God’s Work Advances—Again!

This Friday announcement will be different from all the ones before it and the others that will follow it. Next week, the pattern of announcements will grow even more explicit—and more serious—as to the fulfillment of Haggai’s prophecy. But you will also find this announcement more than interesting.

This morning and afternoon, The Restored Church of God held a very special ribbon cutting ceremony for our new Hall of Administration building. The ceremony took place under a beautiful summer sun, and those in attendance included numerous city officials, members of the community, representatives from the Chamber of Commerce, contractors, vendors, teenage children of members from around the world who are in the United States attending our youth camp and members from local media. Our dedicated staff, now numbering close to 100, also attended the event and helped provide the support for all the activities. The former mayor of Wadsworth (2004-2008), Congressman Jim Renacci, now the U.S. Congressional Representative of Ohio’s 16^th district, joined me in addressing the audience who were seated under a magnificent white tent to shield them from the sun. As a private citizen serving on the Wadsworth Board of Zoning Appeals, Congressman Renacci created the zoning environment that paved the way for the development of our campus. Also on the program and representing the current mayor Robin Laubaugh was the Wadsworth City Council President Tom Palecek. Mayor Laubaugh, who has been extremely helpful in our efforts to develop the campus, was unable to attend due to the birth of a new grandchild in another state.

In my brief address I shared some history of the Church, along with explaining the grand vision we have for our campus. I explained that, in late 2007, a property I had driven past for years in Wadsworth, I suddenly saw as perfect for all of our rapidly expanding needs, meaning five buildings it would have to contain. I envisioned a shimmering jewel befitting the Great God that would be visible—as a biblical “city set on a hill”—to literally hundreds of thousands every day on highways passing either side of what would become our “lower campus.” At the reception that followed, there was an air of genuine excitement that the city would benefit greatly from what we are doing. Soon hundreds of employees will join the already 100 who are here. Included below are a few photos from the event: