Ken Treybig Website
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Ken Treybig Home Page

Last Updated: Friday, June 14, 2013

Welcome to my Web site.  I'll use it to post some information about the local congregation of Church of God, a Worldwide Association I have the pleasure of serving. The URL for our local East Texas congregation is http://easttexas.cogwa.org. We webcast services as well, but the church policy is that all webcasts must be password protected. So if you're interested you'll have to email me for the password.

After our organizational conference January 9-11, 2011 in Louisville, KY, I was asked to help with our Internet presence and have been working with a group of developers ever since. The temporary website was replaced with a more professional site Google Analytics tells us we had 1.9 million page views in 2011 by just shy of 120,000 unique visitors -- a whole lot more people than our attendance, so that is encouraging.

As of early January 2012 we have 81 United States and international congregations linked to sub-domain sites. Our member, camp and Feast of Tabernacles websites all served us well last year, as well as our online camp and Feast registration systems. A Ministerial Website went online in the middle of last year to provide a resource for forms and material useful to pastors and elders.

As noted below, on June 11, 2012, on the first day of our Ministerial Conference in Dallas, our new public proclamation website officially went live! After many months of planning by a number of people and a lot of guidance from a recent hire in the office, William Beech, it was great to see the site go live. William was very instrumental in the design of the new site into seven "silos" where more and more detail is explained in each area as readers go deeper and deeper in learning about the wonderful truth of the Bible. The site is http://lifehopeandtruth.com/ and we have been very encouraged by the growth in visitors and the amount of attention it has been given by search engines--even in its infancy. Check it out if you have not already done so. You can also sign up now to make an LHT start page the home page for your browser. Check it out here.

The COGWA Youth Camp website is at http://camps.cogwa.org. Registration is handled online for the preteen and teen camps and for the young adult Challenger program.

The Feast website is at http://feast.cogwa.org. Registration began June 5 and went very well.

The Member website is at http://members.cogwa.org.

Foundation Institute is as http://foundationinstitute.org.

Foundation Outreach International is at http://www.foundationoutreachintl.org/.

Upcoming Activities:

• June 15 - Services, Orr Elementary
• June 17 - Deacon/Elder meeting, 7 PM
• June 22 - Services, Boys & Girls Club
• June 23 - Teen Lake Activity
• June 29 - Services, Orr Elementary, Camp Carter Staff Training
• June 30 - July 7 - Camp Carter
• July 6 - Services, 
• July 13 - Services, 
• July 20 - Services, 
• July 27 - Services, 
• August 3 - Services, Houston Preteen Staff Training
• August 4-7 - Houston Preteen Camp
• August 10 - Services, 
• August 17 - Services, 
• August 24 - Services, 
• August 31 - Services, 

Feast Registration

Online Feast registration begins Sunday, April 14, at 11 AM Central time (noon Eastern) on the Feast website at http://feast.cogwa.org.

Updates

Several exciting updates were announced the week of February 8. The Foundation Institute Continuing Education Seminar for June 2013 reached capacity and a waiting list has been established. Demand has been strong so they are considering an additional 5-day seminar for July if there is sufficient interest. Plans are in the works this year to create several booklets, and a printed booklet is planned for mailing to all COGWA members around Passover time. In addition, a new outreach organization, Foundation Outreach International, was announced this week. It is a separate 501(c)3 organization that will help fund humanitarian programs around the world. A website will be ready soon (http://www.foundationoutreachintl.org/) and there are already plans for 2013 to fund programs, including camps and educational scholarships in needy areas.

More details are available in the February 7, 2013 weekly video update: http://members.cogwa.org/news/in-accord/february-7-2013.

Young Adult Leadership Weekend

Another synchronized Young Adult leadership training weekend is being done February 16-17, 2013. The main site is Dallas, TX, but there will be satellite sites in Branson, MO; Los Angeles, CA; and Twin Cities, MN. Go to http://members.cogwa.org/yalw for details.

Foundation Institute Online

For the first time ever, classes from the Church's educational program will be offered to members everywhere. Mr. Richard Thompson's "Harmony of the Gospels" class was chosen as the first class to be offered to be streamed each Wednesday night at 8 PM Central time. To view the weekly class, you must sign up at http://foundationinstitute.org/online. Registration and textbook information is available in the right sidebar of that page.

Streaming video is available in low (the default) or high resolution. There is also an "Audio only" feed available for those with a slower internet connection. The class will run every Wednesday evening until the class is complete--probably about the end of the school year.

Feast

The Feast in Pigeon Forge, TN has been wonderful this year--as I'm sure it has been in other places as well. Sermons from Pigeon Forge and St. Augustine, FL are being uploaded and posted on the Feast website during the Feast. Just go to the http://feast.cogwa.org page to listen to them.

Young Adult Leadership Weekends

I'm very excited to see the first ever synchronized Young Adult leadership training weekend done simultaneously in three locations across the country--Atlanta, GA; Columbus, OH; Portland, OR--on the weekend of November 3-4, 2012 and again in Dallas, TX the weekend of February 15-17, 2013 (Presidents Day Weekend). We've created a special set of web pages and a registration system for the November weekend locations and hope many of our young adults will take advantage of the great opportunity for fellowship and learning in serving the Body of Christ.

You can access the main page at: http://members.cogwa.org/yalw. Then clicking on any of the three city photos will take you to the page with specific information for each of them and a link from which you can register for the event. NOTE: There is a registration fee for each site to cover costs of various activities, in addition to the cost for housing, as you'll see when you read the details on each page. 

Feast Youth Lessons

September 14 - The COGWA Youth Instruction page for the fall feast lessons was unveiled today! There are 21 lessons at http://feast.cogwa.org/cyi. There are also zipped files for download that have the various segments grouped--and one big zip file (8MB) that contains ALL the files. Feel free to download and use to help teach your children about the incredible lessons we can learn from the fall feasts.

Wow! I can't believe it has been six months since I posted ANYTHING on my personal website. Life has been incredibly busy--and remains so. Right now (August 12, 2012) I'm trying to finish up the final choir rehearsal part for the four songs the choir will sing this year during the Feast at Pigeon Forge, TN. We have over 80 who have volunteered to sing, so I took the opportunity to include a couple of numbers that I believe will have a great impact with a large group--including the very moving "The Hallelujah Chorus". I'll include a few updates below.

New Public Proclamation Website

Our new public proclamation website, http://lifehopeandtruth.com was launched during the Ministerial Conference held in Richardson, TX June 11 and 12, 2012. Since many of our African ministers are unable to get visas to travel the U.S. the conference was taken to them, resulting in a new event in recent Church history, an all-African Ministerial Conference.

Reports on these and other recent events can be found in the July and August members letters at http://members.cogwa.org/news/ and in the weekly video updates provided by the administration and posted on the Member website at http://members.cogwa.org/news/in-accord/.

Board and Administration Meetings

The Ministerial Board of Directors met in early December 2011 in Orlando and had a very productive set of meetings. Following the meetings MBOD Chairman Joel Meeker sent a report in the Weekly Update that outlined the decisions that were made. The full report can be found on the Member website by going to http://members.cogwa.org and clicking on the MBOD graphic on the upper right of the page. Or the direct link to the report is: http://members.cogwa.org/organization-leadership/reports/.

Since the board had the documents to review and communicate about since Thanksgiving, unanimous approval was given for the strategic plan, operations plan and financial plan (budget).

Results were also given of the ranking of the six cities that were suggested and studied as potential locations for our main or central office. Dallas came out at the top of the list--just one point of ahead of Atlanta and a few points ahead of Houston. The MBOD approved the recommendation that we go with the city that had the factual top numbers and approved a name for the office. The headquarters for COGWA will therefore be in the Dallas area.

The Morals and Ethics Assessment Committee was also selected and are comprised of the following long-time elders:

Mike Blackwell
Larry Neff
Mike Hanisko
Les McCullough
Paul Suckling

Thank you for your prayers for peaceful, productive and successful meetings. Those prayers were definitely answered.

Ministerial Board of Directors (MBOD) Meetings

December 4 - The Ministerial Board of Directors (MBOD for short) will have their required face-to-face meetings this week in Orlando, FL, beginning on Monday. There are a number of important items on the agenda--discussing and deciding on the administration's suggestion (based on a task force's recommendation) for a city in which to locate our central office and discussing and deciding on the strategic plan, operation plan and financial plan (budget) for next. I personally expect some good, but respectful discussions to take place and would appreciate your prayers for God's inspiration and direction. I think Mr. Joel Meeker's comments, Chairman of the MBOD, are very precise and appropriate. “Beginnings are important and delicate times. As we continue to pose a foundation for our part in God’s work for the years to come, we ask that you join your prayers to ours that our Father in heaven will guide us to understand and fulfill His will in each decision that must be made.”

Update on Governance Structure

November 4 - It was noted in today's member letter that the MBOD had a webinar meeting on Monday and selected Joel Meeker as their chairman.

October 5 - The results of the special election to replace three vacancies on the Ministerial Board of Directors (MBOD) were announced today. The vacancies were created when Jim Franks, Doug Horchak and Clyde Kilough accepted positions on the administration and were required to step down from the MBOD. The three men selected by ballots of elders are, in alphabetical order:

David Baker
Arnold Hampton
Larry Salyer

The complete MBOD is now comprised of:

David Baker
Arnold Hampton
Joel Meeker
Richard Pinelli
Larry Salyer
Richard Thompson
Leon Walker

East Texas Meeting Place

We recently learned that our normal meeting place for the COGWA-East Texas congregation has changed their policy. The administration there loves us, but have apparently had some issues with other renters, so the board made the decision they will no longer rent to anyone. So we're looking for a hall again. We know God will provide and have already found several leads, and will have to decide soon which one to use. We appreciate any prayers on our behalf. 

Government Structure Updates

September 15 - It was announced today in a member letter that the board approved the president's proposal for operations managers and members of the Doctrine Committee. Those selected are:

Media - Clyde Kilough
Ministerial Services - Doug Horchak

Doctrine Committee:

• John Foster
• Bruce Gore
• Don Henson
• David Johnson
• Ralph Levy

September 1 - It was announced today that this week's meeting of the new board went smoothly and was very productive. They selected officers, established a task force to research where to locate a small office and had some initial discussions about going forward with fulfilling the Church's commission of preaching the gospel to the whole world. The officers selected are:

President - Jim Franks
Secretary - Dave Johnson
Treasurer - Jason Lovelady

On August 2 the Bylaws and Constitution for Church of God, a Worldwide Association were approved. On August 17 the Ministerial Board of Directors was selected from a group of 14 candidates that had been selected by the elders. The board members are:

Jim Franks
Doug Horchak
Clyde Kilough
Joel Meeker
Richard Pinelli
Richard Thompson
Leon Walker

Update on Camps

Challenger - Grand Canyon Trek - We had an excellent group of participants that bonded tightly from their first night together. They saw some weather extremes on their rim-to-rim hike, from 100+ temps down in the canyon to sleet and ice up on the rim. It was an exceptional year for our Challenger program and we thank God for His blessings.

Heritage - Camp was smaller this year than in the past, but that enabled us to enjoy some new activities that were difficult to do with a larger group, such as mountain biking and wood carving. The campers said they enjoyed the smaller feel and got to know know another much better. Again we were blessed with a safe and wonderful camp.

Sequoia - This camp is winding down this weekend (July 30-31) and is another new facility for us in the hills of CA surrounded by Sequoia National Forest. The highs were around 90 and the lows at night were in the low 50s, so that was excellent weather for sports and other activities in the day and their traditional campfire events in the evenings. The numbers were lower than in the past, but the campers took that as a challenge to get to know everyone there and it made for an excellent camp.

Strong Rock - Our new camp in the hills of northwest Georgia went extremely well. It's a new facility so everything is in wonderful shape, there has been a lot of rain so things were green and lush, and the campers were enthusiastic! The staff members were excited about serving God's young people and helping them build a relationship with God as well.

Carter - Our first teen camp at YMCA Camp Carter in Fort Worth was fantastic! We had 92 campers from a range of states and even though the temperature was in the triple digits each day, campers had a wonderful camp. As usual we did outdoor sports activities in the mornings and indoor or water activities in the afternoon. Add in a variety of evening open activities, dance and all camp events as well as varied Christian Living sessions in the evenings, and you have a recipe for a great time--especially when you have so many staff and campers all working to live by God's "honor code"!

Forest Glen - The preteen camp near Houston was a huge success in June! Just over 55 campers and 40+ staff had a great time at the camp in the Sam Houston State Forest. The mature trees and steady breeze all week helped make things more comfortable and the campers loved the "blob", Gaga ball and the twin zip lines as well as all the other more normal activities offered.

Tornadoes in Oklahoma and eastern seaboard area

Here is an update from Ministerial Services about tornadoes this weekend.

From Clyde Kilough, Todd Carey and Tim Waddle:

Many have been wondering how their fellow members have fared during the severe storms that travelled east over the last couple of days, spawning tornadoes that killed people from Oklahoma to the eastern seaboard.  We are happy to report that, to our knowledge, no members in the Carolinas or Virginia were hurt or suffered damage.  With 62 reported tornadoes, its worst outbreak of spring storms in two decades, North Carolina was hardest hit with 24 people killed (and the death toll still expected to rise).  The Raleigh brethren were in the middle of services when the tornado sirens went off.  After asking for God’s protection, they went into the downstairs part of the facility to wait out the storm’s passing, then resumed the Sabbath service.  We thank God for His protection, and thank you for your concern.  Once again, events like this remind us of the future day when there will be no such fear of destruction, and when those who have lost loved ones will see them again.

Regional Formal & Basketball

The 2011 regional teen prom and final regional basketball event of the season took place last weekend in Dallas. The teens had a great time at the prom, and the basketball games went well on Saturday night (for adults) and Sunday (adults and teens). After our two regional basketball events, the result were:

Camp Conference

To save money this year we had a scaled-down camp conference at the home of the Sargents in Kansas City. The dates are November 1-3 and we would appreciate your prayers for a successful set of meetings.

Here area a few photos.

Men's Leadership Weekend--North Texas

The weekend was GREAT! Check out the photos on the top of the page in the link below...

We’re trying something new—a men’s weekend for the North Texas churches! Have you noticed how it is politically incorrect these days to poke fun at almost any group—except for men that is. God established male and female roles for humans. If you’d like to join us to discuss the role of men (leadership, servanthood, marriage, and relationships), as well as build/strengthen bonds with your brothers in Christ in the North Texas area, why not join us for our 2010 Men’s Weekend? The date is the January 29-31, 2010 weekend and includes housing and all meals from Friday dinner to Sunday breakfast for the flat price of $55 per person—less than the cost of two nights stay in a budget motel.

The weekend is open to college age and older—single or married. We’ll be staying at the group camping area of Bonham State Park in 12-person dorms with bunk beds and will have seminars, discussion, church services, and a talent show/entertainment on Saturday night. Flyers and updated registration statistics are available at http://treybig.org/2010MensWeekend.htm or check your local congregation’s Information Center. Due to the holiday travel, the deadline has been extended to January 10.

Cost-Cutting Ideas

We received a few more cost cutting ideas for low-income individuals--for medicines and weatherization of homes. Click here or click the "Links" button on the menu system.

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