Good Morning and Shalom!

This past Sabbath, after speaking at one of our churches located in New
Britain, CT, I came home and a package was waiting for me. It was the new
book that I had ordered, “Raising the Ruins – the fight to revive the legacy
of Herbert W. Armstrong” written by Stephen Flurry. What a powerful book! I
started reading that same night, despite the fact that I had preached
earlier, presided over some meetings, and had been on the road for 4 hours,
and played with my children when I got home. I could not put down this book
until I read it all. Really, it was that good, well that is if you love
church history, more so, Church of God history.

I’m inspired to share some thoughts with you today because of what I took
away from reading this book. I do believe that if you have a chance, you
should pick up a copy of this book and read it for yourself. There are
great lessons to be learned for leaders of the COG. It is also an excellent
read for members and the general public as well. It tells a story never
before told. But on the other hand, it confirms the principle of church
growth that I’ve been preaching (well actually talking about) since 1994
from the age of 19 years old.

In order to build the Church of God – churches most be organized at the
highest levels, using these components - printing, media, and local
churches. This was not given to me by revelation from God. It was proven
to me by looking at the works of Elder Andrew N. Dugger of the Jerusalem COG
movement. The churches that sprouted in the Caribbean, Africa, parts of the
USA, and the world over, came about because of the publishing machinery in
Jerusalem. Of course there are other factors and COG conferences that can
be credited as well. But COG’s potential to grow, have colleges,
auditoriums, magazines, booklets, campgrounds, and conference centers, can
only be through committed churches coming together and forming a strong
structure.

Raising the Ruins makes it clear how the Worldwide Church of God, started by
Herbert W. Armstrong, who was converted because of the writings of Elder
Andrew N. Dugger, built an empire out of the model set up by Elder Dugger
and perfected by him Mr. Armstrong. Stand-alone ministries (which most call
churches today) will not be able to reach “the largest audience” possible.
Mr. Flurry makes this point throughout the book and I totally agree with
him. However, please do keep in mind, this is not the focus of the book,
but this theme is constant throughout. I of course do know that God is
using all of our churches for his kingdom building. But much more can be
achieved if each headquarters/conferences have the full support of the
local churches. It makes reaching the largest audience possible,
“achievable.”

Just for one moment, if you look at the Denver Conference, United COG and
Philadelphia COG –this is the model these conference were built on. The
last two, both have radio and television programs running nationally and
internationally. The model works. This model should be followed if COG
really wants to make a bigger impact in the world today.

Within the next two years, I’ll be writing and publishing a book about the
untold story of Andrew N. Dugger and the impact he made within the COG
movement. In this book I will also capture the history of COG in the
Caribbean, Africa, and the USA. After reading Raising the Ruins, it has
re-sparked the urgency in me to not let what our forefathers fought so hard
for to preserve, go to ruins. “And ‘this’ gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the
end come” Matt 24:14.