FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 2012
Contact
Eddie L. Brown COCHUSA Communications
(769) 218-8577 ebrown@brown-pr.com
(JACKSON, Miss.) – Nearly 1,600 delegates from across the U.S. will meet in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina for the 116th National Convention of the Church of Christ (Holiness) U.S.A. and the 72nd annual session of the denomination’s auxiliary, Sunday School and Holiness Youth Ministry Congress, beginning Wednesday, July 18 through Tuesday, July 25. All services and events will be held at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Convention Center in Durham (4700 Emperor Drive).
Bishop Vernon Kennebrew, Presiding Prelate of COCHUSA, says this year’s meeting in North Carolina is special to the denomination for many reasons; this is the first time in history delegates will meet in North Carolina— despite not having a COCHUSA congregation in the entire state, and every five years national conventions are held in Jackson, Miss., denomination headquarters. Though Jackson was the site of 2007 Homecoming Convention, Kennebrew said church officials thought North Carolina made more sense for 2012.
“We decided not to meet in Jackson because many of our delegates bring their families to our national conventions as a vacation. With the country’s economic climate having posed such challenges for families over the last five years, we felt hosting our meeting in North Carolina made more sense –financially— for families to travel. This is a first for COCHUSA and for North Carolina. We look forward to a great time during our visit” says Kennebrew.
Kennebrew says the tone during this year’s convention is for attendees to move forward in serving communities with excellence and to encourage the delegation to keep in mind the 2012 denomination theme, “Holy Ghost Power: Access Granted.”
Kennebrew also said he expects to address the delegation — who represent more than 15,000 members in more than 165 congregations across the U.S., Dominican Republic and West Africa— regarding matters of personal holiness and President Obama’s recent support of same-sex marriages.
Convention highlights for the week include a young adult ministry events, a music concert, evening worship services; a 24-hour Prayer Vigil; Early Morning Prayer Services; Youth Bible Quiz, Music, and Scholarship competitions; workshops for men, women and youth, a music academy, a regional Choral Music Festival, and an Incredible Children’s Convention, for children ages 6-12, which focus on Jesus Christ as Mr. Incredible.
For Media, contact Eddie L. Brown, Jr. at (601) 918-4038 or e-mail ebrown@brown-pr.com
