Announcement from the General Overseer:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 22, 2007

Church of God of Prophecy/International Center for Spiritual Renewal Announce Strategic Partnership and Transition for Voice of Salvation Media Ministry

The Church of God of Prophecy International Offices and the International Center for Spiritual Renewal announced today the formation of a strategic partnership to transition the Voice of Salvation Ministries to a new base of operation aimed at strengthening this ministry into the future.

The partnership, which will begin September 1, 2007, will continue for four years as both ministries jointly sponsor the worldwide radio and television ministry. Through this partnership the oversight of Voice of Salvation Ministries will transfer to the Center for Spiritual Renewal with the Church of God of Prophecy continuing to provide support for the program and the Center for Spiritual Renewal providing media services for the church.

Under the ongoing direction of Bishop William Wilson, the VOS ministry will continue to serve as the media outreach arm of the Church of God of Prophecy through the period of this partnership, while allowing the Church to increase its commitment and support for church-planting and relief efforts worldwide. In addition, this ministry will now provide a platform for the International Center for Spiritual Renewal to pursue its purposes on a much broader scale. The Center for Spiritual Renewal offices, presently located at 4399 North Ocoee Street, Cleveland, Tennessee will become the new home for Voice of Salvation Ministries.

Leadership at both the Center and Church agree that more can be done to benefit the effectiveness of the ministry by working together than would have been possible separately.

Randall Howard, General Overseer of the Church of God of Prophecy, commented on the partnership, stating, “I feel that this partnership will secure a strong future and significant growth for Voice of Salvation Ministry in the years to come.” Voice of Salvation Minister and World Impact host William Wilson who also serves as International Center for Spiritual Renewal Executive Director stated: “I believe that this new arrangement will serve all of us well in our efforts to transform the world for Christ. I am grateful that this ministry is moving to an even broader kingdom thrust at the Center while still serving our historical ministry family in the Church of God of Prophecy.”

On August 21, 2007, the Board of Directors for the International Center for Spiritual Renewal and the Administrative Committee for the Church of God of Prophecy met to affirm this partnership and pray blessings over the next four years of cooperative effort.

Voice of Salvation’s radio program can be heard each Sunday morning on J103 at 9:00 a.m. World Impact, which presently can be seen in over 175 nations airs locally on FOX 61 at 8:00 a.m. each Sunday. World Impact can also be seen in the Cleveland area on the Hallmark Channel at 6:00 a.m. on Sunday and on the Church Channel at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday evening. Further information on Voice of Salvation Ministries or the International Center for Spiritual Renewal can be obtained by calling 423-478-7078.

Brother Wilson and I have been in conversation about the future of the VOS for some time. He realized my desire to focus our resources entirely on Harvest (church planting and local church facilitating) and Leadership Development. With that in mind he made the proposal you see above. We both feel that this step is a “win, win, win” for all three entities involved. You see hints of that in this document.

Benefit to COGOP
Allow for the ongoing work of VOS while releasing us from VOS support over time to focus those resources on our core values, Harvest (church planting and local church facilitating) and Leadership Development.

Benefit to VOS
Release them from denominational support over time to attract the many who would support otherwise. Brother Wilson tells us that when a denomination is seen as sponsor then wider donors shy away feeling the church will provide what is needed. I believe VOS will be stronger in this arrangement due to our inability to resource that ministry any greater.

Benefit to ICSR
They will receive a platform to voice their purpose of spiritual renewal on a world wide scale.

This partnership is for a period of four years. During that time the support from the COGOP for VOS will diminish each year as the ICSR increases their support annually. At the end of four years the COGOP will have the option to continue our support at some level or to end our sponsorship of television entirely.

Brother Wilson will continue in his role as appointed World Impact Minister through to the Assembly. At that point we will be seeking God as to the appointment and ministry that he might receive with the COGOP. Of course he is also currently the Executive Director of the ICSR. Brother Wilson’s work as International Minister of Outreach between the Church of God and the COGOP has ended due to a budget cut from the COG. The path forward for the Cooperative Initiative between the COG and the COGOP is being defined at this time.

The COGOP has been providing half of Brother Wilson’s salary with the CIC for three years and will continue to provide our portion now as the ICSR picks up his further support. Our commitment includes support for Brother Wilson so that in the unlikely event he were not the Minister of World Impact any longer, our support for this partnership would end.

As the two governing bodies met together yesterday there was a good sense of entering a new relationship that would allow greater benefit for the purposes of each participating organization. This partnership is still another illustration of attempting to work with other portions of the Body of Christ to advance ministry better together. Here at the International Offices we love the ministry, leadership, and anointing of our brother and friend, Bishop Wilson. We pray the World Impact Ministry flourishes under this new strategic partnership. We pray that the International Center for Spiritual Renewal will flourish under his leadership as well. We also will continue to view Brother Wilson as a leader and licensed minister in the COGOP, drawing on his giftings often as the needs arise.

If you have any questions concerning this new step please feel free to contact me at your convenience. Furthermore, please feel free to share this information with your ministry leaders and pastors as need arises. Finally, I know Brother Wilson will appreciate your continued prayers and morale support.

Many Blessings!
R E Howard