{"id":394,"date":"2018-02-18T19:58:14","date_gmt":"2018-02-18T19:58:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publications.cog7.org\/?page_id=394"},"modified":"2022-01-03T20:52:03","modified_gmt":"2022-01-03T20:52:03","slug":"introducing-church-god-seventh-day","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/publications.cog7engage.net\/tracts-books\/tracts\/the-church\/introducing-church-god-seventh-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Introducing the Church of God (Seventh Day)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Click Cover to Download<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Our Beginning . . .<\/h3>\n

The Church of God (Seventh Day) grew from the efforts of dedicated followers of Christ living in western Michigan in 1858 who believed in the Second Coming. Joined by the Marion, Iowa church in 1863, the Michigan church began to extend its influence into the eastern and central United States through\u00a0The Hope of Israel<\/em>. This publication created interest in the Church\u2019s distinctive doctrines: the authority of the Bible alone for Christian faith and practice, the second advent of Christ, and observance of the seventh-day Sabbath.<\/p>\n

Through these means, the General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day) was organized in 1884 and incorporated in Missouri in 1899. Its offices were located in Stanberry, Missouri, until 1950, when they were transferred to Denver, Colorado.<\/p>\n

Over the years,\u00a0The Hope of Israel<\/em>\u00a0moved from Michigan to Iowa, then to Missouri, and eventually to Colorado. After several name changes, it is now known as the\u00a0Bible Advocate<\/em>. After more than 150 years, this flagship publication of the Church continues to be published, now six issues per year. It also appears online at\u00a0baonline.org<\/em>.<\/p>\n

. . . And Our Present<\/h3>\n

The General Conference is made up of approximately 235 local congregations throughout the United States and Canada. Affiliated conferences and churches in 40 countries have a worldwide fellowship of more than 150,000 members. Each national church is considered autonomous and regarded as a sister conference. Fellowship, dialogue, evangelism, and doctrinal unity among the worldwide membership are coordinated through the Church\u2019s International Ministerial Congress.<\/p>\n

Our Beliefs<\/h3>\n

As a church, we believe that<\/p>\n