minister to the widows in their communities.
These ministries expanded in 2014 with transition into the Iris B. Vest SpiritCare Center serving retired ministerial couples and widowers, in addition to widows. Sandra Melcher, former executive coordinator, said, “They’ve given everything they’ve got; and they want to continue to do that until God calls them home.” The Center serves as a beacon of hope to the residents, and the residents serve as beacons to others.
These ministries expanded in 2014 with transition into the Iris B. Vest SpiritCare Center serving retired ministerial couples and widowers, in addition to widows. Sandra Melcher, former executive coordinator, said, “They’ve given everything they’ve got; and they want to continue to do that until God calls them home.” The Center serves as a beacon of hope to the residents, and the residents serve as beacons to others.
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Ministry to Israel
In April 1988, the Second Christian Zionist Congress met in Jerusalem. John D. Nichols was in attendance. He heard the Holy Spirit speak to him about how little the Church of God was doing for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. The next year, Nichols initiated and chaired the Concern for Israel Committee. Jack Michael Utterback became field representative, and in 1996, he became director of the newly named Ministry to Israel. This ministry came under the Division of Care umbrella in 2000.
The restoration of Israel is the core of this ministry. In their first three decades, they assisted more than 160,000 Jews in aliyah—the prophesied return of the Jewish people to the Promised Land. Most emigrated from Ukraine and Russia, but many also came from other nations of the former Soviet Union and from South America. Working with the Jewish Agency and multiple Christian organizations, Ministry to Israel organizes transportation of people to and from consulates and airports, assists with visa applications, and welcomes immigrants upon arrival in Israel. The ministry then helps them adjust to their new life. Many immigrants need language training and translation services. Some need clothes or furniture. Others need assistance with rent and expenses. Ministry to Israel has opened four regional service centers to provide this assistance.
In April 1988, the Second Christian Zionist Congress met in Jerusalem. John D. Nichols was in attendance. He heard the Holy Spirit speak to him about how little the Church of God was doing for the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. The next year, Nichols initiated and chaired the Concern for Israel Committee. Jack Michael Utterback became field representative, and in 1996, he became director of the newly named Ministry to Israel. This ministry came under the Division of Care umbrella in 2000.
The restoration of Israel is the core of this ministry. In their first three decades, they assisted more than 160,000 Jews in aliyah—the prophesied return of the Jewish people to the Promised Land. Most emigrated from Ukraine and Russia, but many also came from other nations of the former Soviet Union and from South America. Working with the Jewish Agency and multiple Christian organizations, Ministry to Israel organizes transportation of people to and from consulates and airports, assists with visa applications, and welcomes immigrants upon arrival in Israel. The ministry then helps them adjust to their new life. Many immigrants need language training and translation services. Some need clothes or furniture. Others need assistance with rent and expenses. Ministry to Israel has opened four regional service centers to provide this assistance.
Spreading the word of this restoration and encouraging Christians to act is an ongoing focus of Ministry to Israel. For example, at the 2006 centennial celebration of the Azusa Street Revival, Utterback led a track of sessions titled, “Today in the Land of Promise.” In his opening session, he expressed the theological emphasis that the people of Israel introduced the world to God and the land of Israel is the meeting place. That was the case in Jesus’ times, and it is the prophetic promise of the end times. As a call to Christians, Utterback stated, “Wherever there is revelation, there is responsibility.” Jeremiah 31:8 (NRSV) is a key scripture for Ministry to Israel—“See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north, and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth…a great company, they shall return here”— a prophetic word that motivates the ministry to be a beacon to the children of Israel.
Operation Compassion
Operation Compassion has worked almost three decades meeting the physical needs of communities experiencing poverty, hunger, disease, natural disasters, and social turmoil. Founded by John Nichols in 1994 as an educational and empowerment agency for local churches and individuals to become active in ministries of care, the agency made its first venture into hands-on delivery of material assistance in 1999. Within that first year, they delivered a hundred semi-trucks of materials to those suffering from poverty and disasters.
Expansion through various platforms of benevolence characterized this stage of the ministry. The man who would serve as the beating heart of the ministry for many years, David Lorency, became field director, then president. According to personal notes, his first foray into ministries of compassion was in 1972 when he raised $5,000 to buy coats at Christmastime. From then on, his church ministry was wed to social action. Moving from a growing Alabama church with a vibrant food ministry to direct the international ministry in Cleveland further generated an expanding network of agencies collaborating to deliver goods to areas of need.
Lorency led the ministry into five priorities: Compassion America served as the ongoing reach into urban areas, for example, Compassion Atlanta. Dream America reached into rural areas; first through the 40,000-square-foot Appalachian Dream Center, then the First American Dream Center—a 12,000 square-foot base for providing supplies to twenty-two Indian Nations. Compassion World took that ministry model around the globe, and Disaster Relief became the rapid-response effort in the wake of catastrophic events. Community Love Connection consisted of event-driven outreaches into communities, such as back-to-school bashes.
In all of this, Lorency approached ministry as a “birth and release” process. The agency in Cleveland remained streamlined while building a network of cooperative forces around the globe. Operation Compassion no longer directs the Dream Centers; however, they remain primary suppliers to those centers. Bidirectional networking has been key to the success of Operation Compassion—with product supply agencies on the inflow side (e.g., U.S. Department of Defense, Feed the Children, World Relief, and Resolute Forest Products) and with local pastors and parachurch ministries on the outflow side.
Under the direction of Kelvin Page since 2020, Operation Compassion is entering another phase. By ventures of compassion through crisis, cleanup, reconstruction, community, and water, Operation Compassion continues the core of their ministry. However, it is also branching out in direct and partnered ministry to establish local churches and water wells around the world, as well as providing hands-on training and rehabilitation for released prisoners and others needing personal and professional development. Operation Compassion truly is one of the brightest beacons of hope in the Church of God’s Division of Care.
Operation Compassion has worked almost three decades meeting the physical needs of communities experiencing poverty, hunger, disease, natural disasters, and social turmoil. Founded by John Nichols in 1994 as an educational and empowerment agency for local churches and individuals to become active in ministries of care, the agency made its first venture into hands-on delivery of material assistance in 1999. Within that first year, they delivered a hundred semi-trucks of materials to those suffering from poverty and disasters.
Expansion through various platforms of benevolence characterized this stage of the ministry. The man who would serve as the beating heart of the ministry for many years, David Lorency, became field director, then president. According to personal notes, his first foray into ministries of compassion was in 1972 when he raised $5,000 to buy coats at Christmastime. From then on, his church ministry was wed to social action. Moving from a growing Alabama church with a vibrant food ministry to direct the international ministry in Cleveland further generated an expanding network of agencies collaborating to deliver goods to areas of need.
Lorency led the ministry into five priorities: Compassion America served as the ongoing reach into urban areas, for example, Compassion Atlanta. Dream America reached into rural areas; first through the 40,000-square-foot Appalachian Dream Center, then the First American Dream Center—a 12,000 square-foot base for providing supplies to twenty-two Indian Nations. Compassion World took that ministry model around the globe, and Disaster Relief became the rapid-response effort in the wake of catastrophic events. Community Love Connection consisted of event-driven outreaches into communities, such as back-to-school bashes.
In all of this, Lorency approached ministry as a “birth and release” process. The agency in Cleveland remained streamlined while building a network of cooperative forces around the globe. Operation Compassion no longer directs the Dream Centers; however, they remain primary suppliers to those centers. Bidirectional networking has been key to the success of Operation Compassion—with product supply agencies on the inflow side (e.g., U.S. Department of Defense, Feed the Children, World Relief, and Resolute Forest Products) and with local pastors and parachurch ministries on the outflow side.
Under the direction of Kelvin Page since 2020, Operation Compassion is entering another phase. By ventures of compassion through crisis, cleanup, reconstruction, community, and water, Operation Compassion continues the core of their ministry. However, it is also branching out in direct and partnered ministry to establish local churches and water wells around the world, as well as providing hands-on training and rehabilitation for released prisoners and others needing personal and professional development. Operation Compassion truly is one of the brightest beacons of hope in the Church of God’s Division of Care.
Beacons of Hope in a World Short on Hope
Ministries of care and benevolence have a long history in the Church of God. In a dark world that is often damaging to faith, hope, and love, God’s Church has developed means of shining light into the darkness, of speaking words of encouragement and enrichment, and providing material sustenance. The Division of Care serves to better coordinate and focus these beacons through its agencies and partnerships around the world
Ministries of care and benevolence have a long history in the Church of God. In a dark world that is often damaging to faith, hope, and love, God’s Church has developed means of shining light into the darkness, of speaking words of encouragement and enrichment, and providing material sustenance. The Division of Care serves to better coordinate and focus these beacons through its agencies and partnerships around the world
FAROS DE ESPERANZA: DIVISIÓN DE CUIDADO PASTORAL DE LA IGLESIA DE DIOS
La División de Cuidado Pastoral atiende las necesidades de personas vulnerables que están fueran de los espacios tradicionales. Sus departamentos son verdaderos faros de esperanza en este mundo. Cada ministerio trabaja en coordinación con ministerios locales, agencias sin fines de lucro y organizaciones para eclesiásticas ministrándole al “cuerpo, el alma y el espíritu”.
El Hogar de Niños de las Montañas Smoky (Great Smoky Mountains) ha cuidado a niños y jóvenes desde el 1920. El Centro de Cuidado Ministerial ofrece consejería cristiana, rendición de cuentas y actividades a corto y largo plazo para el enriquecimiento de los ministros y sus familias. El centro Iris B. Vest SpiritCare ofrece un programa residencial para ministros jubilados y viudos que continúan en el ministerio. En el 1956, la Iglesia de Dios auspició su primer capellán militar y en el 1978 formó la Comisión de Capellanía. Nuestros capellanes sirven fuera de la puerta en entornos militares, clínicos, correccionales y comunitarios. El Ministerio de Israel trabaja en pro de la restauración de Israel y hasta la fecha ha sostenido a más de 160,000 judíos que deseaban regresar a la Tierra Prometida. Operación Compasión lleva tres décadas socorriendo a las comunidades en medio de la pobreza, el hambre, enfermedad, desastres naturales y agitación social.
El Hogar de Niños de las Montañas Smoky (Great Smoky Mountains) ha cuidado a niños y jóvenes desde el 1920. El Centro de Cuidado Ministerial ofrece consejería cristiana, rendición de cuentas y actividades a corto y largo plazo para el enriquecimiento de los ministros y sus familias. El centro Iris B. Vest SpiritCare ofrece un programa residencial para ministros jubilados y viudos que continúan en el ministerio. En el 1956, la Iglesia de Dios auspició su primer capellán militar y en el 1978 formó la Comisión de Capellanía. Nuestros capellanes sirven fuera de la puerta en entornos militares, clínicos, correccionales y comunitarios. El Ministerio de Israel trabaja en pro de la restauración de Israel y hasta la fecha ha sostenido a más de 160,000 judíos que deseaban regresar a la Tierra Prometida. Operación Compasión lleva tres décadas socorriendo a las comunidades en medio de la pobreza, el hambre, enfermedad, desastres naturales y agitación social.
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D. E. “Gene” Mills, Jr., Th.M. is archivist at the Dixon Pentecostal Research Center.