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December 2000
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This is our December cover.
Ambassador
CenterThe Ambassador Center at Azusa Pacific University announces the Mark Zebrowski and Geraldyne Zebrowski Memorial Scholarship.
This $5,000 annual grant will help WCG members with special financial needs to earn a bachelor of arts degree at APU. Page 3.
ReconciliationRaymond Taylor, pastor of the Seaford and Wilmington, Delaware, churches, participated in a historic reconciliation ceremony with the Nanticoke Indians Sept. 10.
At least 21 tribes were represented at the 23rd annual Nanticoke Indian Powwow. Page 5.
PersonalWhen Christ returns, the dead will be resurrected, writes Pastor General Joseph Tkach. Dr. Tkach discusses the resurrection of the body and why it matters. Pages 6 & 7.
ThanksgivingComing into the presence of the living God begins with the attitude of thanksgiving, writes Greg Williams in "The Spirit of Thanksgiving." Page 8.
ChristmasA couple of years ago I came across a story that, to me, conveys the essence of the message of the birth of Jesus Christ that we celebrate at Christmas, writes Ted Johnston in "A Christmas Message." Page 9.
No other nameMany Christians believe that all people who do not accept the gospel before they die are eternally lost and without hope, writes Mike Feazell in part one of "No Other Name." Pages 10 & 11.
Financial
ReportBecause festival offerings and estate donations have been greater than our projections, income for 2000 has been near what we planned, writes controller Ron Kelly.
The forecast was for $24 million from January through October, and that is on target. Page 16.
Women's MinistryOne hundred twenty-two women gathered in Los Angeles Sept. 1 to 3 for the third annual ministers' wives conference coordinated by Jannice May.
Eleven countries were represented at the conference. Page 17.
Paul Sniffen, WCG men's ministry coordinator for the Southwest district, was event coordinator of the Promise Keepers conference for greater Los Angeles Oct. 13 and 14. More than 600 men committed their lives to Christ.
Mr. Sniffen sees the value of men's ministry in helping men to see that there is spiritual hope in their lives and in knowing how to be better husbands and fathers. Page 18.
By Russell Duke
AZUSA,
California--The Ambassador Center announces a new scholarship to help WCG members with
special financial needs to earn a bachelor of arts degree at Azusa Pacific University.
Crown Legacy Foundation will provide a $5,000 annual grant as the Mark Zebrowski and
Geraldyne Zebrowski Memorial Scholarship.
Mark Stephen Zebrowski loved God, family, church, computers and music. He provided a great example of friendship, greeting friends and acquaintances with his big, warm smile. He loved playing drums, and as a teen he served with WCG church youths at various juvenile homes and senior citizens centers. He graduated from Ambassador University in Big Sandy, Texas, in 1977.
Mark died of cancer Jan. 11, 1999. He is survived by his wife, Brenda; their daughter, Remy; and son, Nathan; his sister, Wendy; and his brother, Dan.
Geraldyne Zebrowski, Mark's mother, was known for her hospitality and service in the Long Beach, California, congregation. As a widow, she worked hard to provide for her children and inspired them to higher education and commitment to God. Mrs. Zebrowski followed her son Mark in death Feb. 24.
The $5,000 scholarship from the Crown Legacy Foundation will be in addition to the $5,000 WCG scholarship. It will be awarded to a financially needy student who has demonstrated a servant's heart for Jesus and his people. The student must have a commitment to graduate from APU and to serve as a member of the WCG. The scholarship is renewable for one year if financial need continues and personal commitment has been demonstrated.
If a recipient is unable to enroll at APU for any reason, he or she may reapply for future consideration.
Here is the process for applying for the scholarship:
1. Make full application to Azusa Pacific University. Write to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Azusa Pacific University, 901 E. Alosta Ave., P.O. Box 7000, Azusa, California, 91702-7000.
2. Write or e-mail the Ambassador Center for an application for the Mark Zebrowski and Geraldyne Zebrowski Scholarship. Write to the address above, addressed to the Ambassador Center. The e-mail address for the center is acenter@apu.edu
3. Once you have been accepted to the university, apply for APU scholarships. Based on SAT scores and other factors, you may qualify for some substantial scholarships.
4. Once you have been accepted to APU, send the completed scholarship application to the Ambassador Center. The deadline for application is April 1.
5. The director of the Ambassador Center will determine the top three applicants. These applicants will be submitted to the Ambassador Center Advisory Committee for its decision. Partners in the Crown Legacy Foundation, Ed and Wendy Bjurstrom, will then be informed of the recipients.
6. All applicants will be informed of the committee's decision. If the committee's first choice is not able to attend that year, the runner-up will be offered the scholarship.
7. An announcement of the recipient of the Mark Zebrowski and Geraldyne Zebrowski Memorial Scholarship will be placed in the WN.
By Deborah Butler and Joyce Gordon
CHATSWORTH, Georgia--Atlanta women's ministry members and guests united for their annual women's ministry retreat Oct. 27 to 29.
Activities began Friday evening, Oct. 27, with a welcome from Joyce Gordon, women's ministry chairperson. After dinner, the women had praise and worship, followed by icebreakers.
Saturday morning, the women enjoyed activities that included aerobics, horseback riding and a nature walk. That afternoon, Cathy Harrell delivered her testimony, "Only Believe." She showed that our life experiences can help others who think they are alone.
Norma Manuel's message, "Coping With Stress," outlined the causes of stress. She led the group in an exercise that helped to determine individual stress levels.
The day ended with a pool party. A guest speaker performing at the lodge was so inspired by our group that she sang a praise song for us.
Sheila Toppin brought the Sunday message, "Saving Souls With a Smile." Her message revealed that Jesus Saves us; Meets us where we are; Invites us to worship the Father; Leads us to others and; Expects us to evangelize. After the message the women took communion.
Hymns, prayers and praises were offered to God after the communion service. The bonding of love and Christian fellowship with God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit was overwhelming.
Letters for this section should be addressed to "Letters to the Editor." The editor reserves the right to use letters so addressed in whole or in part, and to include your name and edit the letter for clarity or space. We welcome your comments.
I am a member in Lufkin, Texas, and I attended the Evangelism Explosion clinic in Houston, Texas, Oct. 20 to 25.
Thanks to that clinic, evangelism doesn't scare me anymore. I now have confidence and can talk to someone about their salvation. On Nov. 8 I had the great joy to talk to a young man and help lead him to Christ. We all know that the Holy Spirit does the evangelizing, but he allows us to receive the joy from it.
I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to attend an Evangelism Explosion clinic, either the six day teacher-trainer clinic or the 13 week clinic, to do so. The work in the clinic will not compare with the benefits.
In the Lufkin church we started our 13-week clinic Nov. 5. After just one class everyone is excited. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus was not talking to headquarters or just to the pastors, he was talking to everyone who believes in the risen Christ. We are all evangelists to one degree or another.
Kenn Allbright
Lufkin, Texas
I want to compliment those who wrote the excellent articles about teen ministry in the October WN. I am so encouraged about what I see happening in the WCG.
I am in total agreement with Ted Johnston's two-part mission for teen ministry (page 17). Our youths are in the middle of perhaps one of the greatest youth revivals this world has ever seen. They have exceptional opportunities to serve, witness and convert others. But it is up to us, the church, to disciple them.
As I read the article about the reconciliation service in Fort Worth, Texas, I was close to tears (of joy). How encouraging and uplifting to see such total surrender to the Holy Spirit.
James Cramer
Waldron, Michigan
I was pleased to receive Mike Feazell's booklet "Finding Peace in Christ." Here I was saving all the WN articles he had written and trying to get them in order to be copied and all put together. Then his booklet arrived in the mail.
I save many of the WN feature articles including Mr. Tkach's Personal. Many are interested in the web site articles but are not equipped to receive them. So, here in Big Sandy, Pastor David Orban has OK'd our efforts to make copies available in handout form of the series of articles most people are interested in.
Nadine Van Laecken
Big Sandy, Texas
By Cynthia L. Taylor
SEAFORD, Delaware--Pastor Raymond Taylor participated in a historic reconciliation ceremony at the 23rd annual Nanticoke Indian Powwow Sept. 10.
At least 21 tribes were represented in the Delmarva (the peninsula of Delaware, Maryland and Virginia) Powwow, one of the largest powwows on the East Coast.
Assistant Chief Charles C. "Little Owl" Clark IV spent almost an hour weaving a story of the account of God's creation from the Nanticoke heritage. In mid-afternoon, he announced that a special ceremony was about to begin. A federation of pastors (members of The Coalition for Regional Unity and Prayer) offered an apology on behalf of the white man for atrocities against the Nanticoke Indians. Past injustices have left a 300-year-old open wound.
Assistant Chief Clark prayed for peace and presented the peace pipe as a symbol of his people and their relationship first to God and then to the pastors.
Pastor John Betts of Abundant Life Church carried a flag picturing a cross inside a circle. The Nanticoke have a prophecy that real peace will come with the white man only when a group comes to them bearing a cross inside a circle. Fulfillment of this prophecy was proclaimed to come in the seventh generation. Assistant Chief Clark represents the seventh generation from the time of that prophecy.
Pastor Robert Muncy of the Williamsville Christian Fellowship church read the Proclamation of Repentance and Reconciliation to the Nanticoke Tribe.
The ceremony concluded with Assistant Chief Clark leading an honor dance, of all the tribal dancers. As the voice of the singers and the beat of the drums fell upon the ears and hearts of everyone present, Assistant Chief Clark warmly embraced each pastor. The tribal dancers followed in a long procession as each dancer shook hands with each pastor.
"Such a warm embrace and handshake. I could feel the spirit of forgiveness," commented Pastor Taylor.
Assistant Chief Clark proclaimed on behalf of his people that nothing like this had ever happened before. His acceptance of the apology was graciously expressed.
"None of these who stand here have blood on their hands," he announced to the crowd, "but the covenant we have made today will not be forgotten. This is a covenant of peace."
"Our forefathers stole virtually everything from them, but they are not a bitter people," Pastor Taylor said. "Rather, they show a deep respect and love for peoples of all races. The spirit of forgiveness has freed them from holding grudges."
The proclamation was signed by each pastor in the presence of Chief Kenneth S. Clark Sr. and will be placed in the Nanticoke Indian Museum in Millsboro, Delaware, as a testimony to an event of forgiveness and reconciliation.
NANTICOKE DANCER
[Photo by Raymond Taylor]
RECONCILIATION--From left:
Assistant Chief Charles C. Clark IV,
Raymond and Cindi Taylor.
[Photo by Amber D. Taylor]
HONOR DANCE--Tribal dancers perform dance for pastors.
[Photo by Amber D. Taylor]
Personal from Joseph TkachOn the common Christian calendar, Advent Sunday this year is Dec. 3. This day is traditionally used as a reminder that Christ will come again. When he does, the trumpet will sound, and the dead in Christ will rise (1 Thess. 4:16). Christians who are alive at that time will also rise, and all will meet Christ in the air (v. 17).
Christians have many questions about this future event, and I do not intend to address all the questions. I will discuss the nature of the resurrection body.
When Christ returns, the dead will rise--they will be resurrected. "With what body do they come?" some ask. Will their atoms be re-assembled? Will there be male and female? Will we recognize one another? Will we look young, or old? And many other questions are asked.
It is understandable that we ask. But it is also understandable that we cannot understand what immortal life will be like, just as a fetus cannot understand what adult life is like, or a blind person has difficulty in understanding color. Perhaps being glorified will be like entering new dimensions that we have never known before. We do not have the words to describe it because our words are based on our experiences in this age. Just as we cannot describe the aroma of coffee, we cannot describe our future life.
Scripture does not give us a detailed description of what life will be like when we have glorified bodies. It does tell us 1) that we will be with God forever and 2) that we who trust in Christ will find it to be an immensely enjoyable life. We will enter our Master's happiness, and in his presence there are pleasures forevermore. We will never be bored, for we finite beings will always have new things to learn and enjoy about God's infinite goodness.
Scripture also tells us that when Christ returns, we will be like him (1 John 3:2). Paul tells us that our bodies will be changed when the final trumpet sounds (1 Cor. 15:51-52). And this brings us back to the question of what our bodies will be like.
There are two ways to study this question. The first is to ask what kind of body Jesus had after his resurrection, and the second is to see what Paul wrote about our bodies in the resurrection. We have limited information about both, but we can see how they might fit together.
After his resurrection, Jesus could be recognized as Jesus. Special intervention was needed to prevent two disciples from recognizing him (Luke 24:16). Jesus had flesh and bones, and some of the marks of crucifixion (v. 39). He could be touched, and he could eat. But he could also miraculously appear in locked rooms, or ascend into heaven (John 20:19-20; Acts 1:9).
But is this the way Jesus now is? Is there a five foot six inch body of flesh and bones somewhere in outer space? Is Jesus normally invisible, or does his body shine in glory, or does he look like a lamb that has been slain--a lamb with seven horns and seven eyes? (Rev. 5:6). Or are all of these appearances merely appearances, not necessarily a permanent shape or form?
I see a couple of basic facts here: First, that the tomb was empty and the body of Jesus was gone. Second, that the resurrected Jesus had a body, although that body had some extraordinary properties. The simplest way to connect these two facts is to conclude that the body of Jesus was resurrected and changed. The new Jesus had physical continuity with the old Jesus, but there were important differences.
I do not believe that Jesus has to remain visible to our eyes. When he appeared, his body reflected photons; when he disappeared, it did not. Yet in both states, Jesus had a body.
He inhabits eternity, and he does not have to conform to the finite electromagnetic quantum world that we are able to investigate. And for that reason, I do not believe that Jesus' body has to conform to the dimensions that we know.
Our questions about "size" and "location" are based on limits that probably do not apply to Jesus Christ. Such questions may make no more sense than asking what purple smells like--we are asking about a condition with terminology that is not suited for that condition.
Paul tells us that we will be changed--metamorphosized (1 Cor. 15:51). The body will then be imperishable, immortal, glorious, powerful and spiritual (vs. 42-44, 53). But yet it will be a body, and it will have some continuity with the old body.
Paul compares this change to the sprouting of a seed (v. 37). A tree does not look at all like an acorn, but it has physical continuity with the acorn. A butterfly looks nothing like a caterpillar, but it has physical continuity with it. Our metamorphosis may involve an even more dramatic change in what we are like. We cannot predict what it will be like any more than we can predict whether some unfamiliar seed will grow into a tree, or a flower.
The point is that there is continuity as well as change. It is not like the old body is totally abandoned, nor is it totally kept. We do not worry about reassembling all of the atoms that were once part of our bodies (that would be impossible, for bodies decompose after death and their atoms become atoms of other things, sometimes of other people's bodies). But Paul still talks about the resurrection of the body.
He expects to find the tombs empty and the bones all gone. I do not know how this works, and I suspect it involves realities I know nothing about. Lacking any further information, I simply have to accept what Paul was inspired to write: the body will be raised, and it will have new qualities.
Some may ask, What is a spiritual body? Isn't that a contradiction of terms?
No, Paul is talking about a body that is different from the bodies we know, but he is not talking about a body that is "made" of spirit. In verse 44, when he says that our current bodies are "natural," he uses the Greek word psychikos, which is the adjective form of the word psyche, or soul. He is not talking about a body made out of soul, but a body that is characterized in some way by soul.
Similarly, when he says the body will become a spiritual body, he uses the word pneumatikos, the adjective form of pneuma, or spirit. He is not talking about a body made out of spirit any more than he is talking about a body made out of soul. But the body will be characterized by spirit, perhaps in the same way that a spiritual person is (Gal. 6:1), with an ability to understand spiritual things. We will not understand what this body is like until it is given to us.
Why does God bother with our bodies? Wouldn't it be far simpler to take our spirits to heaven and live forever with the Lord without any bother with a resurrection?
I do not claim to have a complete answer. I do know that God created physical matter, and it is therefore good. God did not make it just to destroy it later. He will keep the physical world in a renewed form, in a new heavens and new earth.
The physical body is not some evil thing that we need to escape from (as many non-Christians have taught). Jesus had a physical body, and there was nothing wrong with that.
In fact, Jesus was made flesh for the very purpose of redeeming all things (Col. 1:19-20). God is not abandoning the physical world--he is rescuing it. Romans 8:21 tells us that the physical creation will be liberated from its bondage when we are transformed into glory. This salvation involves the "redemption of our bodies" (v. 23).
Yes, our bodies will be redeemed, not discarded. Our bodies will be raised immortal and imperishable, freed from the decay that affects the physical world today. Christ has made it possible, as shown in his own resurrection with a body that transcends the limits of space and time.
The fact that the physical world will be redeemed, the fact that our bodies will be raised, means that we must value the physical world that God has placed us in and made us part of.
We are to care for the creation and to care for our bodies. We are to have environmental concerns and health concerns; we are to have interests in the biological and physical sciences. We are not to abandon the world we live in, but we are to improve it in whatever small ways we can.
Similarly, we are not to abandon the social world we live in, but are to improve it when we can, working against evil and promoting justice. The fact that our bodies will be redeemed and raised emphasizes our need to be involved in the world in a positive way. We are not escapists, merely biding time until time ends, but we are involved, letting Christ live in us and grow in us until we are raised with him in glory and we see him as he is and we share in his eternal joy.
In the map of U.S. districts published
in the November Worldwide News, three districts were incorrectly labeled.
The districts, with their district superintendents, should have been listed as follows:
Central: Randy and Debbie Bloom
Great Lakes: Ted and Donna Johnson
Mid-South: Robert and Jan Taylor
By Greg
Williams
In Eugene Peterson's Message Bible, Psalm 100:4 says: "Enter with the password: Thank you!"
Coming into the presence of the living God begins with the attitude of thanksgiving. This concept has caused me to realize that the Thanksgiving season has much more gravity than the passing thoughts of turkey, pumpkin pie and football. In fact it sobers me to know that I am unable to appear before God unless the grateful, positive spirit of thanksgiving is alive in me. So, what is this all-important spirit of thanksgiving?
A good place to start is to consider what thankfulness is not. The opposite of thankfulness is more than simply being ungrateful. It is a complaining, griping spirit that is miserable and makes others miserable too. People who are ungrateful tend to show it, and instead of keeping it to themselves they infect others.
Fortunately, thankful people also stand out. A new friend of mine displayed a remarkable attitude of gratefulness. He is the principal of a newly formed charter school. He has the daunting task of not only starting a new school from scratch, but the added burden of a $100,000 remodeling project.
Currently, all 60 students meet in the gymnasium with partitions dividing the classes. As you can imagine, it gets loud and chaotic. When I asked him how he was coping with these circumstances, to my surprise he said it is all working out for the best. His view was that this struggle was exactly what they needed to bond them into a student body. If they could manage in this adversity, moving into individual classrooms would be a breeze. Only a thankful person can see things this way.
My friend was living out the trio of injunctions that Paul speaks of in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Notice it doesn't say to be joyful, to pray and give thanks only during pleasant circumstances, but in all circumstances. And neither does it view life as mere time and chance for the child of God. When a person is living within the will of the great sovereign of the universe, he sees God's hand in all situations.
This God is the same Father who sent his only Son to earth to die in our place. Therefore, the loving God permits us to go through good, bad and in-between circumstances so that Jesus can be shaped in us. It is like the words of a Wayne Watson song, "A rough and rocky road will lead you to a beautiful place."
Allow me to take these thoughts a step further. We live in a culture that links thankfulness to happy things. We seek happiness, comfort and pleasure above all else. The irony of the Christian life is that it is filled with trial, struggle and temptation.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16, Paul purposefully used the expression "joyful," not "happiness." Happiness is related to happenings--we did this fun thing, but what's next? In essence, happiness is a bottomless hole that can never be filled no matter how much you do.
Joy, on the other hand, is a fruit of God's Spirit. It is an abiding sense of contentment that is not effected by circumstances. Joy can be found in an overcrowded gymnasium with 60 students or in nicely, remodeled individual classrooms.
Not only can joy abound in all circumstances, but giving thanks must be present too. The true spirit of thanksgiving is learning to live in the will of God with a contented and grateful heart, and giving him the glory.
As we examine our individual circumstances instead of asking why or what if, let's look for God's will and his obvious blessings. The fact that you are alive and reading this article is an obvious blessing from God--now you start counting the long list of other things.
I wish you and yours a joyful Thanksgiving!
Greg Williams pastors the Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Dillon, South Carolina, churches.
By Ted Johnston
A couple of years ago I came across a story that, to me, conveys the essence of the message of the birth of Jesus Christ that we celebrate at Christmas. Let me share it with you.
It was a snowy Christmas Eve. Inside his warm house, a man's wife and children were dressed and ready to leave for church. "Come with us," they urged him, for they loved him. "Not me," he snapped, "I don't believe all that religion garbage."
For many years the man's wife had been trying to tell him about Jesus Christ and the salvation he offers; how God's Son had become a human being in order to show us the way to salvation. "Nonsense," the man always said.
The family left for church and the man was all alone in his cozy country home. He glanced out the window at the cold, snowy scene outside. He turned to warm himself by the fire. But as he turned, his eyes caught a movement in the snow outside. He looked--cats! Three young cats were walking slowly past his window. "The fools," he thought. "They'll freeze out there for sure!"
The man put on his coat and hat and opened the door. A blast of wintry air sent a shiver through his body.
"Come here, cats! Come inside where there's warmth and food. You'll die out there." But the cats ran away, frightened by the stranger at the door. He walked outside. "Come back! Don't be afraid, I want to save you." But the cats were gone. It was too late.
"Well, I did everything I could for them," the man muttered to himself, "What more could I do? I'd have to become a cat myself in order to reach them and save them now. If I became a cat, I could tell them and show them. They'd have to believe me then, unless they were fools."
Just as he reached the door, the church bells rang in the distance. The man paused for a second and listened. Then he went in by the fire, got down on his knees, and wept.
The message of Christmas is a message that penetrates to the very heart and purpose of God. His passion is to rescue us from the cold--from certain death out there on our own.
The apostle John put it this way in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son."
Christmas reminds us that God gave in a most unexpected and miraculous way.
In John's Gospel we also read, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). Jesus was all that God is--all the power, ability and splendor--the Word was God.
Then about 2,000 years ago, something amazing happened: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). God the Son clothed himself with our humanity. God become man--fully God, yet fully human. Perhaps this is the greatest miracle of all.
But why did the eternal Son of God do this? John continues, "No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man" (John 3:13). It's not possible for a man to lift himself up to God. No matter how good we seem to be, how powerful, how resourceful--nothing we ever do can elevate us to God's level. We can do nothing to bring ourselves in from the cold--from eternal destruction.
Yet God's heart is that we should not perish--his passion is that we be saved and live with him forever. And so he came down to us--he became one of us--he became Emmanuel--God with us.
Jesus Christ, dear friends, is God's great gift to us: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him" (John 3:16-17).
Though in this passage John refers primarily to the sacrificial giving of Jesus' life on the cross, that sacrifice began with Jesus' birth in Bethlehem on the outskirts of Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago.
* Did Jesus Christ come as a triumphant conquering king? No, he came as a helpless baby.
* Did he arrive wearing royal robes? No, he arrived naked and was wrapped in strips of cloth. He was laid in a feeding trough, attended not by royalty but by lowly shepherds.
The eternal Son of God came in the flesh to share our limitations as well as our sufferings. He came to show us the way to the Father--to eternal life--and then through his death and resurrection he opened that way for us.
Dear friends, I encourage you to hear the message of Christmas that God loves you and because of that he offered his Son. And he invites you to receive his love by receiving his Son.
By J. Michael
Feazell
Many Christians believe that all people who do not accept the gospel before they die are eternally lost and without hope.
On one hand, Christians believe that by the Son of God all things were created (Colossians 1:16), by the Son's word all things are held in being (Hebrews 1:3), and that through the Son's human birth, death and resurrection all things are reconciled to God (Colossians 1:20). Yet, on the other hand, many have the idea that the blood of Christ cannot reconcile humans who die before coming to faith.
Before we start, let's be sure we understand that the Bible is very plain that only in Jesus Christ is there salvation at all (Acts 4:12).
Human religions do not lead to salvation. Only in the Triune God--Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who creates, redeems, sustains and rules all things--is there forgiveness of sin, healing of minds, redemption and eternal life.
The question we are dealing with in this article is whether the Bible says that a person must confess Christ before he or she dies or be automatically damned.
Let's begin by taking a look at one of the two passages that are usually interpreted as proving that all who die without having come to faith are automatically damned. It is the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man, in which Abraham tells the rich man there is a great gulf fixed that keeps those in Hades separate from those who are with Abraham.
It is found in Luke 16:19-31. Before the story begins, however, we can back up a few verses to get an idea of whom Jesus was talking to when he told this story and what was the subject that prompted him to tell it.
In verse 14, we read this: "The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all this, and they ridiculed him" (New Revised Standard Version throughout).
Jesus was talking to a group of Pharisees, and what Luke wants his readers to know about the Pharisees in connection with this passage is that the Pharisees were lovers of money.
Now we are getting the context of the story. A group of Pharisees who were lovers of money were ridiculing Jesus because of what he was saying.
We have to go back to chapter 15, verse 1, to get the whole episode. Here we read: "Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, `This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.' So he told them this parable..."
Then Jesus proceeds to tell them three parables in a row: The Shepherd Who Rejoices Over Finding His Lost Sheep, The Woman Who Rejoices Over Finding Her Lost Coin, and The Father Who Rejoices Over Finding His Lost Son.
Jesus tells these three parables specifically in response to the Pharisees and scribes who were disgruntled over the fact that he welcomes sinners and eats with them.
These parables push God's grace toward sinners right up the Pharisees' and scribes' disgruntled noses.
Jesus wants them to know that "there is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance" (verse 7). The pointed remark is not lost on the Pharisees and scribes; they consider themselves righteous and not in need of repentance. Jesus (knowing they are not really righteous) is telling them that heaven is not singing their song.
If the first two parables irritate the Pharisees and scribes, the third one, The Father Who Rejoices Over Finding His Lost Son, commonly known as the Prodigal Son, takes the cake. Here is a father who gives unbridled love and unconditional forgiveness to a son who dishonored him, wasted half his assets and dragged the family name through the mud.
It was a scandalous story that trampled on any sense of common decency, dignity and honor. When Jesus finishes telling it, he turns to his disciples and addresses them with yet another story (Luke 16:1). But the Pharisees are still listening (verse 14).
The moral of this story, Jesus says, is that you cannot serve both money and God; you will find yourself devoted either to the one or to the other, not both (verse 13). If you love money, you will not love God. The Pharisees heard everything, but learned nothing.
Instead of repenting so that there might be joy in heaven, they ridiculed Jesus. His words were utter foolishness to them, because they were lovers of money (verse 14).
Responding to their ridicule, Jesus says, "You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts; for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God" (verse 15).
He goes on to point out that the law and the prophets stand as witnesses that the kingdom of God has arrived and that everyone is urgently piling into it (verses 16-17). His implied message: "Because you prize the things of men, not the things of God, you are rejecting God's urgent summons to enter his kingdom, which can be done only through me."
The next statement (verse 18), which cites divorce and adultery, might at first appear to be completely out of context. More likely, it serves as a further declaration that the Law and the Prophets are in fact part and parcel with the kingdom of God, and that in rejecting the Messiah the Jewish religious leaders have "divorced" the Law and the Prophets, which witness to him, from the kingdom of God, and in so doing have rejected God (likened to adultery throughout the Old Testament; compare Jeremiah 3:6, etc.).
Now, as the coupe de grace he tells the story of Lazarus and the Rich Man.
There are three characters in the story, the rich man (representing the Pharisees who love money), the miserable beggar Lazarus (representing a class of people despised by the Pharisees), and Abraham (whose bosom or lap was a Jewish figure of comfort and peace in the afterlife).
And the point Jesus uses the story to make is the same point he has been making all along: You consider yourselves the high and mighty blessed of God, but the truth is you love money and hate God--that is why you are so rankled that I spend my time in fellowship with unvarnished sinners, this is why you despise your fellow man and will not humble yourselves and believe in me and find true riches.
But back to the story. The beggar dies. But then, without missing a beat, Jesus again pokes the Pharisees in the eye by saying, "... and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham" (verse 22).
This is, as usual with Jesus' stories, exactly the opposite of what the Pharisees expected would happen to a man like Lazarus. Such people were poor and diseased beggars because they were under God's curse, they assumed, and therefore it is only natural that such people go to be tormented in Hades when they die.
"Not so," says Jesus. "Your worldview is upside down. You know nothing of my Father's kingdom. Not only are you wrong about how my Father feels about the beggar, but you are wrong about how my Father feels about you."
Jesus completes the turnabout by telling them that the rich man also died and was buried, but he, not the beggar as they expected, is the one who finds himself being tormented in Hades. And Jesus draws it out. From his torments in Hades, the rich man looked up and saw Abraham far off with none other than Lazarus by his side. He cries out, "Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames" (verses 23-24).
But Abraham tells him the way things stand. "All your life you loved riches and had no time for the likes of Lazarus. But I do have time for the likes of Lazarus, and now he is with me, and you have nothing."
And then comes the out-of-context proof text: "Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us" (Luke 16:26).
Have you ever wondered why anybody could possibly want to pass from "here to you?" It is obvious why someone might want to cross from "there to us," but from "here to you" makes no sense. Or does it?
Abraham began his words to Lazarus by addressing him as "child," then points out to him that not even those who might want to get to him are able to because of the great chasm.
There is one who crosses chasms for the sake of sinners. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life" (John 3:16).
God gave his Son for sinners, not just for sinners like Lazarus, but for sinners like the rich man, too. But the rich man doesn't want the Son of God. The rich man wants what he always wanted--his own comfort at the expense of others, which is exactly the opposite of what the Son of God wants.
Jesus' condemnation of the unbelief of the Pharisees in this story concludes with the rich man arguing that if someone would warn his brothers, they would not come into the place where he was. "They have Moses and the Prophets; they should listen to them," Abraham tells him. (Remember Jesus' statements in verses 16-17? The Law and Prophets are nothing other than a testimony to him. See John 5:45-47 and Luke 24:44-47.)
"No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent" (Luke 16:30). "He said to him, `If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead' " (verse 31). And they didn't. The Pharisees conspired with the scribes and the chief priests to have Jesus crucified, conspired to have soldiers lie about his resurrection (Matthew 27:62-66), and proceeded to persecute and kill those who became believers.
There is a bridge across the chasm, the bridge across all chasms. The bridge is Jesus. But the rich man (the Jewish religious leaders who constantly oppose Jesus) is not interested in putting his faith in Jesus. Permit me to paraphrase Abraham's reply to the rich man.
"Look, friend, you refuse to come to Christ, so there is no place left for you but right where you are. You won't even admit that you need forgiveness. You still want exactly what you always wanted--everybody else zipping around waiting on you hand and foot.
"You can't get over here because you won't go anyplace where you're no better than old Laz the bum. We can't get where you are to help you because you are precisely nowhere. You made your own chasm to separate yourself from who you are in Christ because you won't come to him to have life.
"You still think like you always thought--that you are something special and Laz here is a nobody, the dirt under your sandals. And now you're still so convinced you've got it all together that you can't even see that you've been the nobody all along and Laz the loser is the one who's in like Flint with me. Well, pal, you've still got just what you've always had--nothing, nothing that matters anyway.
"What's that? Now you want Laz to run some errands to warn others like you? Are you kidding? They won't listen. They've got Moses and the Prophets who told them Messiah would come. If they won't listen to them, you think they're going to listen to Laz? Forget about it. What's that? If someone comes back from the dead they'll listen to him? Oh really? Well, guess what? That's just what Jesus did, came back from the dead, and yet there you are, over there in Nowhereland because you won't put your trust in him."
Even if you don't like my interpretation of this passage, you still have to admit one thing: it is bad business to base a doctrine on one verse alone, and especially on one in a story designed to make a different point altogether. This story is primarily about the refusal of the Jewish leaders to believe in Jesus and the willingness of others to do so, and secondarily about the reversal of common assumptions about riches being a sign of God's favor.
It is not there to paint us a portrait of heaven and hell. It is a parable of judgment against the unbelieving Israelite leadership and the unkind rich, using common Jewish imagery of the afterlife (hades and "being with Abraham") as a literary backdrop to make the point. In other words, Jesus was not commenting on the validity of Jewish imagery of the afterlife; he was simply using that imagery as scenery for his story.
Jesus was not in the business of satisfying our itching curiosities about what heaven and hell must be like. He was in the business of filling us in on God's secrets (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 1:9, etc.), the mystery of the ages (Ephesians 3:4-5)--that in him, Christ, God has always been reconciling the world to himself (2 Corinthians 5:19). Our preoccupation with otherworldly geographical trivia leads us away from the very point missed by the rich man in the story: Believe in the One who came back from the dead.
None are lost but those who will not trust in Christ. Since God made the world and called it good (Genesis 1), and calls humanity "very good" (verse 31), and since God loves the world and sent his Son that whoever would believe in him would enter into life (John 3:16), it is not unreasonable to conclude that God will provide an opportunity for every person to respond to the gospel, and since most people die before they hear the gospel, it is not unreasonable to conclude that God will also provide such an opportunity for them even if it is after they die.
"Maybe it is not unreasonable, but that does not make it true."
You are right about that. But the Word of God, we agree, is true. And the Word of God is good news for humanity, not bad news. And what is good for humanity is whatever is God's will for humanity. And God has demonstrated his will for humanity by sending Jesus Christ. His will is not that the world be condemned, but that it be saved (John 3:17).
"I admit it doesn't seem fair that people who don't hear the gospel before they die are damned, but just because something doesn't seem fair to us doesn't mean it isn't fair in God's sight. If God wants to save only a few, that is his prerogative. After all, the damned are only getting what they deserve!"
We don't argue with that. Certainly, if God wanted to, he could do things that way. We simply argue that the Bible does not reveal God that way. It reveals God in Christ as 1) graciously and faithfully procuring the reconciliation of all people (1 John 2:2), and 2) graciously desiring the salvation of all people (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
The deep current of Scripture is nothing other than the gospel. Scripture exists, we could even say, as testimony to the gospel. The Bible, in other words, is the Spirit-inspired revelation of God's Word of redemption and salvation by his grace through faith in his Son made flesh for our sakes, Jesus Christ.
The Bible, this testimony of God's good news to humans, reveals God the way he really is: the God of creation, redemption and salvation. The Bible, inspired by the Holy Spirit, shows us that God loves his creation, a creation over which he is sovereign and almighty, and that he loves the people he has created.
He made his creation, including humanity, very good (Genesis 1:31), and because humanity botched itself by going into its own God business, he also, in Christ from the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20), reconciled his creation to himself (Romans 5:10).
The Bible tells us that God longs for humans to repent and to turn to him (Acts 17:20; 2 Peter 3:9). He wants them to know him and experience him for who he really is as their Creator, Deliverer, Redeemer, Father and Friend. He wants them to dwell eternally in him and with him.
The apostle Peter wrote: "The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). This is how the Spirit consistently reveals God as feeling and thinking about the people he has made. He made them in his image; they became sinners, alienated from him, and he, loving them intensely even in their sins (Romans 5:6-8), has forgiven and redeemed them through the blood of his Son (John 12:32; 1 John 2:2).
"You said there is another passage that is often used to prove that those who die without knowing the gospel are automatically damned."
Thanks for the reminder. The second passage is this: "And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him" (Hebrews 9:27-28). The only way to read into this passage the idea of automatic damnation for all who die without the gospel is to begin with that very assumption.
In other words, the passage doesn't say that. It doesn't even address that question. It simply says that judgment follows death. It says nothing about what that judgment might include, nor anything about whether God will allow people to trust in him after they die. This passage proves nothing one way or the other about whether the dead are given the gospel.
Let's move on. We are told in Acts 17:30-31: "While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
Not only will the whole world be judged in righteousness, but the Judge will be none other than the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. God doesn't only command all people everywhere (that's everyone) to repent, he does so because he has appointed Jesus, who died for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2), to be Judge.
And if anybody wants assurance that God is serious about all this forgiving and reconciling of all people, all they have to do is notice that he raised the Judge from the dead after the very people who need redemption (that is, all of us) killed him. God will not be thwarted in his faithfulness to his covenant to be our God and we his people.
Revelation 20 depicts the Judgment this way: "Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sat on it; the earth and the heaven fled from his presence, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.
"Also another book was opened, the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their works, as recorded in the books. And the sea gave up the dead that were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and all were judged according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire; and anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15).
When the judging is over, every person is either saved or condemned. But first, before any distinction is made, to everyone's surprise, death and hell themselves are thrown into the lake of fire. If I might be allowed to personify death and hell for just a moment, just imagine them sitting there in the heavenly courtroom, barely able to contain their grins, knowing that everybody on trial is guilty as sin.
Waiting for the verdicts, their thoughts are delightfully occupied with the cruelty and torture they have in store for this innumerable multitude of sure-to-be-condemned wretches.
Then suddenly, their wicked daydreams are rudely interrupted as strong angels grip their arms and muscle them out of the courtroom to the Judge's own furnace and hurl them screaming into oblivion. A hush falls on the court. What can this mean? With death and hell destroyed, how can anybody remain their slaves?
The Bible teaches that there is one and only one way to be saved--by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). As we see from Revelation 20 and other passages, such as Matthew 25:31-33, there are only two kinds of people in the final judgment, the saved and the condemned. So what of those who seem never to have had the gospel presented to them before death? Some conclude that such people are automatically doomed eternally for the simple reason that before they died no Christian ever told them about the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Consider Paul's statements in Romans 10:14-21. Here, Paul highlights the unbelief of Israel by citing the words of the Psalms and of Isaiah. First, he asks a question regarding the hearing of the word of Christ (v. 17-18), "But I ask, have they not heard?" His answer: "Indeed they have; for [quoting Psalm 10:18] `Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world' " (v. 18).
Next, Paul quotes Isaiah to illustrate the irony of Israel's unbelief in light of the salvation of the gentiles: "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me" (v. 20, quoting Isaiah 65:1). God's word is the decisive word for all time to all humanity; it is not merely the word to those who are contacted by Christian missionaries and evangelists. Jesus is the incarnate Son of God and Word of God--the supreme Good News for all time past and all time future and extending to every corner of the cosmos.
It is strange that we should be asked to believe that God is incapable of confronting humans with the gospel in ways we do not understand and by means in which we have little or no role. Through his superintendence of Scripture, the Holy Spirit presents the atonement of Jesus Christ as thoroughly sufficient for the redemption of the whole cosmos, the cosmos Christ holds in the palm of his hand for his Father and to which he gives life and existence every moment. Yet, we are asked to believe, as one preacher put it, that "millions are going to hell this week because nobody is getting to them with the gospel!"
God is consistent with his word--he does not want any person to perish. Jesus said he will draw all people to himself. Since salvation comes by no means other than trusting in the word of God's grace through Jesus Christ, this means God does, in ways and at times to which we are not privy, give every person the freedom to accept God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
End of Part One
By Jeb Egbert
FRISCO, Texas--Changes for the Summer Educational Program in Orr, Minnesota, include the addition of an adult session, a reduction in tuition charges and more staff training between sessions.
A one-week session called Higher Ground Two will be added this year for people between the ages of 20 and 40, married or single.
For the first time in years, tuition will be reduced in 2001. The tuition charge for first-time participants will be $600, down from $625 last year. Second-time participants will pay $500, and those coming a third time will pay $400. If someone wishes to attend the traditional and Higher Ground sessions (four and a half weeks) he or she will pay $900.
As usual, tuition reductions are available for those who recruit others to come to SEP. The requirement is that those coming must be first-time participants and must pay the full tuition charge.
During the post-SEP debriefing last year, the staff told me that they wanted more training between sessions. Therefore, we have added a day of staff training between Session One and Session Two.
Other improvements are planned, but all are secondary to the one constant we will once again see at SEP 2001: an enthusiastic focus on Jesus Christ.
Many adults have commented about their wish to join younger brothers, sisters or children at SEP. Now, many will have the chance.
With the advent of the new Higher Ground Two program, adults ages 20 through 40 will have the opportunity to experience SEP for one week in Orr, Minnesota. The program is designed to overlap with the second week of the Higher Ground program, which will have 15- to 20-year-old participants.
While adult participants will not take the three-day canoe trips, they will experience virtually every other element of SEP. Chapels will be conducted twice daily with an emphasis on discipleship. In addition, seminars will focus on topics of interest to adults.
Housing will be the same as for the traditional programs, with participants staying in boys and girls dorms. This means married couples will part company at the end of the day while at SEP. In addition, no baby-sitting services will be provided at SEP, so married couples with children will need to make provisions for child care before coming to Orr.
Tuition for the program is $350 per person or $575 for married couples as well as a $50 per person round-trip bus shuttle expense for those who are flying into the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. Participants will be expected to arrive at the airport no later than 7 p.m., Friday, July 20. The session will end Saturday evening, July 28, with participants returning home on Sunday, July 29.
Make plans to be part of the inaugural session of what will prove to be an invigorating, inspiring and energizing week of spiritually charged messages, fellowship, activities and personal growth.
Session One, Traditional Program (ages 12 through 20): June 26 to July 11; first-time participant $600.
Session Two, Higher Ground One (ages 15 through 20): July 15 to July 29; first-time participant $600.
Session Three, Higher Ground Two (ages 20 through 40): July 20 to July 29; $350 per person or $575 per married couple.
Applications are available for all sessions by calling 1-972-712-5737 or by sending e-mail to sep_orr @wcg.org. You can apply online at www.sepcamp.com
Those interested in staff applications can request them using the same phone number or e-mail address above. No on-line applications are available for staff.
PRESCOTT, Arizona--Northern Arizona Christian Fellowship will be host Dec. 29 to 31 for a camp in the high pines of Prescott for people ages 12 to 20 .
Included will be Christian fellowship, live worship music, inspired teaching and spirit-filled activities. Jeb Egbert, director of the Summer Educational Program, is one of the inspirational speakers.
The cost is $55 per person (for lodging and meals) and must be received by Nov. 18. For applications, brochures, other information or to send payment, contact Jason and Teresa Haas, Box 3292, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86003; phone 1-520-522-9123; e-mail: jsh24@dana.ucc.nau.edu
For a virtual tour of the camp go to www.ucyc.com (United Christian Youth Camp in Prescott).
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana--Youths 12 to 19 are invited to a Youth Discovery Weekend Jan. 5 to 7 at Fontainebleu State Park.
Activities will include praise and worship and group discussions led by Jim Blackwell, community service, a dinner dance, miniature golf and laser tag. Cost is $40 for teens and $30 for adult chaperons. Send check payable to Regional Youth Ministries by Dec. 22 to Joy Cryer, 2604 Slagle Rd., Leesville, Louisiana, 71446; phone 1-337-239-7139; e-mail joycryer@earthlink.net
By Ralph Helge
PASADENA--The following is an update on the WCG's lawsuit against the Philadelphia Church of God (PCG), under the leadership of Gerald Flurry.
The federal court of appeals condemned PCG's confiscating the book Mystery of the Ages, in which WCG held the copyright (October WN).
As we anticipated, PCG filed a request for rehearing, but 25 out of 26 judges denied that plea.
The matter now returns to the trial court. There, the WCG will request reimbursement for all attorneys' fees it has expended in protecting its rights. The WCG will also request an injunction prohibiting the PCG from any further publication or distribution of Mystery of the Ages, under threat of being held in contempt of court and confiscation of all items used in the illegal printing and publishing of Mystery of the Ages.
I would like to clarify for the members of the WCG, and all others who may be interested, why the WCG filed this lawsuit in the first place. Having represented the WCG for about 42 years, I can say that it has only been in extreme circumstances that the WCG has ever taken the affirmative step of filing a lawsuit.
Why was the WCG compelled to do so in this case?
First of all, as the federal appellate court said, the WCG owns the copyright to the literary and other works produced by Herbert W. Armstrong. Although this conclusion would be obvious to any and everyone knowledgeable of the WCG, Mr. Flurry challenged that conclusion in hopes of justifying his unlawful conduct.
Copyrights are a form of personal property. It goes without saying that you would defend yourself if someone brazenly came and took your personal property. In this case, the act would not only include taking your personal property, without any offer to pay for it, since they assume a Higher Power gave them the right to take it.
Being confronted with that type of attitude, the WCG had to ask itself, "Where will this type of confiscation end if we don't confront it here and now?" If we just sit back and do nothing, what else would the PCG attempt to confiscate? Is there anything owned by WCG that will lie beyond their desires?
Mr. Flurry never asked for permission to reprint Mystery of the Ages, nor did he offer to pay a license fee to do so, and there was a bona fide concern that his desires would know no bounds. Therefore, the WCG concluded that its duty to protect church assets left it no option but to seek legal help.
The PCG complains that the WCG was suppressing Mystery of the Ages. The term suppression seems to have become a PCG buzzword for the owner of a literary work who, exercising control over its property, decides not to use it all the time. Under Mr. Flurry's theory, if the WCG did not continue to use its literary property rights, he had the right to single-handedly declare it to be central to his religion and to commandeer it.
Therefore, the PCG committed legal and moral wrong in printing Mystery of the Ages and the other literary works, the copyright of which is owned by the WCG.
Just before the PCG's inappropriate commandeering of WCG's copyrighted assets, the WCG's board of directors was considering what use they should make of these assets. They even discussed whether it would be appropriate for the church itself to reprint and publish certain of such literary works, reprinting Mystery of the Ages in annotated form explaining to the public where the church is in disagreement with conclusions in the book.
Unfortunately this came to an abrupt halt when the PCG undertook, to use the federal court's language from its own opinion, an act of piracy. The WCG then could not proceed with its own considered action regarding the literary works because to do so would give the false impression that the WCG was intimidated into doing so by the PCG's act of aggression.
However, now that the federal appellate court has put a rest to PCG's aggressive claims of divine right, the WCG board intends to resume its consideration of how it can best use the copyrighted literature, audio and video assets that it owns. It is indeed unfortunate that one person's conduct could disrupt the potential benefit to the general public that might be desirous of having available such information through lawful channels.
We now wait to see if Mr. Flurry will act honorably and bring this to an end, or if he will continue to dispute the WCG in this matter. We will keep you posted as the matter progresses.
By Maryann Stevens
LOS ANGELES--One hundred twenty-two women gathered at the Renaissance Hotel Sept. 1 to 3 for the third annual ministers' wives conference. Of the 122 in attendance, 56 were at the conference for the first time. Eleven countries were represented.
We gathered to connect and bond with each other, develop and deepen our friendships. The conference was organized by Jannice May, president of Connecting & Bonding, Inc.
Even before the conference began, the women felt pampered, one of Jannice's goals for the conference. Gifts greeted each woman at check-in and again in her room. (And each morning of the weekend.)
Friday evening, Sept. 1, Oasis Praise Band led a praise and worship service.
Tammy Tkach then opened the conference by reminding us we have a place to go in the midst of life's storms. The Lord is our safe place, our refuge, our high tower, our rock and our shelter. She also reminded us that this weekend was a safe place, we were with our sisters and in Christ's arms.
Saturday morning we were ushered into the presence of God through music and worship led by Sylvia Frejd, a gifted singer, songwriter and worship leader.
Naomi Beard, adjunct professor at The King's College & Seminary, encouraged us to find what we have a passion for. She reminded us that God put value in each of us before we were born. We have been given the resources for what God has planned for each of us.
Ellie Kay, founder of Shop, Save & Share Seminars, showed us how something as simple as clipping coupons can be a ministry. She shared stories of women who have shared Jesus through their groceries! She said: "You are God's arms of love reaching out to the physical needs of those around you."
One major thread that ran through the conference was coming alongside of a person with words and actions of encouragement.
Helene R. Hkiyono taught praise dance to the women who attended. Helene has a dance ministry in Hawaii, He Oli Mau (An Everlasting Joy), which consists of Christians from various churches. The women who took her praise dance class Saturday evening performed Sunday.
Sunday morning began with a presentation by Kathleen Hart, chaplain to student wives at Fuller Theological Seminary. Kathleen reminded us that "where God guides, God provides."
Jesus lives in each one of us. She pointed out that whatever happens to each of us happens to Jesus.
Pam Farrel, an award-winning freelance writer, spoke about Fanning the Flames in Your Marriage. Pam encouraged us to accept our husbands and understand the differences between men and women. She said we should see our husband through God's eyes, to build him up and edify him. She told us to not allow anyone to control our heart strings except God.
Dolores Feitl, founder of P.O.W.E.R. (Pastors' Outreaching Wives Enrichment Resource), a networking group for pastors' wives, talked about the fishbowl syndrome. She encouraged us not to go to God with options and expect him to choose one--but to go to him with empty hands.
The conference ended with communion. At this conference God showed us his grace. He opened hearts and starting healing where some didn't realize healing was needed. We bonded as sisters in Christ, we were fed spiritually and emotionally and we were strengthened.
Next year's conference will be over Labor Day Weekend 2001. H.B. London of Focus on the Family will be a guest speaker.
Lorraine Pelley and Jannice May
CANADIAN VISITORS--Jannice May with
Canadian women at the retreat.
Kathleen Hart
By Thomas C. Hanson
INGLEWOOD, California--Paul Sniffen, WCG men's ministry coordinator for the Southwest district, was event coordinator of the Promise Keepers Go the Distance Conference for Los Angeles Oct. 13 and 14.
Attendance was 13,000 Friday night, Oct. 13, and 17,000 on Saturday. Featured speakers included Bill McCartney of Promise Keepers, Jack Hayford, pastor of Church on the Way in Van Nuys, California, and evangelist Luis Palau.
Mr. Sniffen said that after walking into the Great Western Forum, hearing the background music and seeing more than 600 men making a commitment to Jesus as personal Savior, he told God, "It was all worth it."
Mr. Sniffen was responsible for the whole event. All volunteers reported to him.
"When Promise Keepers called me and asked me to coordinate the event seven months ago, I declined because of the work and sacrifice needed," Mr. Sniffen said. "Then, I got a second call and decided to take on the responsibility, realizing that our Savior sacrificed his life for us and that we have the opportunity to help men come to Christ."
Mr. Sniffen sees the value of men's ministry in helping men to see that there is spiritual hope in their lives and in knowing how to be better fathers and husbands, how to treat their fellow man, and that God is no respecter of persons.
"The bottom line is that we need to come to love one another, but men view this as mushy," Mr. Sniffen said. "But we need to love each other with the love of God."
For more information on how to start a men's ministry in your congregation, call Mr. Sniffen at 1-626-304-4004 or send e-mail to him at paul_sniffen@wcg.org If the pastors and men's ministry leaders would like to have a U.S. men's ministry conference, please let him know.
EVENT COORDINATOR--Paul Sniffen (right)
directs a Promise Keeper volunteer.
HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM--
Paul Sniffen with his wife, Leigh, outside
the Great Western Forum, site of the
Los Angeles area Go the Distance
Conference Oct. 13 and 14.
[Photos by Thomas C. Hanson]
VISIT WITH MAYOR--From left:
Paul Sniffen; Roosevelt F. Dorn, mayor
of Inglewood; Leigh Sniffen; and Alex
Gonzalez, an assistant to Mr. Sniffen.
PROMISE KEEPERS EVENT--
Inside the Great Western Forum in
Inglewood, California, Oct. 14.
By Michael
Morrison
Paul's letter to the Romans has three major parts: a presentation of the gospel (chapters 1-8), the place of Israel in God's plan (chapters 9-11) and exhortations for Christian living (chapters 12-15).
The chapter of our study this month comes at the end of Paul's explanation of the gospel. It is the climax, and the truths that Paul discusses are truly astonishing.
The chapter begins with an astonishing statement: "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death" (vs. 1-2).
Because of what Christ has done, believers are not counted guilty and will not be punished. We sin, but there is no condemnation. If we didn't sin, the question of condemnation wouldn't even come up. Paul knows that we sin, so he is saying, There is no punishment for Christians even though they sin.
Hard to believe? Yes, for we know that sin deserves to be punished. Paul agrees, but the gospel is that Christ has been punished for us. Because he paid the penalty in full, we do not need to pay it again. Christ has already received all the condemnation that we deserve, so there is no further condemnation waiting for us. If we have faith in him, if our lives are in him, we do not need to be afraid.
Why? Because Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death, set us free from the only law that could possibly condemn us. The law that says, those who sin shall die, no longer applies to us, because it has been taken care of--completely. In Christ, we have eternal life.
God does not want us to sin, but even if we sin, we will not be condemned if we believe in his Son (John 3:18). The law could not give us eternal life, but God could. He did it by sending his Son as a human being to be a sacrifice for our sins (Rom. 8:3).
Jesus did not come to condemn sinners--he came to condemn sin. He came to punish sin, to take away its power to control us and kill us. He came to give us life, and to do it in a way that completely fulfilled the righteous requirements of his law (v. 4). In his life and in his death, Jesus satisfied all the demands of the law. It cannot demand anything more.
Paul then tells us that Christians "do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit" (v. 4). We do not try to sin, but we set our minds "on what the Spirit desires" (v. 5). We are not perfect, of course, but as we are led by the Spirit, we do the things of God.
Before we came to believe, our minds were death, but now they are life and peace (v. 6). Before we believed, we were hostile, disobedient and displeasing to God (vs. 7-8). But our new lives are controlled by the Holy Spirit, who lives in everyone who belongs to Christ (v. 9).
Our old bodies are dead because of sin, and they received their wages on the cross (Rom. 6:2-6). But in Christ, we have new life--"your spirit is alive because of righteousness" (8:10). Because Christ is righteous, and our lives are in him, we are alive.
"And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you" (v. 11). God, who raised Jesus from the dead, will also raise us, if his Spirit is living in us. Our bodies will be raised immortal, incorruptible and full of glory.
"Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation," Paul says (v. 12). We are obliged to live according to the Spirit of God. There is no penalty for failure, Paul says in verse 1, but the obligation still remains: We are to "put to death the misdeeds of the body" (v. 13). We are called to serve the Spirit, not the flesh. We are commanded to serve God, not self.
The old person is condemned; the new person is not, so we want to spend as much of life as we can in the new. Whatever we do according to the sinful flesh will die, but whatever we do in obedience to God will be of eternal value. The more we kill sin and the more we obey God, the more we are really alive. The children of God are led by his Spirit into life that pleases him (v. 14).
The Spirit does not enslave us, does not frighten us with threats of condemnation, but gives us instead a secure membership in God's family (v. 15). Since the Spirit lives in us, we can confidently call God our Father--and this has important implications.
Since we are children of God, we are his heirs--heirs along with Jesus Christ himself (v. 17). This means an assurance of salvation and an assurance of glory--but it also means that we suffer in this age, as he did. When our lives are placed in Christ, we share in his life, both the good and the bad. We share in his sufferings, in his death, in his righteousness and in his resurrection to glory. As God's children, we are co-heirs with Christ, sharing in who he is and what he has done. We belong to him.
Even though as Christians we have pain, "our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (v. 18). Just as there was for Jesus, there is joy set before us--so much better, that our current trials will seem trivial.
But we are not the only ones who will benefit. Paul explains that there is a cosmic significance to God's plan being worked out in us: "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed" (v. 19). The creation not only wants to see us in glory, it will also be blessed with change.
"For the creation was subjected to frustration ... in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God" (vs. 20-21). The creation is now in decay; its original purpose is frustrated. But at the resurrection, when we are given the glory that rightly belongs to God's children, the universe will also be freed from its bondage. The universe has been redeemed by the work of Jesus Christ (Col. 1:19-20).
Even so, the creation is currently struggling, burdened, in pain, as it forms the womb in which the children of God are being birthed (Rom. 8:22). We also groan in pain, even though we have an advance payment of salvation--the Holy Spirit living in us. Although we are already children of God, our salvation is not yet complete. We wait, with a mixture of patience and eagerness, for "the redemption of our bodies" (v. 23). Our adoption will then be completed.
This is the hope that we have in salvation--even our bodies will be made new, transformed into glory. The physical world is not junk that must be tossed aside--God made it good, and he will make it good again. We do not see this yet, neither in creation nor in our own bodies, but we have confident hope that it will be so. As Paul says, "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently" (v. 25).
We live in the situation of "already but not yet": already redeemed, but not yet completely redeemed. We are already freed from condemnation, but not yet completely freed from sin. We are already in the kingdom, but it is not yet in its fullness. We live with aspects of the age to come, even as we struggle with aspects of the old age.
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" (v. 26). God knows our limitations and frustrations. He knows that our flesh is weak even when our spirit is willing, so his Spirit intercedes for us in ways we cannot put into words.
God's Spirit does not remove our weakness, but helps us in our weakness. He bridges the gap between old and new, between what we see and what he has declared us to be. We see that we still sin even though we want to do righteousness (Rom. 7:14-25). Despite this discrepancy, we can be confident that the Holy Spirit does what we cannot.
Even despite our trials, our weakness and our sins, "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose" (v. 28). God has a plan for us, and he has already begun to do his work in us; we can be confident that he will see it through to completion (Phil. 1:6).
God planned in advance that we should become like his Son, Jesus Christ. So he called us through the gospel, justified us through faith in his Son, and united us with him in his glory (Rom. 8:29-20). We don't yet see all that, but we can be confident that God is doing it.
"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (vs. 31-32). If God went so far as to give us his Son even when we were sinners, we can be sure that he will give us everything else that we need to make it.
On the day of judgment, no one can accuse us, for God has declared us not guilty (v. 33). No one can condemn us, for Christ our Savior is interceding for us (v. 34). No matter what trials we have, "we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (v. 37). Victory is given to us! Nothing can separate us from the plan that God has for us. Absolutely nothing can separate us from his love (vs. 38-39).
Michael Morrison
Come Celebrate Christ 2000 in Myrtle Beach was truly a blessed event. An average of 1,900 worshippers praised God with a powerful sense of joy and liberation.
Our theme was "Go and Make Disciples," and all of the sermon messages supported this in a dramatic way. Each sermon built on the previous one and the leadership of the Holy Spirit was obvious.
Pastor General Joseph Tkach spoke on Sunday, Oct. 15, to the largest gathering of the celebration (2,260 attended that service). Dr. Tkach requested that we call him Joe, and he commented about the noticeable spiritual growth he witnessed in the Myrtle Beach participants.
In conjunction with the regular services, Larry Hinkle supervised a festival evangelism school. Members were introduced to a variety of evangelism strategies and given practical ideas that they can incorporate into their Christian lives. The 221 members who participated in all seven classes were given a certificate.
One of the greatest blessings was the involvement of our young people. Most of our teens and twenty-somethings were either on stage or up front leading in worship.
Other highlights included an opening concert by Mark Shultz, a sermon for the ages by Tim Brassell, an inspirational drama called "Make Us One," a call to salvation by Bruce Marchiano, and six baptisms in the Atlantic Ocean. God did great things in Myrtle Beach and all the glory goes to him.
To order audiotapes, send check or money order payable to Dillon LCAF to David Mioduski, 966 Declaration Drive, Florence, South Carolina, 29501. The sermon set is $20, and the evangelism school is $25. For more information e-mail David at dmioduski@aol.com.
To order videotapes send check or money order to Fayetteville LCAF to Norman Case, 917 Cricket Knoll Rd., Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, 27526. The sermon set is $60, and the evangelism school is $60. For more information send e-mail to Norman at saveeagles@yahoo.com
Greg Williams
SEASIDE,
Oregon--For the sixth year in a row, Seaside attendees have continued in the spirit of
giving to the community.
This year, members contributed one ton of food and donated more than $4,600 to aid Clatsop County in feeding and caring for the needy. Frida Fraunfelder, Clatsop Community Action executive director, wrote to festival coordinator Joel Lillengreen: "The commitment of your church resulting in your gifts to our agency is like a ray of hope and a promise of comfort to people in need."
At the opening night service, Seaside Mayor Rosemary Baker-Monaghan welcomed members to the community and expressed how much the community enjoys having the WCG. Also on opening night, the Seaside Ecumenical Bell Choir performed special music.
The church invited the former mayor of Seaside, Joyce Williams, and Ruth Merrill, Seaside Chamber ambassador, to a Not Just for Seniors luncheon.
FOOD DRIVE--Bob and Bernice Hurford of the Portland, Oregon, West congregation, who have helped coordinate the food drive for three years. [Photo courtesy Seaside Signal]
A group of 88 members enjoyed a Fall Foliage cruise on Holland America Oct. 9 to 20. The cruise began on the St. Lawrence River in Montreal, and from there went to Quebec; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Bar Harbor, Maine; Boston, Massachusetts; Newport, Rhode Island; and ended in New York City.
Curtis May, district superintendent of the southwest district, gave a message Oct. 15 from John 4 about Jesus setting the prime example for us in being ministers of reconciliation. Mr. May, his wife, Jannice, and several members attended some Bible studies on board ship sponsored by Back to the Bible radio broadcast. They met the producer and co-host, Don Hawkins, as well as a past president of the National Association of Evangelicals, Billy Melvin.
Dennis Pelley
VISITORS--Don Hawkins (far left), producer of Back
to the Bible broadcast; and Billy Melvin, a past president
of the National Association of Evangelicals; with middle
from left, Dennis Pelley and Curtis May.
On
each day of the festival in Battleford, different aspects of the freedom we have because
of Jesus' sacrifice were discussed.
Speakers from the Christian community shared their perspectives on what freedom in Christ meant to them. The final weekend featured country gospel music by Country Light from the Evansburg, Alberta, congregation.
Bill Hall
In
Edmonton Jesus was preached as our source of renewal, the one who finds us where we are
and the one who loves sinners.
Steve Bell, recording artist, drew a crowd of 300 for an evening concert Oct. 15.
Seminars covered themes from the Alpha lecture series designed to
ground new members in the basics of Christianity. Gordon Graham presented insights into
aging and death, and Mary 
Ross, Christian
counselor, discussed healthy relationships and understanding anxiety and depression.
Mike Feazell, director of Denominational Publications, was guest speaker for the close of the festival. He presented seminars on predestination and the fate of the unevangelized dead.
Bob Millman
On
the first weekend in Halifax, members from Nova Scotia were joined by members from New
Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. Saturday evening, Oct. 14, the singing group, Glory
Bound, entertained us and led our praises to God.
Other events included a workshop on using a Christian toolbox to deepen our walk with Christ, and a eucharist celebration looking forward to the coming of Christ.
Owen Willis
Members
heard from Kimberly Keith, director of Street Level, a Christian-based outreach to the
youths of Penticton; and Wayne Parry, Community Services director for the Salvation Army
in Penticton. He spoke on the needs of the food bank in Penticton. In response, members
contributed $2,243.48 to Street Level and a huge pile of food to the Food Bank.
Members also gave $2,088.50 for the orphanage in Madagascar featured on the fall newsreel.
Bob Morton
Sixty
members gathered from many parts of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Ontario to worship God.
The Atlantic Ocean provided a dramatic backdrop to the physical surroundings. Regional director Gary Moore and his wife, Tamara, were in St. John's for the last half of the festival.
Chris Starkey
Discipleship
was the theme for the festival in Toronto. Gary Walsh, president of the Evangelical
Fellowship of Canada, guest speaker on the first day, said he had followed our
denominational transformation and anticipated our application for membership in the EFC.
He said he sees the Holy Spirit at work in many denominations preparing the Body of Christ
for the challenges of the Post-Christian world.
Gus Thomas of Toronto East organized a youth service that featured teen testimonies, two children's dramas and the children's choir leading the congregation in "Lord I Lift Your Name On High," complete with body movements.
Throughout the week, youths were included in the services through children's messages and youth Bible studies. Downpour, the Abbottsford, British Columbia, praise and worship band, contributed worship and personal ministry Friday night, Oct. 20, at the youth service. At that service, Kevin Armstrong encouraged the audience to not only believe in Jesus, but to follow him in life.
Derrick Henderson
Youths were present throughout the week at Camp Vendee. They led the service Wednesday, Oct. 18, with two leading worship, two leading in the opening and closing prayers, and the other two operating the sound system and making sure the hymn overheads appeared as necessary.
Eighteen teens came for services Friday night to Sunday, with several returning from the previous weekend. The theme for the youth service on Saturday was prayer, in which the youths prayed together in groups of three.
Dennis Lawrence
Members
in Winnipeg came together for an evening of praise and prayer for the city of Winnipeg.
Bill McNairn, an elder for Union Gospel Mission to the homeless, spoke of the needs of
people living in the inner city. A collection of food was sent back to the mission with
Mr. McNairn.
Alan Redmond
By Arlan Aquino
MANILA, Philippines--The Philippines had 14 festival sites around the country, three of which met for eight days. In attendance were 2,100 members.
"Joy" best describes members' celebration of Christ. Many rejoiced at the spirit of family togetherness and Christian camaraderie. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the singing was inspired. Activities included parlor games for children and teens, dinner-talk for singles and couples, get-togethers for the seniors, family days, family dances, and festival talent shows.
Members at five sites had classes in the Servant-Leaders Development Program. The classes conducted were counseling, interpersonal relationships, family studies, models of ministry and WCG Statement of Beliefs.
Members in Bacolod visited a shelter for abandoned and abused children. They shared toys, used clothing and medicine. They also played games and had lunch with the children.
Other outreaches conducted by members in two sites were visits to prison facilities and a home for the aged, destitute and dying. Several churches also conducted seeker services.
At Celebrate Christ 2000, some found rest and renewal. Others were energized in seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Others received strength for greater service. One put it this way: "Forgetting myself and reaching out to others in the spirit of Christ's love has made this year's festival celebration a wonderful experience for me."
Baguio City [Photo by Belle Salisipan]
By Leanne Ashcroft
BURLEIGH HEADS, Australia--Festival 2000 was an occasion for celebrating the grace of God, rejoicing in our hope in Jesus Christ and enjoying a time of refreshment and rejuvenation at 15 sites around the region.
"It truly was an amazing festival with a real focus on God evident in all the youths present," said Meredith Simmonds, who attended in Lakes Entrance, Victoria.
Children and youths visited a nursing home and presented gifts and entertainment. In addition, the youths were hosts for a lively service focusing on Jesus Living in Us--Now. Festival coordinators Colin and Lynne Hardy, along with Karl Leiminger, presented a series of workshops on parenting, small groups and worship as a way of life.
People from throughout Australia converged on Camp Clayton in Tasmania for six days of "inspiration and relaxation all in one place," said June Henricks from Brisbane, Queensland.
Peter Shurley, a national gospel artist and speaker, attended the men's breakfast and a morning service. Phil Hopwood, festival co-ordinator, said that he focused on "the importance of the gospel for everyone and how we have the responsibility of urgently communicating the gospel to the people we come across every day."
Another highlight came from Heavenly Hands, a group of young women who perform Christian songs with Australian Sign Language.
Rotorua, New Zealand, enjoyed a number of guest speakers this year including former Christian radio talkback host Jim Stinton, who gave a motivational message on getting out and living the Christian life. Ivan Bowen, an 85-year-old ex-national-champion shearer, spoke about his personal Christian walk and how to be a witness to others. Four people gave their lives to Christ in response to his message.
Charles and Susi Albrecht from Pasadena also ran a seminar on small group ministry. Following the theme of spiritual refreshment, messages focused on how we can refresh ourselves in the presence of God through meditation and how we need to live and rejoice in the present. Emphasis was also on our role in God's kingdom harvest.
"We understood more fully than ever before the necessity to focus our God-given gifts and talents outward to those in dire need of the gospel, rather than on ourselves," said Chris Gough, from Auckland, New Zealand.
Festival celebrations in northern India took a slightly different approach this year. Members decided that the goal of their festival would be to take the message of God's kingdom and Christ's second coming to people who have not heard it.
Concentrating their efforts in Hyderabad and Mumbai, members invited as many as possible to the two-day festival at each site. About 50 guests attended at both sites and heard messages on the theme "Will God Ever Control the Evil in this World?"
In a culture where time is cyclical and evil is repeated endlessly, the message that time was created by God and will come to an end, along with all evil, was refreshing.
Communion services were conducted at various sites, providing a special occasion for many newly baptized members and a valuable time to stop and reflect on the awesome work of Jesus Christ for each and every one of us.
Caloundra, Australia [Photo by Sheryl Richardson]
Rotorua, New Zealand [Photo by Eleanor Hooper]
By John Stettaford
In Germany, reports Santiago Lange, the festival was enjoyed by 220 in Bonndorf, in the Black Forest.
Members took part in a joint church service with the Evangelical Church in Bonndorf, according to Alois Mair. Two guest speakers from the WCG festival, Thomas Jammerthal from the Bonndorf Evangelical State Church and Hans Muehrmann, National Coordinator of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Germany, shared the pulpit on the same evening.
Three seminars were offered: a seminar about building healthy congregations, led by Manfred Beutel, a church growth expert and pastor; a Tour Through the Bible, an interactive seminar led by Thomas Brinkmann, a Methodist minister, and a seminar about marriage and family, led by Thomas Schirrmacher from the Free Reformed Church in Bonn.
The Portuguese festival site was at Sines, a coastal resort south of Lisbon. Festival coordinator Jose Ribiero, national leader in Portugal, reports that there were about 25 in attendance including visitors.
Just over 50 members from eight countries attended the festival in Tallinn, capital of Estonia, writes Mike Barlow. They enjoyed three fellowship meals, one of them being in Tartu, about 115 miles from Tallinn. They invited the public to a concert that related, in song, the story of humans from Eden to the New Jerusalem. Before every service small groups discussed a range of given biblical topics connected with the sermon themes.
More than 100 gathered on the Spanish island of Majorca to celebrate the festival, reports Dawn Evans Radford.
Christian fellowship and worship services were conducted alternately in Spanish and English, each with translation. Festival coordinator was Spanish pastor Pedro Rufian. A talent show featured Spanish and international members. The highlight was a traditional Spanish dance, with guitar and Andalusian song. After the festival more than 70 participants remained for a special worship and praise service.
About 230 people, including about 140 guests, attended the festival site in northern Italy, writes coordinator Daniel Bosch. Translations of all activities were offered in English, German, Italian and French. Seminars were offered on child-rearing, on the persecuted church by the Open Doors association, and on the evangelical world in Italy by an Italian professor representing the Italian Evangelical Association.
In the Netherlands, Gerrie Belo reports, that about 160 people celebrated the festival. This year's theme was John 10:10: "I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly."
"Dutch members have a great longing to experience everything Christ has to offer," explains Henk Buist, festival coordinator. "Our theme was applied to every activity, sermons, workshops and Bible studies--all designed to help focus more on God."
Several readers of LifeLine [magazine put out by the WCG in the Netherlands] attended.
In northern Greece about 120 people attended the festival in Macedonia, writes Reg Newton. Many returned from last year, and K.J. Stavrinides gave messages on Paul the Bringer of Christianity to Europe; The Greek Orthodox Church; The Byzantine and Roman Influences; and Phillip II and Alexander the Great.
Eli Chiprout noted that the purpose of the festival was to follow in the footsteps of the apostle Paul as he crossed over to this area referred to as Macedonia. The tour visited the New Testament sites of Neapolis, Philippi and Thessalonica.
In Bugibba, Malta, 88 members enjoyed an uplifting spiritual festival, reports Gus Rycroft, with the theme of striving to be more Christ-like.
In Bridlington, England, sermons were supplemented by seminars to equip members to become more confident in their Christian walk, writes Robert Harrison.
In London, England, Olivier Carion set the tone for the site by requesting a family approach, writes Hilary Reeve. Attendance for the first two days was increased by the presence of overseas members on the England festival bus tour. Activities included visits to Greenwich, Oxford and Windsor. A collection of rice, pasta, flour and sugar was organized for the European Trust to help feed needy children in Eastern Europe.
In Paignton, England, services and activities focused on inclusiveness and the practicalities of living the Christian life, writes coordinator Harry Sullivan. Doc Gibbs and his wife, Vera, from Dallas, Texas, gave insight into a wider appreciation of worship formats.
In Oban, Scotland, numbers were boosted on the first two days, especially with U.S. members on the Celtic tour, writes Hamish Dougal. Tony and Wendy Lodge, guest speakers from southwest England, conducted workshops on interpersonal relationships and marriage.
By James Henderson
A common thread runs through festival reports received from the four corners of this vast continent--enthusiastic determination to celebrate our salvation in Jesus Christ.
From Saldanha near Cape Town, South Africa, in the south, through the central African countries of the Congo and Cameroon, to Accra, Ghana, in the west, and Mombasa, Kenya, in the east, members travelled by car, bus, bicycle and on foot to participate in this inspiring celebration of our salvation in Jesus.
In West Africa brethren gathered at various sites in Ghana, Nigeria and Togo to celebrate Christ and focus on loving relationships. Shortly before the festival, ethnic clashes erupted in Lagos, Nigeria, during which more than 100 people died. Thankfully, none of our members were affected, and many made a great effort to attend services despite a severe fuel shortage.
In East Africa a two-day festival was conducted at Shanzu Teachers College in Mombasa on the Kenyan coast. A three-day festival was conducted in western Kenya, where three members began with an hour of prayer for the areas they came from, and where poverty and illness are common trials. The following day, more members arrived and the theme Celebrating Our Redemption in Jesus Christ got into full swing.
In Uganda, William Othieno travelled to the troubled area of Kitgum in the north. Earlier, one of our members was abducted by rebels and kept prisoner for nine hours, after which the member was released unharmed. In Kitgum, a number of new congregations are in the process of affiliating with us, and during his stay Mr. Othieno baptized 27 people.
In South Africa, festivals were conducted in three main centers. At Saldanha in southwestern Cape, the Fishers of Men theme was appropriate to the scenery. A cause for great concern, yet grateful thanks to God for his intervention occurred when two women survived a horrendous car accident without a scratch.
The Durban members conducted a four-day festival during the last week of September at the KwaZulu-Natal south coast town of Port Edward. The theme was experiencing spiritual breakthroughs, which came to light in all the messages.
Rustenburg Kloof Resort in the Magaliesberg Mountains of the Northwest Province of South Africa provided a congenial venue. The theme was Rejoice, the Lord is King.
In Cameroon, festivals were conducted at Yaounde, Douala and Limbe. The festival centered on a celebration of the advent and future return of Jesus Christ.
In Foulpointe, Madagascar, 11 adults, nine teenagers and 60 children from the affiliated orphanage Le Triomphe comprised the group.
In most areas where members did not wish to or could not afford to attend the regional celebrations, provision was made for them to meet as normal at weekly service times. Jesus was not only celebrated at the main sites but also at services and meetings all over Africa.
BUFFALO, New York--For more than two years, Buffalo South children ages 3 and older have contributed their children's mite money to the orphanage in Madagascar run by Believe Rasoarinosy, a WCG member.
Last June the Buffalo youngsters were challenged to see how much money they could raise for the orphanage before their first fall class. Part of the challenge was finding ways to earn money over the summer.
Five children, ages 7 to 11, accepted the challenge and collectively earned $333.81. Elizabeth Holdsworth earned her share by doing her brother's newspaper route, while Alicia Solberg collected cans for deposit and washed cars.
Andrew Knaack sold vegetables from his garden and did numerous odd jobs in the neighborhood. Larisa and Trevor Hussak also collected cans and stacked wood along with odd jobs at home.
Debbie Hussak, children's coordinator, surprised the children with a party to thank them for their efforts. The children enjoyed their adventures enough to want to make the fund raising an annual event. They would like to challenge youth groups around the United States to do the same. Hannah Knaack.
PASADENA--Children attending Vacation Bible School Aug. 14 to 19 contributed more than $200, enough for the Bengali Evangelical Association to buy almost six goats for people in Bangladesh.
The Vacation Bible School was sponsored by NewLife Fellowship for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. During the five days children learned songs, played games and learned God's plan for them. They considered these questions: 1) Why are we here? 2) Why do bad things happen? 3) What is God like? 4) Why did Jesus have to die? and 5) What do I do now?
Vacation Bible School started with 35 children but by the fifth day 60 children were in attendance.
For information see the NewLife website at www.newlife3.org John Zaprzala.
VBS FINALE--Rayminda Reyes (back to camera) leads children in
performance for parents on last day of Vacation Bible School, Aug. 19.
[Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]
The Worldwide News would like run some of the best photos from Worldwide Church of God members. Please include your name, age (if you are in your teens or younger), your church area, a daytime phone number and e-mail address. Photos can be of any subject. Send your photos to The Worldwide News, Best Photos, Pasadena, California, 91123. Photos will be accepted in two categories: ages 12 and younger and ages 13 and older. If you would like your photos returned, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
By Ronald Kelly
Because festival offerings and estate donations have been greater than our projections, income for 2000 has been near what we planned.
Our forecast was for $24 million from January through October, and that is on target. I hope you don't get tired of my good-news-bad-news comments. The good news is our income is meeting budget projections; the bad news is that our expenses are well above income, meaning we will use up to $6 million from the reserve fund.
While festival offerings and estate donations are up, regular mail income is lower than projections. Because this is our primary source of income, it helps if this figure remains steady. At the end of October, mail income for the year-to-date was $16.5 million. We had anticipated this amount to be closer to $17.5 million.
As I write, we are into our 2001 budget planning. Part of that planning is to forecast, as accurately as possible, the various categories of income: regular mail, festival offerings, estate donations, PTM