2007 Convention Review
July 2-7, 2007
Sheraton Hotel and
Convention Center
Overland Park, Kansas

Approximately 1,400 attended during Sabbath services. The following is a synopsis of convention week:
Attended by brethren from some 35 states, Canada, and 29 countries.

Devotional Speakers
Steve Kyner (Alfred, ND)
James Sawyer (Topeka, KS)
Jason Overman (Jasper, AR)
Julio Martinez (Montreal, Canada)

General Sessions
My Utmost for His Highest/My Best for the King (Larry Marrs and LITES)
The Sabbath Experience (Whaid Rose)
Wake Up Call / Youth Rally (Ken Davis)
Destined for Grace: CoG7 History (Calvin Burrell)

Worship Services
Richard Cress (VanBuren, AR)
Tim Endecott (Marion, IA)
Ken Lawson (Redmond, OR)
Whaid Rose (Denver, CO)
Ramon Ruíz (Monterrey, Mexico)
Robert Coulter (Denver, CO)

Business Session
Chip Hinds, Melvin Sweet, John Tivald, and Larry Zaragoza were elected to six-year terms on the board of directors.

Fraternal Delegates
Dr. Clarence Duff (Toronto, Ontario)
Dr. C. Wayne Cole (Tyler, TX), former executive of the WW Church of God)
Dr. Joe Samuels, president, Seventh-day Baptist World Federation
Pastor Ernest Ijames, Church of God Body of Christ (Mocksville, NC)
Elder Kenneth Ryland, president, Bible Sabbath Association and editor of the Sabbath Sentinel
Pastor Gilford Monrose, Mt. Zion Church of God, Brooklyn, NY

Tributes and Awards
    A special DVD tribute was presented in memory of Pastor Lynn Taylor, as well as of other Church leaders who died during the past biennium.
    On behalf of the IMC, Ramon Ruíz presented Robert Coulter and Bill Hicks with the first Shepherd’s Staff Award. Robert Coulter was recognized for his work in founding the IMC, and Bill Hicks was honored for his current outstanding work with the IMC through Missions Abroad.
    The 2007 Churchmanship Award was presented, posthumously, to Emogene Coulter for her outstanding service as a layperson. Robert Coulter received the award on her behalf. The 2007 Churchmanship Award was also presented to Harvey and Barbara Fischer for excellence in service and many years of faithful churchmanship.

Foreign Delegates
    A unique feature was the gathering of the International Ministerial Congress in conjunction with the convention. The Sabbath morning service was devoted to welcoming the IMC delegates, and it featured a dynamic message from IMC President Elder Ramon Ruíz.
    International Ministerial Congress Meets in Kansas Delegates from twenty-nine countries attended the 2007 International Ministerial Congress in Overland Park, Kansas, July 8 - 11. The Congress brings together member conferences from around the world with the purpose of promoting doctrinal harmony and coordinating the evangelistic efforts of the global church.
    When plans for the quadrennial congress meeting to convene in Brazil (later planned for Mexico) failed, it finally met here in the U.S. at Overland Park.
    Major items on the agenda included a study document on “Other Days” and the full revision of the Congress bylaws.
    New officers were elected: President, Ramon Ruíz Garza (Mexico); First Vice President, Calvin Burrell (USA); Second Vice President, Henry Harley (Jamaica); Secretary, Jacobo Gonzales (Mexico) and Treasurer, Carlos Ceron (Mexico).
    Several new countries were admitted to full membership in the Congress, expanding the global presence of the Church of God (Seventh Day) even further. They include the Bahamas, Cameroon, Congo, Malawi (Central Africa), Poland, Rwanda, Sierra Leon, and Zambia.