Cary Church of God Missions: From Six to 176

Cary Church of God, in Eastern North Carolina, is experiencing an ever enlarging vision of their call to minister at home and to the uttermost parts of the earth. Senior Pastor Richard Dial relates that the church started short term missions trip involvement ten years ago with six (6) people from a 200 member church. This year, 2003, the church sent 176 people out of an 893 member church.
Health Center built by Cary COG. The church is planning to sponsor a doctor to work out of this facility.

After three (3) years of involvement, Pastor Dial felt directed of God to develop a strategic plan to find a place and go there with long range plans. He and Ecuadorian National Overseer Angel Mendoza targeted the region around the largest populace city of Guayaquil. For the last seven years, the church has given most Sunday morning offerings for ministry outside of their local church walls. This primary source of funding has enabled them to buy land and construct ministry centers such as a Health Center and churches throughout Guayaquil.

The 2003 trip included two (2) construction teams, a 45 member medical team, four (4) evangelism teams who conducted two (2) children’s crusades, ministered in elementary through college school assembly programs, conducted street drama evangelism, gave an outreach musical concert and conducted outreach ministry to gangs. They held a two (2) night crusade with around 1,750 in attendance and conducted a Praise & Worship Leaders Conference, as well as a Youth Pastor’s Conference. In all, they prayed with approximately 1,650 people in decisions for Christ.

Much planning and preparation goes into each trip. Each person is responsible for their own financing. Many family members and friends sponsor the 30 – 40 9th grade and above youth, the young adults, adults and seniors who accept the challenge to carry the gospel.

Pastor Dial tells of the miraculous way God is using the trip’s participants. The head of housekeeping at the hotel where they have stayed the past five (5) years heard that there were medical doctors in the group. She stopped the Torres, a couple in the church and asked about an eye doctor. They explained to her that there was not an eye doctor in the group, but theybelieved in healing from God. The Catholic lady accepted their invitation for prayer. Suddenly, she fell out in the Spirit. When she came to herself, she asked, "What was that? Now I can see!" This story spread quickly throughout the hotel staff. They began stopping team members and asking for prayer.

A local church with a missions vision for Jerusalem and to the "uttermost parts of the earth" can make a huge difference. Pastor Dial says that tangible good is accomplished but the relationships created are best of all.