SEASIDE,
Oregon--For the sixth year in a row, Seaside attendees have continued in the spirit of
giving to the community.
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.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000