| 
"Let's Have Church"
As you have probably heard, General Conference has been moved up one day, convening on October 11-15, 2011, in Louisville, Kentucky. The conference will begin Tuesday night and will end with a Holy Ghost and Healing Crusade on Saturday night. The business session is scheduled for Wednesday. The theme of "Let's Have Church" was chosen to reflect an emphasis on worship, preaching, and prayer. To see a full schedule and to register, go to http://louisville11.upcigc.com/. Register by August 31, to receive the discounted rate.
iChurch at General Conference
There will be an expanded schedule of seminars on Friday and Saturday morning for ministers and lay leaders, so please make plans to attend and to bring a staff member with you.
Registration for Streaming Video
We are introducing a new high-quality service for live streaming video of the conference services. To register for viewing of all services, go to http://upci.globaldatalink.net/index.php.
Business Meeting
In a previous newsletter, I described some resolutions that are being submitted by the General Board. The Resolutions Committee met to consider all resolutions that were turned in, and all licensed ministers will soon receive in the mail a copy of those the committee is forwarding to the General Conference. In addition, four ministries are seeking endorsement from the United Pentecostal Church International as provided in Article XIX of our Constitution.
- The Jesus Message: This radio ministry has been established to help further the work of the former Media Missions Division.
- Compassion Services International: The Foreign Missions Division has established this international relief agency as a separate nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation so that it can obtain multiple sources of private and public funding.
- Life in Focus Education (LIFE), which includes the Alcohol Chemical Treatment Series (ACTS): The Home Missions Division has approved this ministry as a separate nonprofit, tax-exempt corporation so that it can interact directly with churches and legal authorities. It offers training programs for alcohol and chemical treatment, anger management, money management, and employment.
- Purpose Institute: The Division of Education has recommended this ministry training institution. It partners with local churches and districts to develop Apostolic leaders.
Proposal for an Accredited Undergraduate Christian College
Gateway College of Evangelism has offered for Urshan Graduate School of Theology to acquire Gateway in order to start a new undergraduate program with the goal of accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. In the summer of 2012 Gateway would close and the new entity would open under the administration of UGST. It would be a Christian college, different from a Bible college, offering the Bachelor of Arts degree in several majors including general studies. As part of UGST, it would be owned and operated by the UPCI and have a UPCI identity. For more information and to provide input, go to http://www.upcicollege.org/. This proposal will be considered by the General Board, so you are also welcome to provide input to your district superintendent.
Flooding in North Dakota
Jesse Starr, North Dakota district superintendent reports historic flooding in Minot. This flood has displaced as many as 33% of the families in the Minot church. Please keep this congregation and the residents of this city in your prayers. For more information or to contribute go to www.minotafc.com
Sincerely in Christ,
David K. Bernard
