COGVA NEWS

Newsletter Date
December, 2017
Volume 1, Issue 1
Volume 5, Issue 3

Write the vision and make it plain on the tablet so that it might be read quickly.
Habakkuk 2:2 (LEB)

Table of Contents

Neaces Pieces 2 Pete Canciglia to Ring in Christmas!

Members of Atkins and
Christiansburg FCOGs
Team Up For Missions
in Haiti 3
COGVA Leadership
College Going Strong
at Bellamy Ave. 3 holiday season, he
Christiansburg FCOG
Holds Fall Festival 3 for the destitute and
COGVA Budget 4-5
Mark Your Calendars 6 hurdle to overcome --
S.E.A. Info 79
Regional CHOG
Convention Info 10 Walmsley BLVD Church
of God in Richmonds own
What Christmas Means to Rev. Pete Canciglia will
be serving others by
Me by Makenzie Mills 12
serving the Salvation
Army by being a bell-
ringer. His dates and
locations are December 9
at Giant Food 5701 Plank
Road in Fredericksburg,
(Harrisons Crossing) 10
am to 6 pm and
December 23 at the Giant
Food 10346 Courthouse
Rd, Spotsylvania
Courthouse, from 8 am till
8 pm. Pete has set a goal
for his sites of $1000.00.
This would be a record
and he is determined to
break that record. If you
Red Kettle History -
In 1891, Salvation
Army Captain Joseph
McFee was distraught
because so many poor
individuals in San
Francisco were going
hungry. During the
resolved to provide a
free Christmas dinner
poverty-stricken. He
only had one major
funding the project.
Where would the
money come from, he
are of a mind to help wondered.
shatter that record, I am
certain Pastor Pete would He lay awake nights,
not refuse your worrying, thinking,
contribution if it were praying about how he
mailed to him in time to be could find the funds to
placed in the kettles prior fulfill his commitment of
to his dates of feeding 1,000 of the
responsibility. His city's poorest
address is 7310 Emma individuals on
Dr. Spotsylvania, VA Christmas Day. As he
22553-3215. pondered the issue, his
thoughts drifted back to
For those curious about his sailor days in
the history of the Red Liverpool, England. He
Kettle, we are glad you remembered how at
asked. This information is Stage Landing, where
cited from the boats came in,
http://www.salvationarmyu there was a large, iron
sa.org/usn/red-kettle- kettle called "Simpson's
history/ Pot" into (Continued
on page 11)
 COGVA News
Neaces Pieces
I grew up in the housing
projects of Murphysboro,
IL. My dad was a hard
working laborer who
seemed to have the
misfortune of employment
for several years at a time,
only to find the company
for which he worked would
close its doors.
Sometimes it was the
result of manufacturers
Dr. Bob Neace, COGVA
seeking higher profits with
State Minister
lower costs involved, and
shuttering the factory in
which he worked to ship
those jobs overseas.
Other times, it was the
result of one company
being bought out by a
larger company to shut
out the nuisance of
competition. It was during
those times in my youth I
Members of Atkins and Christiansburg FCOGs Team
Up For Missions in Haiti
Every year groups go to
Haiti to experience what is
being done through
Lifeline and all of its
supporters and
partners. This was an
experience for Tracy
Ratliff from Christiansburg
FCOG and Mary Kitts
from Atkins FCOG. You
may wonder why it is so
important for people to
go. Many send money
and goods to Haiti and
those donations are very
needed, but when you go
to Haiti...you use all of
your senses. You see all
of the precious people and
the hardships they
began to realize some
things were not fair.
I have heard many of my
peers, especially older
ones, who have made
statements that they did
not know how poor they
were until they got older. I
guess I fit into that
category. Please dont
get me wrong. We did not
starve. We had plenty of
beans and rice, and on
occasion, we had rice and
beans . My mom was
a stay at home mom, as
there were four children at
home.
It was during Christmas
one of those years in the
housing projects when it
dawned on me we were
not as financially well off
and feeding centers. You
face. The caring mothers
as they struggle to feed
their young, and the
clothes that are as clean
as any American. You
hear all of the noises,
starting with the roosters
crowing in the morning to
the songs the children
sing, to the laughter on
the playground, to the
preaching of God's word,
to the crying over the ones
who are suffering. You
taste all of the foods that
the Haitian people
eat. You smell the all
familiar aroma of charcoal
burning and the aromas
coming from the kitchen
Page 2 of 12
as my friends. (I could be
pretty oblivious to my
surroundings
Shocked?) That year,
though we attended
church faithfully every
Sunday Morning, a church
in our community brought
a basket of food. My
parents made sure we
had something for
Christmas each year, but
that single gesture that
season made an impact
on me.
I do not know the name of
the woman in a Santa Suit
that came to the house
that day, but she prayed
with my mom as she left
the basket.
(Continued on page 11)
touch the precious people
of Haiti not only physically,
but also emotionally and
spiritually. When you go,
they touch you too. We
came back with our
experiences and with
pictures and the
Scriptures Matthew
25:35,36,40 etched upon
and within our
hearts. "For I was hungry
and ye gave me meat, I
was thirsty and you gave
me drink, naked and you
clothed me, I was sick and
you visited me. Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto
one, ye have done it unto
me.
 Page 3 of 12
COGVA Leadership College Going Strong at Bellamy Ave.
Bellamy Avenue Church of
God is the Eastern District
site of the COGVA
Leadership College that
meets throughout the year.
With well over two dozen
in attendance, much
learning and lively
discussions were the order
of the day. Rev. Gertrude
Goode started off the
morning with recognition of
State Minister, Dr. Bob
Neace, who shared some
words of encouragement
from COGVA. After that, a
new book for study was
introduced on prayer, Beth
Moores Praying Gods insight as to what were the
Word: Breaking Free From
Spiritual Bondage. As the climate of the day, and
class will be reading and
studying this book, such
topics as Overcoming
Depression, Overcoming
Rejection, Overcoming
Addiction, Overcoming the
Enemy, and much more
will be covered.
After a brief recess, Rev.
Calving Peterson
continued his teaching
from John J. Pilchs book,
The Cultural World of
Jesus; Sunday by Sunday,
Cycle C. Pilchs book, as
the title implies, gives us
COGVA News
cultural demands and the
sheds light on the sayings
and teachings of Christ
that are not always readily
seen through our western
mind set. This chapter of
the COGVA Leadership
College meets monthly at
Church of God Bellamy
Avenue Church of God,
112 Bellamy Ave, 23523
each Second Saturday of
the month under the
direction of Rev. Gertrude
Goode and Rev. Calvin
Peterson.

Christiansburg FCOG Holds Fall Festival as

Community Outreach
First Church of God in
Christiansburg, held a Fall
Festival for our
neighborhood October
28th, 2017. In preparation
for the day we canvased
our neighborhood with
door hanger invites about
2 weeks before our event.
We also hung a sign in
our yard so that the
community that uses our
playground would know
about our event. Our Fall
Festival included a chili
cookoff, bounce house,
carnival games, trunk or
treat during our event. At
three oclock the those neighbors! We are
community began to excited for what God will
come! We were have for this community in
overwhelmed and our future and how He will
overjoyed by the turn out! use us to be the hands
With our parking lot full and feet of Christ!
and people parking up
and down the street we
estimate that we had over
200 people come join us
for our fall festival! We
praise God that we were
able to connect with our
community in this way!
Pastor Lance has been
challenging us to pray and
reach out to our
neighborhood and we got
to see firsthand many of
 COGVA News Page 4 of 12

COGVA Budget
August 1, 2017 - July 31, 2018
Aug-Oct Nov-Jan
Categories Budget 1st Qtr 2nd Qtr
Expenses Expenses
1000 State Office
1100 Business Office $3,500.00 $395.68 $486.14
1200 Insurance $3,744.75 $3,808.75
$14,800.00
1300 Office Manager $3,609.36 $1,203.12
$14,437.50
1400 Income Taxes $ 3,320.00 $879.79 $293.23
Subtotal $8,629.58 $5,791.24
$36,057.50

1500 Chair $800.00 $ $

2000 State Minister
Reimbursement Fund $16,050.00 $860.75 $
Subtotal $16,850.00 $860.75 $

3000 Executive Council/Standing

Ministries
3100 Executive Board $800.00 $177.56
3200 Ministry of Church $300.00
Service/Credentials
3300 Ministry of Christian Education $75.00
3400 Ministry of Evangelism $50.00
3600 Ministry of Program $2,000.00 $31.80
3800 Ministerial Fellowship $
100.00
3900 Church Property Team $75.00
Subtotal $3,400.00 $209.36 $

5000 Property and Maintenance

5110 Camp Bedford
5110 Caretaker $5,000.00 $1,250.01 $416.67
5120 Campground Expenses $1,000.00
(Maintenance)
Capital Improvements $750.00
Vehicle Maintenance $300.00
Camp Bedford Mkt/Advertising $500.00
 Page 5 of 12 COGVA News
5140 Utilities $6,000.00 $1,330.90 $266.30
Subtotal $13,550.00 $2,580.91 $682.97

5200 Camp Christi

5210 Caretaker $26,565.12 $6,641.28 $2,213.76
5220 Health Insurance $7,000.00 $1,788.00 $596.00
5250 Utilities $4,309.38 $653.22
$14,000.00
5260 Maintenance $4,000.00 $
Camp Christi Mkt/Advertising $500.00 $
5270 Capital Improvements $750.00 $605.79
5280 Vehicle Maintenance $500.00 $
5300 Legal Fees $500.00 $48.50
5400 Ministry Expenses $300.00 $
Christmas Bonus $1,300.00 $
Subtotal $55,415.12 $13,392.95 $3,462.98

Total Expenses $9,937.19

$25,673.55
Total Income $4,731.53
$24,305.22
Difference $(1,368.33) $(5,205.66)

The following is a letter from Brother Raymond Whitehead. I commend it to your thoughtful response as you read our
budget situations. This letter is from the viewpoint of a lay member within COGVA and the leadership of COGVA share his
concerns.

Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ,

Greetings in the name of the Lord. I am writing this with a troubled heart. I am concerned that we have 41.6% of our
churches not contributing the 6% of their tithes to COGVA for operation of the states work. We have 58.4% supporting
COGVA with their monetary giving. It concerns me deeply that we have as many congregations as we do that do not
support COGVA with the 6% of your church tithes. We make up and are a part of this entity and all of us are not supporting
the state work with our monies.
I commend those churches that are giving monetarily and may the Lord bless you continually. For those that are not I
beseech you to go in prayer to the Lord and seek His guidance in this matter. Just think if we had 100% giving the
possibilities of our support would be endless.
As you know some of our state expenditures are not able to be met in the budget, i.e. state office state minister, executive
council, property & maintenance and others . Our state minister incur expenses that he pays for himself when he comes to
visit the many churches in COGVA. We want support from COGVA when we are in need or want a representative to visit
our church for one reason or another.
Lets make this year a blessed year for COGVA where we would have 100% participation in our monetary giving of the 6%.
Let us all do what Malachi 3:10 tells us and see how God works. We recall that faith is confidence in what we hope for and
assurance about what we do not see. It was faith that moved Moses, Noah, Joshua and many others to be obedient to
Gods word. The Lord ask us to be obedient to His word and then one day we will hear the faithful words of Christ: well done,
thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou
into the joy of thy Lord.
Your brother in Christ.
Warm regards,
Bro. Raymond Whitehead
 COGVA News Page 6 of 12
Mark Your Calendars
December
2nd Prayer Breakfast 10:00 am Walmsley BLVD CHOG 6517 Walmsley Boulevard,Richmond
25th Christmas Everywhere
26th-30 Southeastern Association of the Church of God, 1607 Forest St.., Augusta, GA

January
3rd Mountain Empire District Breakfast 8:30 am, Abingdon FCOG Host Church

February
17th C.W.C./W.C.G. Luncheon at Joynes Road Church of God Guest Speaker: Rev. Charlene Aaron

March
9th 11th Statewide Youth Convention Fredericksburg (VA) Hospitality House and Convention Center
Speaker: Mickey Taylor, Band: Allan Scott Music
23rd -24th Ministers and Spouse Retreat, Place and Theme yet to be announced
17th C.W.C./W.C.G. Prayer Breakfast, Tibitha Church of God, Reedville,
30th Good Friday

April
1st Easter Everywhere
20th-21st C.W.C./W.C.G. Convention Roanoke FCOG

May
3rd National Day of Prayer
7th 8th Pastors Fellowship, Winchest, (KY) FCOG
Mountain Empire District Indoor Camp Meeting, Rev. Jimmy Swogger Evangelist

June
24th 27th Restore Family Conference, Williamsburg Woodlands, 105 Visitors Center Dr., Williamsburg

July
2nd 5th International Youth Convention, Indianapolis, IN
9th 13th Student Camps, Camp Christi
Page 7 of 12 COGVA News
COGVA News Page 8 of 12
Page 9 of 12 COGVA News
 COGVA News Page 10 of 12
Regional Church of God Convention Sites Anounced

Arizona
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (Same in each location
Tuesday Event
8:00AM7:00PM Check-in and registration
April 1718, 2018 9:00AM11:30AM Making Disciples in the Way of Jesus Gravity
Leadership
9:00AM1:00PM Credentials Manual Certification Training By
invitation only
9:00AM3:00PM C.A.R.E. Seminar
To receive your complimentary registration code contact
mcookston@chog.org
Oklahoma 11:30AM1:30PM Lunch Break
1:30PM3:15PM Host Church Electives
April 2425, 2018 3:15PM3:30PM Break
3:30PM5:00PM Town Hall & Project Imagine Update
5:00PM7:00PM Dinner Break
7:00PM9:00PM Session 1Jim Lyon
Wednesday Event
9:00AM10:15AM Session 2Host Pastor
10:15AM10:45AM Break
10:45AMNOON Session 3Jo Anne Lyon
Ohio
NOON2:30PM Lunch Break
2:30PM4:00PM Session 4Jeff Whye
June 1920, 2018 4:00PM7:00PM Dinner Break
7:00PM9:00PM Session 5Guest Speaker
PRICING FOR REGIONALS - VIEW PRICING DATES ON EACH
LOCATION PAGE http://www.jesusisthesubject.org/regional-
conventions-2018/

$99.00 EARLY-BIRD
Virginia $119.00 GENERAL
$139.00 AT THE DOOR
Sept. 1819, 2018 $49.00 EACH FOR GROUPS OF 10
$49.00 RETIRED PASTORS
UNDER 18 FREE

Florida
 Page 11 of 12 COGVA News

Pastor Pete To Ring In Christmas (Continued)

which passers-by tossed a effort nationwide resulted throughout the United
coin or two to help the in 150,000 Christmas States, but all across the
poor. dinners for the needy. In world. Kettles are now
1901, kettle contributions used in such distant lands
The next day Captain
in New York City provided as Korea, Japan, Chile
McFee placed a similar
funds for the first and many European
pot at the Oakland Ferry
mammoth sit-down dinner countries. Everywhere,
Landing at the foot of
in Madison Square public contributions to
Market Street. Beside the
Garden, a custom that Salvation Army kettles
pot, he placed a sign that
continued for many years. enable the organization to
read, "Keep the Pot
Today in the U.S., The continue its year-round
Boiling." He soon had the
Salvation Army assists efforts at helping those
money to see that the
more than four-and-a-half who would otherwise be
needy people were
million people during the forgotten.
properly fed at Christmas.
Thanksgiving and
Six years later, the kettle Christmas time periods.
idea spread from the west
Captain McFee's kettle
coast to the Boston area.
idea launched a tradition
That year, the combined
that has spread not only

Neaces Pieces (Continued)

It was not asked for, but
provided by the Lord in a
timely way. Isnt the timing
and direction of God
something?
Later that week just as
other Christmass past and
to the present, when
Christmas morning
arrived, one of our exciting
things to do was to see,
not only what might be
under the tree, but was
there anything in a
stocking we had set out.
Often it would have a
small matchbox car, some
candy, or even school
supplies. But the one
thing we found without fail
as an orange. Thats regardless of what gifts
right, an orange.
It may seem small and
trivial, but that orange in
our stocking became brother, Charlie, has done
somewhat of a family
tradition. Both of my
parents would talk about
how much better off in the
way of material goods we
were than when they grew
up. For them in that time,
an orange was a treat the
family could not afford
throughout the year. They
looked forward to
whatever candy might be
in the stocking, but that
orange was special.
In recent years, I have
learned something about
my siblings. Each year,
might be given, I have
given an orange to Abby in
her stocking, and my
the same thing for his
children through
adulthood. That orange
serves to remind me that
gifts of love need not be
extravagant, but given with
genuineness. This
Christmas season, as you
are tempted with trying to
outdo others, or give
equivalent gifts, be
reminded of the orange
and its significance to the
Neace family.
 What Christmas Means to Me!
Church of God In Matthew 1:18-25 and Wise Men came and
in Virginia Luke 2:1-20 are the brought gifts of gold,
written stories in the incense and myrrh.
Gospel to tell how God
4704 Roanoke Road Jesus is our gift! He came
sent the angel Gabriel to
Christiansburg, VA 24073 for the forgiveness of our
Nazareth and told Mary
sins. Christmas is an
PHONE: she will have a child and
amazing day to remember
(540) 268-2040 to name him Jesus.
FAX:
Jesus birth. This
Makenzie Mills Joseph and Mary traveled
(540) 268-2040 Christmas, I want to
to Bethlehem to find
challenge you to worship
Christmas is my favorite shelter. They found a
E-MAIL: Him, praise Him, open
brobob4691@gmail.com holiday because we lonely stable where
your eyes to Him and
exchange gifts with each animals were kept. Mary
surrender all to Him.
other and spend time with gave birth to Jesus and
cogvaoffice@gmail.com family. However, the main wrapped him in cloths and
reason we celebrate laid him in a manger full of
Christmas is the hay. Angels appeared to
remembrance of Jesus the shepherds and told
birth. We celebrate and them that they would find
worship Him who is Gods the baby lying in a
Son who came from manger. They told one
heaven to earth. another what the Lord had
told them and said Lets
go to Bethlehem! The

About the Church of God in Virginia

Were on the Web!
See us at: The Church of God in 2,500 constituents each Secretary Sis. Cathy
www.cogva.com Virginia consists of 50 Sunday Morning. Our Atkins, and State Minister
churches across the current State Leadership Dr. Bob Neace.
Commonwealth and consists of Chair - Rev.
according to current Dick Gilbert, Vice-Chair
accounting serve over Rev. Henry Haskins,

CHURCH OF GOD IN VIRGINIA

4704 Roanoke Road
Christiansburg, VA 24073