May-June 2006
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Events past
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Youth-led service: Services held on Dec. 18 at Fountain of Life in Washington, PA, were conducted by the 14 youths, ranging age 7 to the mid-teens. Each one read a scripture, starting with the fall of humanity in Genesis, the Law in Exodus, prophecies of the Messiah in Isaiah and Micah, ending in Matthew and Luke with the announcement of the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ. We had special music with Shannon Hampton, age 16, singing Ave Maria in Latin. Victoria Davis, 10, and Marlie Mounts, 9, played piano solos, and all the youths sang traditional Christmas songs. Greg Smiley sang "Mary Did You Know." Don Davis |
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New hall for Houston church: After a long search for a building or meeting hall that would fulfill the needs of our church, God has blessed Community Christian Fellowship with a wonderful new home. We began Sunday church services on March 5 in Rivas Reception Hall, in an area that we feel will be conducive to Christian outreach.In the inaugural service, worship leader Sylvester Washington stated that this was not a new beginning but rather a "moving forward" of God’s church and a good reason to celebrate. Special music was performed by David and Donald Jackson, who sang an original composition exalting Christ. They invited everyone to join in singing the final chorus.
Johnny Mays and John Flores received many thanks from the congregation for their work on the search committee that led to this hall. Because of their diligent search, we now have plenty of room for growth. We are happy and excited to walk through this door that God has opened up, for we know that God has perfect timing. Jesse Soto |
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Black History Month: Christ Community Church of Cincinnati, Ohio, has celebrated Black History Month for the past ten years. Each Sunday in February, a highlight from African-American history is presented during worship services. African-American history is shared through lecture, characterizations, poetry, song and more. This year our focus was the civil rights movement. We hosted a dance at the beautiful Belvedere Roof Garden Room and closed our celebration with a southern style dinner social featuring guest gospel artists "The Anointed Sons of God" and guest speaker Samuel Willis, from a WCG church in Indianapolis.Our February event was well attended by family, friends and former members, and the last Sunday we had 190 in attendance. Our Black History committee (Robert Bollman, Marjorie Collier, Sandra Hamilton, Treva Pryor and Cheryl Worrell) coordinated the program, and our church family made it flourish. Our mission is "to honor Black Heritage through illustrations of how cultural diversity is just one of God’s beautiful creations." We had an enriching and successful program and we look forward to next year. Sandra Hamilton |
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Underground Railroad quilt: At Grace Christian Fellowship (Longview, TX), this is our fourth year of making February a special month of devoting our worship services to Black history. Mrs. Ida Robinson has coordinated the service, and invited special guests to speak or perform at services. This year, four ladies (Joyce Barns, Juanita Dean, Dorothy Robnett, and Debbie Taylor) from The Mims Chapel United Methodist Church helped Joyce Hewitt and Ida Robinson make a sampler quilt of the Underground Railroad, using examples from the book Hidden in Plain View.Joyce Hewitt has given talks at our church, some local schools, the Rotary Club, and other churches about this quilt and what we have learned about the history of the African-American people since David Orban started this program four years ago. It has given us an opportunity to tell about our journey in the WCG, the gospel, and the changes we have made to become more active in our community. The Longview News Journal carried an article with three photos of the quilt. It was displayed at Longview’s historical museum for one week, and will be displayed at the Quilt Show in Jefferson next January. Charlie Hewitt |
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Freedom in Christ: The New Life Christian Fellowship of Indianapolis hosted a Black History Program. Arlene Beckam and her family helped host the program, and eight of her family members attended. She spoke, saying that although Blacks have encountered various forms of injustice, Blacks have no reasons not to become strong Christians who go out and touch others, just as Jesus did.Arlene’s sister, Sefrenia Beckam-Hubbard, said how she has appreciated how the church has been there for her family. She sang two songs, and she and her daughter, Kela Hubbard, presented the pastor, David Perry, with flowers. The assistant pastor, Al Tolison, his wife, Marilyn, his son, Chris, his son’s wife, Niki, and Al’s daughter, Michelle Mosley, sang two more songs. Mr. Perry then gave a sermon exhorting and encouraging the members. Just as Harriet Tubman escaped out of slavery to freedom and then went on to help over 300 other slaves escape to freedom, we should also help people who are enslaved to sin find freedom in Christ. Mr. Perry preached how God did not free us from the slavery of sin only for our own glory, but so we can bring glory to God, as well as other people. The church concluded with communion and a potluck. Arlene Beckam |
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Celebrating diversity: New Creation in Christ (NCC, St. Louis, MO) celebrated Black History month and glorified God by hosting a multicultural event Feb. 26. Our theme was "Celebrating Our Diversity in ONE." Our setting was an outdoor marketplace, which is how the women’s ministry (Women Equipped to Love, Lead and Serve) and the men’s ministry (Tree of Life) decorated our meeting hall. The marketplace consisted of six different cultures/countries, five of which came from within our racially diverse congregation. The coordinator of each table was either from that country or of that heritage or both. The countries/cultures focused on from NCC were Africa, Belize, Germany, Native American and Turkey. The sixth country, China, was represented by Rev. Ying Kit Wong and his congregation of the St. Louis Chinese Baptist Church. I approached Rev. Wong and Rev. Dr. Paul Walter of the Anglican Church of the Resurrection with an invitation to participate in our multicultural event. Both churches meet in the building in which we meet. I asked Pastor Wong to participate in every aspect of our event, which included organizing and managing a table representing China and the Chinese culture. We also invited all surrounding WCG congregations to come. Rev. Wong was so impressed with the event and our congregation that he suggested that we should have a multicultural event every year. One of the members from the Church of the Resurrection stated that he had grown up in Nazareth, very close to where Joseph was a carpenter. He and his son came to the event and contributed, in addition to their presence, the food dish hummus. Our program entertainment consisted of the Ten Tiger Lion Dance presented by Iron Dragon Hung Kuen with Instructor Sifu Wayne Skiver (on drum). Their performance was followed by Jim Mayhew, a scholar on Native American people and their culture, playing a Native American tune on several Native American flutes.
Our lunch consisted of multi-ethnic cuisines. Some of the attendees dressed in the cultural garb of any country/culture of their choosing, which enhanced the event. The most wonderful thing about this multicultural event was that God blessed us with crossing denominational and racial lines in unity. All glory to God! Pamela Harris |
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CCF took special interest in this mission because two of it own members, Raul and Paul Sifuentes, have been active participants on these mission trips. Mr. and Mrs. Sifuentes became involved with these missions when they were living in Mexico, but now they live in the Houston area and are missionaries to Mexico. They have represented the WCG as missionaries for the past eight years. ASF is a interdenominational medical/dental group whose primary purpose is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world, especially to the poor and the needy. ASF offers free medical and dental care, and an introduction to Jesus. Mexico has many extremely poor indigenous people living in villages spread throughout the mountains. Many are in desperate need of medical services due to malnutrition caused by poverty. Some villagers come with advanced cases of disease and birth defects. ASF staff members work in makeshift hospitals set up in the middle of the village. They perform surgery, remove tumors, and bandage wounds, doing all they can to heal the sick. They provide these services after a diligent and difficult set up of their medical gear. Many times they do not have sheltered facilities in which to perform these services. Clean up and disinfecting to prepare to serve can be hard work. While the medical and dental services are in progress, non-medical personnel distribute much-needed clothing, shoes, toys, and food—all without cost. In some villages, evangelizing is prohibited due to the influence of the local church. Then, ASF missionaries mention the name of Jesus Christ only when a patient thanks them for the free medical or dental care. A missionary will respond to a thank you with, "Thank Jesus Christ, it is he who brings me here to give you this care because he loves you." Many patients are moved to ask more, and are impressed by the sincere love that they see in action. When a village is not opposed to evangelization, ASF offers a "Clinic of the Souls," whose only duty is to evangelize the locals in one-on-one sessions. In his sessions, Mr. Sifuentes uses an EvangeCube that he supports with scriptures. The EvangeCube can be effective because it gives a clear illustration of God’s love for all humanity. (For more information on the EvangeCube, see http://www.evangecube.org/rstore/ecube.html.) Mr. Sifuentes reports that many miraculous healings, the casting out of demons, and miraculous interventions in difficult circumstances occur on many of the mission trips. While medical and dental care is being provided, evangelizing is conducted throughout the day. Christian music is played, Christian movies are shown, and ASF personnel let the light of Jesus shine through them to the many who come to receive the free services.
This missionary trip was composed of evangelical Christians from different churches and ethnicities, including: two from South Korea, one from Singapore, one from India, one from Belgium, one from Senegal, 1 from Mexico City, three from the WCG in Peoria, Illinois (Don and Josephine Hart and David Selander), and Mr. and Mrs. Sifuentes. Five doctors and four dentists were among these volunteers. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed. Prayers for the ASF are very helpful and appreciated as God directs these mission trips. Jesse Soto Update Mr. Sifuentes also went on a ASF mission trip in February 2006, and CCF again helped pay for the costs. He reports that on this latest trip the Lord accomplished the following:
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The day began with praise and worship. Donna Patillo spoke about “The Hope Within”; Deise Hunt recounted events in her life in “The Calm During the Storm”; Tricia Owens spoke on “The Heart – Our Hope Chest”; and Rilla Bowles spoke about “One Day at a Time.” In addition, segments by Nicole Johnson of Women of Faith – “Stretch Out Your Hand” and “Girlfriends” on DVD – were shown. The Tyler ladies provided gift bags, presented door prizes, and provided a potluck lunch for the visitors. Although it was a stormy day outside, the atmosphere inside was sunny. Several commented that this was the best one yet. Donna Patillo |
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New pastor installed: On March 5, Assistant Pastor Robert (Bob) White was installed as the new pastor of Grace Community Church (Salem, VA). District Superintendent Keith Brittain (shown at left with Bob and his wife Shirley) officiated at the ceremony and the service. Former pastor Everett Craft served the congregation well for 7 years and 9 months. He said that it was time for a change, so he was passing the baton to Bob. The service was held in the location the congregation has been renting since September 2005. There were 55 people in attendance that day. They enjoyed refreshments following the service. |
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Employee transitions: In January, the following personnel left our employ: Terry Akers (moving to part-time), Craig Bacheller, Roman Borek, Susan Earle (moving to part-time), Cora Guice, Bill Halbe, and Tim Spurgeon. In April, we said a sad farewell to several other part-time and full-time employees: Shirley Faulkner, Amelia Flores, Tom Hanson, Everett Leisure, Al Leiter, Bill Pixley, Joy Reese, Steven Rule, Tim Spurgeon, and Mark Stumpf. Some will continue to work until we are situated in our new offices. Dr. John McKenna has retired, but will continue to serve part-time. Dr. Russell Duke is moving from Azusa Pacific University to work full-time for Ambassador College of Christian Ministry. |
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| Ordinations |
The following people were ordained as elders in February and March: Vicente Bejo, Jr., Quezon City, Philippines William Boney, Jr., Wilmington, North Carolina Steven Brooks, Los Angeles, California Remigio Cruz, Santa Maria, Bulacan, Philippines John Graham, Los Angeles, California Carlos Pizarro, Quezon City, Philippines Ezra Raduban, Santa Rosa, Philippines Richard Rosario, Olongapo & Bataan, Philippines Milton Turcios, San Fernando, California |
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| Events future
Youth camps, sponsored by WCG Generations Ministries: May 26-29: Oklahoma June 11-14: Louisiana June 18-23: Ohio July 2-8: Colorado July 9-12: Louisiana pre-teen July 9-15: California July 11-16: Florida July 26-30: Pennsylvania July 30-Aug. 6: Illinois Aug. 7-12: South Carolina Aug. 20-26: Connecticut Aug. 20-27: Washington Sept. 1-4: Missouri For more information, see www.wcg.org/youth
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Summer Festival at Lago Maggiore, Italy The Italian church invites brethren and friends from all around the world to join them in this year’s Summer Festival. The location will again be Intra-Verbania, which is located on one of the most beautiful lakes in the world (http://www.lagomaggiore.net/uk). Dates are August 20-27. There will be worship services, seminars, prayer meetings, entertainment, dance, youth activities and excursions. John Adams, from the Union and Lakehurst, NJ, congregations, will be our guest speaker. Donat Picard, European Denominational Director, and Ross Jutsum, State of the Heart ministries, will also attend part of the time. Simultaneous translations will be provided in English. Cost per person per day in a three-star hotel (double occupancy, including breakfast and one meal) is 43 Euros (approximately 29.50 UK pounds, 51.50 US dollars). We have also booked rooms and a few apartments in a four-star hotel right on the lake. If interested, please request information package today: Worldwide
Church of God, CP 67, 24030 Brembate di Sopra (BG), Italy or in the US and Canada: Joseph
Caristi, 94 Belcher Rd., Blairstown, New Jersey, 07825, USA |
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U.S. Fall Celebrations Information to come from Charles Albrecht…
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Autumn Festival on Beautiful Majorca Island, Spain
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Estoril, Portugal The town of Estoril has been the chosen place for this year's Festival (Sept. 16-23). Estoril stands in one of Europe's most beautiful coastlines - once called the "Portuguese Riviera" - located between Lisbon and Cascais, and very close to Sintra and Cabo da Roca (Continental Europe's westernmost point, "where the land ends and the sea begins"). Accommodation will be in the Hotel Apartment Clube do Lago, where services in both English and Portuguese will be held. In addition there will be prayer meetings, workshops, group activities and a tour to historic Belém, from where the Portuguese departed for the 16-century discoveries - and there will be some free time. After all, Lisbon, just 30 minutes away by train, is worth more than one visit! For more information, costs and application form check the website www.idm.ptor send an e-mail to: festival2006@idm.pt If you wish to write or call the contacts are:
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Submitting Articles When submitting an article to Together, whether for an event past or an event future, please give us a phone number and/or email address where you can be contacted if we have last-minute questions. You can send articles and photos to Michael Morrison, P.O. Box 5005, Glendora, CA 91740-5005. If you include a self-addressed stamped envelope, we will return your photos to you. If you want to contact us by phone, dial 1-626-650-2363. Send email to michael.morrison@wcg.org and faxes to 1-626-650-2365. For changes of address, phone 1-800-924-4644. Thank you for sharing your announcements. We like to keep in touch. |
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Letters
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Dear Editor, I just had to write to let you know how happy and delighted I am with the changes in the Worldwide Church of God. The magazines are beautiful and in plain language that everyone who reads can understand. I love the history articles—some of us have been out of school. A long time and they refresh our memories and help us to love all races of people. This July 2 I will have been a member of the WCG for 31 years. I have ridden through the journey of legalism and the split in the church. I thank our Lord for the journey as it has taught me about God’s grace and mercy and unconditional love. I constantly pray for those still in the bonds of legalism. I am a farmer’s wife and mother of a large family, and by living up here in the mountains and being snowbound in the winter, I have had time to draw closer and closer to Jesus. He is my life! Thank you so much for the new Bible lessons (the Discovery series). I completed the old ones, but we really need these. I love and pray for each and every one of you that God has chosen to help bring the world to our blessed Savior. C. Rainville, New Hampshire Dear Editor, This is just a thank you for the article by Mr. John Halford in the February issue—"Objects in This Mirror." As an older member of the church, memories have a way of getting out of focus in our minds. Mr. Halford helped to put the past in the right perspective. J. Mullette, Connecticut. |
