Is the pope Pentecostal? TULSA, Okla. -- Kenneth Copland Ministries of Fort Worth, Texas, in January received a personal message from Pope Francis that Church of God members should be aware of. So says Steve Tremble, a Journal reader in Oklahoma who said the video-based communication between the two churchmen was "historic" in the context of Bible-prophecy fulfillment. "I personally talked to an attendee of the conference to confirm that happened," Mr. Tremble told The Journal, "and he said this is truly a historic conference." Mr. Copeland, 77, is said to be part of the Word of Faith and Pentecostal movements, preaching a "prosperity and abundance" gospel message. The links Mr. Tremble referred to are accessible at tinyurl.com/copeland6667 and tinyurl.com/copeland6668. Mr. Tremble urged caution when viewing the linked video because of what he described as the intense nature of the pope's demeanor. "I believe it is important to be aware of this event and check out these links for yourself,"he said. "Shalom." With one accord ALLEN, Texas -- The February 2014 issue of One Accord, the magazine of the Church of God a Worldwide Association (CGWA), reports that church president Jim Franks visited India recently. The purpose of Mr. Franks' trip was, in part, to lay plans to "connect all the members in India to a church service over the Internet at least once a month." The 16-page magazine is available as a PDF at the church's Web site. See members.cogwa.org. The recent issue includes articles about the CGWA's winter family weekend, a youth summer camp in Chile, how to explain biblical beliefs to an unbelieving spouse, poetry in the Bible and news of CGWA congregations. The CGWA (known informally as Cogwa) began in late 2010. One Accord's staff includes managing editor Elizabeth Cannon Glasgow, copy editor Becky Bennett and doctrinal reviewers Neil Hart, Jack Hendren, Steve Moody and Frank Pierce. See a photo of CGWA president Jim Franks on page 1 of this issue of The Journal. | 