The Philadelphia Church of God was founded Dec. 7, 1989, in Edmond, Okla., by Gerald Flurry with 12 members and $80 cash on hand. Since then it has grown to encircle the globe, with members in 72 countries, offices on every continent, and has freely distributed over 50 million pieces of literature.
The church traces its roots to the Worldwide Church of God under its founder, Herbert W. Armstrong. In Mr. Armstrong’s tradition, the PCG publishes the Philadelphia Trumpet magazine in print and online and a weekly television program, the Key of David.
The church sponsors a summer camp for teens, Philadelphia Youth Camp, in the U.S., Australia and the Philippines and a youth magazine, True Education.
Through the Armstrong International Cultural Foundation, the PCG sponsors humanitarian and cultural projects such as an archaeological dig in Jerusalem and a world-class concert series in Armstrong Auditorium at its Herbert W. Armstrong College campus in Edmond.
Gerald Flurry is a native Oklahoman born in Oklahoma City in 1935. He became a member of the Worldwide Church of God in 1961 and graduated from Ambassador College in Pasadena, California, in 1970. He then worked for the church’s editorial department and wrote for the Plain Truth magazine before becoming a minister in 1973.
When the church disowned its founder, Herbert Armstrong, and his teachings after his death, Gerald Flurry founded the Philadelphia Church of God in 1989, and serves as its Pastor General.
From 1997 to 2003, Mr. Flurry spearheaded an ultimately successful legal battle to obtain the copyrights to Mr. Armstrong’s most important literature so the church could print and distribute it for free.
Mr. Flurry founded Herbert W. Armstrong College in 2001 and Imperial Academy grade school in 2008. Mr. Flurry is also the face of the Key of David television program and is the editor in chief of the Trumpet newsmagazine.
The Philadelphia Trumpet began in February 1990. From its earliest editions, the Trumpet has focused on world news and its connection to biblical prophecies taught by the late Herbert Armstrong in the Plain Truth, which correctly forecasted the post-1945 rise of Germany and fall of the Berlin Wall.
In its first year of publication, the Trumpet pinpointed the importance of Middle East clashes and the biblical “king of the south.” In 1992, editor in chief Gerald Flurry pointed to Iran as this political power that would likely come to dominate Iraq and the entire region, eventually pushing against the “king of the north,” German-led Europe. The Trumpet also precisely predicted German cardinal Joseph Ratzinger would become the new pope. Its current forecasts on future world events are pending.
The print-edition Trumpet, now a full-color, 40-page newsmagazine produced 10 times per year, complements an online presence with unique content updated daily. Visit theTrumpet.com for more information.
The Key of David television program presents current news and Bible prophecy. Like the late Herbert Armstrong’s World Tomorrow, the program documents how modern nations are experiencing events that were described in advance by biblical writers.
With presenter Gerald Flurry, Key of David viewers investigate specific developments in Russia’s revival, Iran’s weapons, China’s economy, Europe’s ambitions, Washington’s politics, America’s morals and other current topics that the Bible emphasizes as material to the immediate future of America, Britain, Israel, Germany, Europe, Iran, Russia and China.
The program points to advanced newscasts recorded in the Bible that exhibit a spacious understanding of these modern states and their national and religious character. These Old and New Testament prophecies have a demonstrable track record of accuracy and relevance.
The Key of David television program, named after the key to understanding biblical nations and their current identities, shares this insight as to how Bible prophecies relate to current events today.