Church of God Mountain Assembly
Encyclopedia
The Church of God, Mountain Assembly (CGMA) is a holiness
pentecostal Christian
body formed in 1906, 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).
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.
and formed a new association. They chose the name Church of God. The early leaders were ministers J. H. Parks, Steve Bryant,Tom Moses, and William Douglas. 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 "of the Mountain Assembly" to "Church of God" for identification and legal purposes in 1911. In 1917 the body was incorporated, and in 1922 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).
, Florida
.
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
pentecostal Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
body formed in 1906, with roots in the late 19th century American holiness movement
Holiness movement
The holiness movement refers to a set of beliefs and practices emerging from the Methodist Christian church in the mid 19th century. The movement is distinguished by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of "Christian perfection" - the belief that it is possible to live free of voluntary sin - and...
and early 20th century Pentecostal revival. The denomination maintains headquarters in Jellico, Tennessee
Jellico, Tennessee
Jellico is a city in Campbell County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,448 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jellico is located at . The city is situated amidst the Cumberland Mountains in the Elk Creek Valley, which runs perpendicular to the Tennessee-Kentucky state line...
and is a member of the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America
Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America
The Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America is an interdenominational fellowship of Pentecostal and charismatic churches and denominations in North America, existing for the purpose of promoting cooperation and understanding. It is a successor to the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America...
(formerly the Pentecostal Fellowship of North America).
The main geographical strength of the body (about 65% of the churches) is in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. But, they are also in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, and Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. 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
Around 1902 several ministers of the South Union Association of United Baptists became involved in the holiness movement. At their annual session in 1903, the South Union 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 Whitley County, KentuckyWhitley County, Kentucky
Whitley County is a county located in the state of Kentucky. 2005 census projections list its population at 38,029 . The county seat is at Williamsburg, though the largest city is Corbin, and the county's District Court sits in both cities...
and formed a new association. They chose the name Church of God. The early leaders were ministers J. H. Parks, Steve Bryant,Tom Moses, and William Douglas. 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 "of the Mountain Assembly" to "Church of God" for identification and legal purposes in 1911. In 1917 the body was incorporated, and in 1922 headquarters were established in Jellico, Tennessee
Jellico, Tennessee
Jellico is a city in Campbell County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 2,448 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Jellico is located at . The city is situated amidst the Cumberland Mountains in the Elk Creek Valley, which runs perpendicular to the Tennessee-Kentucky state line...
.
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
Church of God of the Union Assembly
The Church of God of the Union Assembly is a small Holiness church which was organized in 1920 in Walker County, Georgia by dissidents from the Church of God Mountain Assembly. Its primary numerical strength appears to lie in the North Georgia and East Tennessee areas.The Founder of the Church of...
(org. 1920 in Jackson County, Georgia) and the Church of God of the Original Mountain Assembly
Church of God of the Original Mountain Assembly
The Church of God of the Original Mountain Assembly is a small holiness Pentecostal Christian body with roots in the late 19th century American holiness movement and early 20th century Pentecostal revival...
(org. 1946 at Williamsburg, Kentucky).
Doctrine
The church has drawn up a Church Covenant, and holds a twelve article Statement of Faith. Doctrines of the Church of God Mountain Assembly include:- the Bible as the inspired, infallible Word of God
- God in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Ghost
- the deity, virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial atonement, and bodily resurrection of JesusJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
- salvation by faith through regeneration by the Holy Ghost
- sanctification as a second work of grace
- the full Gospel, including divine healing and speaking in tongues
- water baptismBaptismIn Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
by immersion, The Lord's Supper as ordinances - the pre-millennial second coming of Christ
- In speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives them utterance and that it is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Ghost
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 along with a wonderful entrance sign created by, that destroyer of gas lines, and new best friend of Tom Rose, the man, the myth, the legend: Ron Tomlinson . Also the world headquarters office is 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 KissimmeeKissimmee, Florida
Kissimmee is a city in Osceola County, Florida, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 59,682. It is the county seat of Osceola County...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.