Bill Sidney at Bucay ground-breaking.
[Photo by John Zaprzala]
PASADENA--Legacy Partners, buyers of the headquarters property, informed members of the Pasadena City Council and administrative staff that a Pasadena-based high-tech corporation may buy and develop the property east of the freeway as its corporate headquarters.
The announcement was made during a walking tour of the property March 6. Legacy explained that any such use was at this stage only a proposal, albeit a serious one, and subject to the approval of a development plan from the city, according to church treasurer Bernie Schnippert.
According to controller Ron Kelly, Legacy pointed out that plans to develop a hotel are being dropped because no hotel operators have expressed sufficient interest. Legacy is continuing to develop plans for houses, apartments and condominiums, and possibly some senior housing, mostly on the west side. Development of office buildings on the west side is also less likely in favor of additional housing units.
One proposal Legacy has discussed for the Ambassador Auditorium is creating a bond financing plan that would allow the city to take possession of the auditorium. Other private financing options are also being discussed.
The four mansions on the property are to be restored and sold as private homes.
Legacy is still on track to complete escrow by their target of late 2000, according to Mr. Kelly.
PENTICTON, British Columbia--The Penticton congregation had its first baptism in years Jan. 15, according to pastor Bob Morton.
The congregation averages 20 or 25 each week in attendance, and consists primarily of senior citizens.
"I have been encouraging the members to see the need for local evangelism based on personal relationships," Mr. Morton said.
A member asked him to talk to her friend about baptism. Until 10 years ago she had fellowshipped with the Jehovah's Witnesses. Our member was able to gently, but effectively, over a period of two years, help her unravel some misunderstanding by giving her scriptures to read.
The result was that she was ready for baptism by the time Mr. Morton met her.
The member involved is disabled and lives on a meager disability pension. Yet she is the one God used to bring this new member to Christ, Mr. Morton said.
PASADENA--Lucious Smith, pastor of Pasadena's Friendship Baptist Church, spoke to the Pasadena A.M. congregation Feb. 26 in the Ambassador Auditorium.
Friendship Baptist is the oldest African-American church in Pasadena, and is adjacent to the headquarters facility.
While its facilities were being restored, the church met in the former Imperial School gymnasium.
"I just wanted to express to all of you the love and the thankfulness that the people of Friendship had," Pastor Smith said. "You helped us when we could not help ourselves. You were there for us at a time when we were in the greatest of need. And so, as the pastor, on behalf of the members of Friendship Baptist Church, we just extend our love to you and may God richly bless you in that which he has in store for you."
BUCAY ABRA, Philippines--The church in the Philippines planted a new congregation Feb. 13 in Bucay Abra, about a nine hour drive north of Manila.
We already have 34 baptized members there and more coming along, according to regional director Bill Sidney.
"They have been meeting under a tree, so when it rains we have to cancel church," Mr. Sidney said. "We are in the process of purchasing a hectare of land there and will construct a modest church that will also serve as a simple community center."
Mr. Sidney conducted a commissioning ceremony for Rey Torres, who works with a pastoral team, and had a ground-breaking ceremony for a church building. Preteens and teens did special music numbers.
The church will provide the materials, and the members will build the building of local materials with a thatched roof.
"The brethren there are poor, but they are enthusiastic," Mr. Sidney said, "and it is amazing to have a
church way out in the boondocks like that."
Bill Sidney at Bucay ground-breaking.
[Photo by John Zaprzala]
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Pastor General Joseph Tkach attended the board meeting for the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), as well as their annual conference March 6 to 8 in Washington.
The NAE annual conference was combined with the annual conference of the Alianza de Ministerios Evangelicos Nacionales (AMEN), the Spanish language equivalent to the NAE.
This simultaneous summit was arranged to build strategic and relational unity.
"It was again clear that other denominations are dealing with the same problems that we are, and in some cases they are dealing with problems that we don+t have to contend with," Mr. Tkach said. "Many denominational leaders expressed to me their joy in our courage and commitment to the gospel, and told me that they are praying for us."
Mr. Tkach was nominated to serve on the membership committee for the NAE board.
The NAE is moving its headquarters from Chicago, Illinois, to Glendora, California. The World Relief Corp. of the NAE will remain in Chicago, and the governmental affairs office for NAE will remain in Washington.
World Relief Corp. works with churches around the world to provide services to help the poor. In the United States they partner with congregations to provide refugee ministries (addressing resettlement needs, citizenship classes and English language training) and urban ministries. You can view their website at www.worldrelief.org.
EVERETT, Washington--After hearing a Christian radio program about children accessing hard core pornography in libraries through Internet terminals, members Don and Carol Tuttle of Everett joined in picketing the Bellevue Public Library.
Carl Ulsky, another Everett member, was invited to appear on a radio station to address the main issues of this topic.
With the encouragement of pastor Bill Miller, several members attended library board meetings to express their concerns.
The American Library Association is trying to influence the nation's libraries that "all material must be made available to all persons regardless of their age or the content of material."
Many victories have already been accomplished. About 1,000 libraries are now filtering their Internet sites.
For more information contact the following:
American Family Association: http://www.afa.net
Family Friendly Libraries: http://www.fflibraries.org
Enough Is Enough: http://www.enough.org
Filtering Facts: http://www.filter ingfacts.org
Citizens for Community Values: http://www.safeplace.net/ccv
Stop Now: 1-800-252-6055. Carl Ulsky.
WHITE LAKE, North Carolina--More than 30 young adults gathered at White Lake Feb. 5 and 6 for a retreat.
Jonathan Stepp, assistant pastor of the Fayetteville, North Carolina, congregation, kicked off the weekend with a talk on a method of combining the spiritual disciplines of study, prayer and meditation.
Saturday evening, the mix of singles and married couples watched The Spitfire Grill and discussed the spiritual themes that ran throughout this award-winning film.
Sunday morning, some of the young adults rose early to participate in a small group discussion of the spiritual discipline techniques learned the night before.
Later in the morning an open forum discussion of young adults ministry issues took place. Later, the group enjoyed a praise and worship service that included a message given by Micah Royal, a member of the Fayetteville congregation, who is working on a bachelor's degree in Christian ministry at Campbell University.
All young adults from 18 to 35 are invited to attend these weekend retreats. The next one is planned for June. Please contact Tomra and Shane Bazer at bazers@aol.com if you would like to be notified of future young adult activities in the Mid-Atlantic region.
Young adults at North Carolina retreat
KANSAS CITY, Kansas--Kansas City South will be host for singles activities Memorial Day Weekend, May 27, 28 and 29.
Activities will include a worship service, evening talent show and potluck, then trips to area attractions on Sunday. Come enjoy fellowship with singles of all ages and other area brethren.
For more details and to register, please contact Jennifer Fink at 1-785-550-8335 or by e-mail at jfink@ukans.edu by April 28.
Mike & Louise Harkins
MEDFORD, New Jersey--Mike and Louise Harkins began to offer praise and worship in their home in February 1999.
Attendance runs regularly between 15 and 19. They meet at least twice a month on the first and third Saturday evenings.
After about two months, a friend of Mrs. Harkins, who is not a member of any church, attended the service. A week later she learned she had a lump in her breast that the doctor said looked serious. He told her to return for testing.
She came to the next praise and worship in tears. At the end of the evening, several gathered around her and asked God for a miracle of healing.
She went for the test and nothing was found. But the doctors knew a lump showed in the mammogram and insisted that she return. She did, and after three hours of examination by several doctors, no lump was found.
They insisted that there was a lump and scoffed when she said her friends had prayed for her. She returned for a third round of tests, and after nothing was found, she was dismissed. They simply said there was no lump.
On another occasion, Denise Brown, a WCG member, had severe pain in one foot. She had suffered with spurs in her foot for years. They prayed for healing, and then continued the praise and worship meeting. At the snack break, she stood up and had no pain. She has been pain free since that day. She said that she had limped for so long that she continued to limp at her place of employment until she broke the habit.
One woman was miraculously healed of what appeared to have been a permanent injury. She had fallen and broken her arm and it had been in a cast for about four months. She had minimal use of the arm.
"I had gone outside to warm the car to drive the lady home," Mr. Harkins said. "While I was absent, two WCG members, Jackie Pate and Jim Zaleta, were moved to pray for her. When I went back into the house to get her, she was beaming because her arm had been totally healed."
DES MOINES, Iowa--The Des Moines congregation plans to celebrate its 35th anniversary June 17.
Former pastor Bill Quillen and his wife, Lois, will be guests. All current and former WCG members who have attended in Des Moines are invited.
Services will be at Evangel Chapel Foursquare Church, 4019 E. 42nd St., Des Moines, at 10:30 a.m. followed by a potluck picnic at Easter Lake Park, Shelter No. 1. For details contact Marvin and Betty Katzer at 1-515-382-5273 or by e-mail at katzerb@midiowa.net They invite personal messages from anyone unable to attend.
LINCOLN, Nebraska--The Lincoln congregation celebrated its 20th anniversary Jan. 29.
The congregation sent out more than 80 invitations to members and former members.
"We wanted this to be a time of reunion, reconciliation and celebration," said pastor Duane Marquis.
"The most wonderful surprise was when a family that had left the church more than nine years ago came for the entire service and social afterward," Mr. Marquis said. "Everyone welcomed them with open arms, hugs and tears of joy." Duane and Alberta Marquis.
Duane & Alberta Marquis
PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia--Members of the 1976 U.S. bicentennial coast-to-coast bike tour will celebrate their 25th anniversary with a book--"Where Are They Now?"
If you were part of this 100 person team led by Larry Haworth and Ambassador College students from Big Sandy who cycled from Fort Astoria, Oregon, to Virginia Beach, Virginia, send e-mail to Lister Chen at Lister_Chen@bc.sympatico.ca, call 1-250-964-3849 or write to him at 8113 Princeton Cres., Prince George, B.C., Canada, V2N 3V6.
Dennis and Lorraine Pelley transferred to Pasadena, where Mr. Pelley pastors the Pasadena A.M. congregation.
They previously served the Providence, Rhode Island, and Norwich, Connecticut, congregations.
The Los Angeles, California, and Richmond, Virginia, congregations were left out of the list in the March WN of congregations pastored by Curtis May.
BRANSON, Missouri--District superintendents and Church Administration managers met here Feb. 29 to March 2 for the first of their biannual meetings in 2000.
This was an initial step, in which the group will meet in various locations in the United States because of the sale of the Pasadena property.
Pastor General Joseph Tkach presented the keynote address followed by a series of questions and answers. Other discussions included continued developments in the superintendent structure, planning sessions and congregational administration.
In preparation for the conference, the district superintendents each completed a written and oral interview administered by the Association of Theological Schools in North America. Francis Lonsway, the association+s director for student information resources, discussed the findings with the group in Branson.
In his presentation, Dr. Lonsway presented a district superintendent group profile of the ministry. Dr. Lonsway also conducted private interviews in which he discussed individual profiles with the superintendents.
After the denominational meetings the participants joined 3,000 pastors and spouses at a retreat for pastor couples sponsored by Gary Smalley. In addition to Dr. Smalley, speakers included Rick and Kay Warren as well as Jack Hayford and H.B. London.
Worship and drama were also incorporated into all of the sessions, which emphasized communication aspects in marriage. It was an inspiring event as 3,000 allies in Christ studied, prayed and worshiped together. Susi Albrecht.
PASADENA--The dates for the district ministerial conference in Dallas, Texas, have been set for Aug. 18-20.
As with the other conferences, it is open to members.
NORFOLK, Virginia--New Creation Community Church (the Norfolk WCG congregation) worshiped with the Filipino Christian Church in Norfolk, Jan. 23.
It is an annual event for the Filipino Christian Church to extend an invitation to congregations from the black community to worship with them at that time of the year. The theme was reconciliation.
Timothy Brassell, New Creation Community Church pastor, gave the main message, titled Jesus and His Coat of Many Colors. He read excerpts from Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech. Abraham Biangco of the Filipino Christian Church gave the closing comments.
On Jan. 23, the WCG congregation had an ice-skating fund-raiser for the Voice of Martyrs.
Ann Bustos and Cathy Wallace sold tickets for the event and asked everyone attending to donate a blanket for a hospital in Sudan sponsored by Voice of Martyrs.
The group sold 76 tickets, which netted $190. Forty-five blankets were collected. Those who could not skate bought tickets for others who could not afford tickets. Cathy Wallace and Waneece Jones.
GOING-AWAY PARTY--Church employees met March 3 for a going-away party for Ralph
Orr, director of the church's in-service training program for ministers. Mr. Orr assumed a
position as an associate of AXA Advisors in Pasadena. He continues to serve as an elder in
the WCG. His wife, Denice, continues to serve as managing editor of Connections, a
newsletter for ministers+ families. [Photo by Thomas C.
Hanson]
MAYORAL PRESENTATION--Pasadena mayor Bill Bogaard (left) makes presentation to
pastor Curtis May after Pasadena+s Black History Parade
Feb. 19. The city honored the WCG and Legacy Partners, buyers of the headquarters
facility, for corporate sponsorship.
RECONCILIATION BOOTH--Staffing the WCG+s
reconciliation booth at Pasadena+s Black History Parade
are (from left): Rayminda Reyes, Curtis May, Roger Lippross and Paul Sniffen. [Photos by
Thomas C. Hanson]
PINE BLUFF,
Arkansas--District superintendent Randy Bloom visited the Pine Bluff congregation Feb.
20.The children and teen churches sang songs together, followed by a praise and worship
service led by pastor Ollie Baker. Dianne Smith and Wayne Jordan sang solos.
Mr. Bloom gave a sermon on the importance of laity. A potluck capped off the day.
Ollie Baker
PASADENA DISTRICT CONFERENCE--
Pastor General Joseph Tkach speaks at district
ministerial conference in Ambassador Auditorium
March 11. [Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000