Welcome to The Church of God of North Carolina. The “of North Carolina” was added to our name to distinguish us from so many hundreds and even thousands of churches which call themselves “The Church of God.” We are committed to sticking to the original teachings and practices as they were taught by Jesus Christ. These are outlined in the New Testament and charged to His Church to be taught and practiced by us until He comes. These teachings were fully endorsed and practiced by our first General Overseer, Bishop A. J. Tomlinson, our second General Overseer, Bishop M.A. Tomlinson and others who loved The Church of God. Bishop A. J. Tomlinson discovered or found the Church in a place in Cherokee County, North Carolina known as the Fields of the Wood on June 13, 1903. In 1923 The Church was continued under his leadership when he stood almost single handed against a departure from theocratic government when the majority left it. Initially only six people signed the declaration to stand for the TRUTH no matter the cost. We are now doing the same thing and anyone who has not broken their covenant with the Lord is welcome to endorse the original teachings of the Church and be a part of this continuation of “The Church of God.” The TRUTH must be measured by the Bible, rather than man’s ideas and opinions. She must have LOVE for everyone regardless of race, nationality or the color of their skin and accept people for who they are. The chief ingredient must be LOVE and the road map She must follow is the Bible with the Holy Ghost guiding Her on course. If these things are missing you must keep looking until you find the unity in the spirit and harmony, walking by the same rule, speaking the same thing and looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

This Church belongs to Jesus, not to anyone else and the Assembly must remain the Highest Tribunal of Authority under Heaven in order to find the government of God and keep it in its purest form. Our superintending force must be the Holy Ghost. We are ready to embrace all who subscribe to these beliefs and practices and walk in the light as He is in the light. Christ purchased the Church with His blood according to Acts 20:28 and she will be perfected by His plan not that of men! He is coming back after a finished work. That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26, 27 The part we must play in this is to preach the Word and LOVE one another while feeding the sheep the WORD OF GOD instead of vain philosophies.

Our first General Overseer, Bishop A. J. Tomlinson said these words “Don’t let any of your powers remain inactive use all you have for The Church of God” and for years they were on the wall in the “First Assembly House”. Let me ask you today to consider these words again and as he started over in 1923, after loosing everything. So, let us start over with the same zeal of the Lord driving us all over the world. Once again we have lost buildings, markers, bank accounts and the like but we still have the most precious one in our hearts and that is Jesus Christ. He will take us safely to the shore because He is not sleeping in the lower part of the ship, “…the Lord knoweth them that are his…” II Timothy 2:19b

May the Holy Ghost of God guide you as you seek Him in 2008 for His divine will for your life and your work with His Church? The divisions have been many since 1991 and now there are six distinct groups and most everyone claims to have the divinely appointed leader that God has chosen to lead His Church but I can assure you “God is not mocked.” He is about to hiss and His sheep will hear His voice and another they will not follow. The prayer of Jesus in John 17 yet remains unanswered, Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17: 20.21 He is the Chief Shepherd and we are the sheep of His pasture! My desire is that we come together in ONE in 2008 and that shall be my continuing prayer as we reach out to souls that are lost. Our focus must not be on divisions but on lost souls and the rescue of the perishing!

John A. Wilkins, Jr.
International Overseer