About us
Who we are
HISTORY
OUR BEGINNING
The Church of God (Seventh Day) grew from the efforts of dedicated followers of Christ living in western Michigan in 1858. Joined by a church in Marion, Iowa, in 1863, the influence of the Church of God (Seventh Day) began to expand into the eastern and central United States, due in large part to The Hope of Israel. This publication created interest in the Church’s distinct doctrines: the authority of the Bible alone for Christian faith and practice, the second advent of Christ, and observance of the seventh-day Sabbath.
Unified around these unique doctrines, the General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day) was officially organized in 1884 and incorporated in Missouri in 1899. Its offices were located in Stanberry, Missouri, until 1950, when they were moved to Denver, Colorado.
Over the years, The Hope of Israel moved from Michigan to Iowa, then to Missouri, and eventually to Colorado. After several name changes, it is now known as the Bible Advocate. After more than 150 years, this flagship publication of the Church continues today. It also appears online at baonline.org.
PRESENT DAY
Today, the General Conference consists 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 200,000 members. Each national church is considered autonomous and regarded as a sister conference. Fellowship, dialogue, evangelism, and doctrinal unity among worldwide members are coordinated through the Church’s International Ministerial Congress.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
For an in-depth look at the history of the Church of God (Seventh Day), check out The Journey: a History of the Church of God (Seventh Day), by Robert Coulter.
History of the Church of God 7th Day British Conference UK
Stoke-On-Trent
The Beginning
The Stoke-on-Trent Church was birthed in 2002 after the Annual General Convention, was held at the Victoria Hall in Stoke-On-Trent. Brother Hughie Lawrence and his family, Brother Christopher Dryden and Sis Authrine Burton were the original members of the Stoke-on-Trent Church. They began meeting in the Willfield Centre before the group moved to the North Staffs YMCA where they fellowshipped with the community. The YMCA was the place where 6 people were saved, baptised and gave their lives to Christ in 2003. The baptism was held in a bathtub, specially kept for this purpose. There were 3 more baptisms held between the year of 2003-2009.
A number of individuals came and went for various reasons including university, emigration & career opportunities. The group eventually relocated to Palmerston Street where they officially launched the COG 7 Training & Conference Centre. It functioned as a community centre where they worked collaboratively with different organisations and groups, as well as caring for the wellbeing of the individuals through various community-based projects. Some of these still continue to this day. Examples of this was prison visits, fun days, youth clubs and many more.
In 2012, brother Hughie Lawrence and the COG7 Training Centre moved on in a different direction and the church changed location to NORSCA a community centre that the church has and continues to work with. The group’s official Pastor was Pastor Z Burrell who visited the group throughout the year to fellowship with and encourage the brethren, as well as perform any official duties that needed to be presided over.
Church and Community
The church alongside NORSACA, works with the community and created projects to support the homeless with food banks, get the community together through sewing classes and steel pan lessons. Even during the 2020 pandemic, members of the church continued to work with the centre to supply laundry bags for the NHS, food for the elderly and also supplied free meals for families during the school holidays, when the government stopped supplying food vouchers or food packages for the children and families who were in need.
As the membership is majority women, these efforts have been co-ordinated by the women’s ministry, led by Sis Deon Wynter. The church continues to host women’s days, prayer meetings, fasting service and friends and family Sabbaths.
The church and the Pandemic
During the pandemic and for some time after, the church met on teams or zoom to continue their fellowship with not only the adult members but also with the children of the church, who log on for Sabbath school each week, this was run by Sister Mavia Dyer who is also a member of the National Youth and Children Ministry. The group is back meeting face 2 face.
God, ‘the Master Potter’
The City of Stoke-On-Trent is well known for Pottery and is affectionately known as ‘the Potteries’, but the master potter is God. As the wheel turns, He continues to perfect the work He started in us.
Our approach
OUR BASIC TEACHINGS AND PRACTICE!
The Church of God (Seventh Day) endeavors to carry out the Great Commission by discipling people for the Lord Jesus Christ through evangelism and instruction from the Word of God. To assist the Church in this, we have adopted these twelve statements of belief to introduce the Church’s teaching and practice. While the Church has always maintained an open creed, these statements preserve its theological heritage, and present its latest and best understanding of Scripture. Christian Ordinances, Marriage, The Sabbath, The Holy Bible, Prophecy, The Deity, The Kingdom of God, Man, Satan, Sin and Death. The Ten Commandments, Man Salvation and Life. The Church Christian Living, The Church of God (Seventh Day) is a bible-based Church and our teachings are founded His Word. If you would like to explore what God's Word has to say to us, we encourage you to discover the Bible and be encouraged Daily. *In addition, we believe in paradise on earth. (Matt.6:6-16) *Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:10-18). *144 thousand (Rev. 7:4-15). * Tithe Offering (Malachi 3:10). *The Church Name(Acts 20:28) * The Sabbath Day (Exodus 20: 11)
WHO ARE THE CHURCH OF GOD (SEVENTH-DAY)?
The British Conference of the Church of God (Seventh-Day) is a family of congregations scattered throughout the United Kingdom. We are a strong Bible based and needs focused church whose ultimate goal is to proclaim the gospel of Christ at any and every given opportunity. Overall.. • We are a Christ Centered Denomination. • We are Bible based and believe the word is inerrant in it's teachings. • We are evangelical and believe in new birth by the Holy Spirit. • We are Spirit filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. • We are Sabbath observing and believe that it should be kept holy. • We are outward looking and believe that Christ came to save all mankind.
OUR MINISTRIES
