United Church of God facts for kids

Quick facts for kids United Church of God, an International Association
United Church of God Headquarters Building
Classification	Church of God
President	John Elliott (May 2025 – present)
Council Chairman	Tim Pebworth (May 2024 – present)
Region	International
Headquarters	Milford, Ohio
Origin	1995 Indianapolis, Indiana
Separations	Church of God, an International Community, Church of God, a Worldwide Association.
Congregations	~395
Members	~15,000+

The United Church of God, an International Association (often called UCG) is a Christian church with its main office in the United States.

The church uses the full name "The United Church of God, an International Association" to stand out from other groups with similar names. The UCG was started in 1995 by people who had been members of the Worldwide Church of God. Many of its beliefs are similar to those taught by Herbert W. Armstrong and the former Worldwide Church of God.

How the Church is Run

The UCG is led by a group of 12 people called the "Council of Elders." This council is chosen by all the church's ministers. The ministers meet once a year to approve the budget, make plans, and elect council members. The council makes decisions about the church's rules and beliefs.

The main office, called the "Home Office," is in Milford, Ohio. This office is managed by the church's president. The president is the main spokesperson for the church and handles daily tasks, like managing the ministers and creating books and magazines. The Council of Elders chooses the president.

What the Church Believes

The United Church of God shares some beliefs with other Christian churches. For example, they believe the Bible is inspired by God and that Jesus Christ was resurrected. However, some of their teachings are different from most Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant churches.

Key Beliefs of the UCG

• The Nature of God: They believe God the Father and Jesus Christ are two separate, eternal beings who make up the "God family." They teach that the Holy Spirit is the power of God, not a separate person.
• The Bible: They believe the Old and New Testaments are God's complete message to people. They see the Bible as the final authority for how to live.
• Satan the Devil: They teach that Satan is an enemy of God and humanity who tries to deceive people.
• Humanity: People are created in God's image and have the chance to become part of God's family. They believe humans are mortal and do not have an immortal soul.
• Sin and God's Law: Sin is defined as breaking God's law. They believe people need God's forgiveness to receive eternal life.
• The Sacrifice of Jesus: The belief that Jesus died for the sins of all people is a core part of their faith.
• Three Days and Three Nights: They believe Jesus was in the tomb for exactly three days and three nights, from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday evening.
• Baptism: Baptism by being fully immersed in water is an important step for believers. It is for people old enough to understand its meaning, so they do not baptize infants.
• The Sabbath Day: Members rest and worship on the seventh day of the week (Saturday), which they believe is a special day set aside by God.
• Religious Festivals: The UCG celebrates seven yearly festivals found in the Bible, such as the Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Tabernacles.
• Food Laws: They follow the food laws from the Old Testament, such as not eating pork or shellfish. They believe these rules are still for Christians today.
• Military Service: The church teaches that Christians should not take a human life. They discourage members from joining the military.
• God's Purpose for People: They believe God's plan is for people to become part of His divine family.
• The Church: The church is seen as the group of all believers who are guided by God's Holy Spirit.
• Tithing: Members are encouraged to give a "tithe," which is ten percent of their increase, to support the church. They are also taught to save a second tithe to help them attend the yearly festivals.
• Resurrections: They believe that when Jesus returns, faithful Christians will be resurrected to spirit life. Others will have a chance to learn God's way in a "Second Resurrection." Those who ultimately reject God will be destroyed, not tortured forever.
• Jesus Christ's Return: The UCG teaches that Jesus will return to Earth to set up a real kingdom and rule for 1,000 years.

Other Beliefs and Practices

The UCG believes that some modern Christian teachings were changed long ago and mixed with non-Christian ideas. They try to follow the practices of the original church from the time of Jesus and the Apostles.

Because of this, they do not celebrate holidays like Christmas, Easter, Valentine's Day, and Halloween. They believe these holidays have origins that are not from the Bible.

Ambassador Bible College

The church runs the Ambassador Bible College (ABC). It is a nine-month program for young adults. Students study the Bible, Christian living, and the church's main beliefs. The goal is to prepare them to be leaders and teachers in the church.

Spreading the Message

The UCG's mission is to share the "gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God" with the world. They use many types of media to do this, from social media to print magazines and television.

Some of their publications include:

• Beyond Today: A free magazine published every two months. It has articles on Bible prophecy, world events, and Christian life.
• The Beyond Today Television Program: A TV show that airs on several networks and is available online.
• Compass Check: A magazine for young people, published four times a year.
• The United News: A newsletter about events and news within the church.

The church also offers many free booklets, a Bible study course, and online seminars to help people learn more about the Bible.

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de Dios Unida, Una Asociación Internacional para niños

• Christian observances of Jewish holidays
• Christian views on the Old Covenant
• Restorationism