|
The Church of God gathers in 26,857 congregations and 5,733 missions, led by 29,849 credentialed ministers [statistics current as of October 2009]. The church operates 116 Bible schools and 74 orphanages.
In 1909, Edmond S. Barr, a native of the Bahama Islands, attended the autumn camp meeting in Pleasant Grove, Florida, and with his wife, Rebecca, received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Barr understandably wanted to return to his homeland and tell his countrymen the good news of the full gospel. R. M. Evans, a retired Methodist minister, also became concerned about the Bahamas. Evans raised the money to send the Barrs back home and promised to follow. The Barrs arrived back in the Bahamas in November 1909.
Evans sold all of his possessions and bought a wagon and a team of mules. He and his wife drove to Miami where he sold the wagon and mules and bought tickets to the Bahamas. On January 4, 1910, Evans and his wife, with Carl M. Padget, landed in Nassau. They were the first missionaries to represent the Church of God abroad, beginning a movement that now extends to 181 countries and embraces more than 7 million members.
For more information about Church of God World Missions, visit the Web site at www.cogwm.org.
|
