Congregations 320 total; 105 USA | Phone +1 423-784-6014 | |
Founder J.H. Parks, Steve Bryant, Tom Moses, and William Douglas Address 224 N Florence Ave, Jellico, TN 37762, USA | ||
Church of god mountain assembly a new beginning a personal account
The Church of God, Mountain Assembly (CGMA) is a holiness Pentecostal Christian body formed in 1907, with roots in the late 19th-century American holiness movement and early 20th-century Pentecostal revival. The denomination maintains headquarters in Jellico, Tennessee and is a member of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America (formerly the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America).
Contents
- Church of god mountain assembly a new beginning a personal account
- History
- Doctrine
- Facilities
- Annual convention
- References
The main geographical strength of the body (about 65% of the churches) is in Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee. But, they are also in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Indiana, New Jersey, West Virginia, Alabama, and Michigan. There were over 10,000 members in over 105 USA churches in 2010, and nearly 460 churches in 21 nations. The denominations World Missions Department serves foreign nations with children's homes, schools, pastors, and churches.
History
In the late nineteenth century, several ministers of the South Union Baptist Association of United Baptists embraced the holiness movement. At its annual session in 1903, the South Union Baptist Association excluded all ministers preaching what they called "apostasy" (the possibility of losing one's salvation). On August 24, 1907, representatives met at the Jellico Creek church in McCreary County, Kentucky and formed a new association. They chose the name Church of God. The early leaders were Reverends J. H. Parks, Steve Bryant and Allen Moses. Shortly after organization, they accepted the Pentecostal Revival. After discovering that other bodies were holding property and transacting business under the name Church of God, this body added the words "Mountain Assembly" to "Church of God" for identification and legal purposes in 1911. In 1917 the body was incorporated, and in 1922 permanent headquarters were established in Jellico, Tennessee.
The Gospel Herald, official publication of the Church of God Mountain Assembly, was first published in 1942. A new form of governance was adopted in 1944, including the offices of General Overseer, Assistant General Overseer, and General Secretary and Treasurer.
The Church of God Mountain Assembly has endured three divisions since its formation, resulting in the existence of the Church of God General Assembly (org. 1914 in McCreary County, Kentucky), Church of God of the Union Assembly (org. 1920 in Jackson County, Georgia) and the Church of God of the Original Mountain Assembly (org. 1946 at Williamsburg, Kentucky).
Doctrine
The church utilizes the Church Covenant of its United Baptist forebears (omitting the last paragraph), and holds a twelve article Statement of Faith. Doctrines of the Church of God Mountain Assembly include:
Facilities
They have a 38-acre (154,000 m²) youth campground near Winchester, Ohio, with a large tabernacle, a cafeteria, offices, many dormitories and cabins. Their world headquarters are located in Jellico, Tennessee.
Annual convention
Their annual Campmeeting convention is the first week of August in Pigeon Forge, TN, and their annual Florida Campmeeting is the last week of January in Kissimmee, Florida.