MISSION PROJECT--John Zaprzala receives
contributions for Bangladesh mission on last day
of the festival. [Photo by Ron Grove]
PASADENA--Members in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; and Palm Springs and Pasadena, California; contributed $1,800 to the Bengali Evangelical Association to buy 45 goats toward its goal of buying 1,000 goats and distributing them to people in Bangladesh.
To a poor Bengali person whose yearly income is around $260, paying $40 for a goat is small fortune. Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world, and a single goat given to a poor family averaging 10 members is a lifesaver and a means to economic survival.
One goat will produce up to four quarts of milk per day, a great source of milk for malnourished infants. Owning a goat raises self-respect and honor among neighbors because as goats multiply (average goats will have two or three kids per year), they can share this blessing with those less fortunate.
It is also a means to reach out to Muslims and Hindus with the gospel message. A person who has been given a means for physical salvation will be more open to hear about spiritual salvation. If you are interested in helping with this project, please write to the Bengali Evangelical Association, Box 776, Bryn Mawr, California, 92138. John Zaprzala.
MISSION PROJECT--John Zaprzala receives
contributions for Bangladesh mission on last day
of the festival. [Photo by Ron Grove]
Ross Jutsum of State of the Heart Ministries served at the festival sites in Hot Springs, Arkansas; Seaside Oregon; Penticton, British Columbia; and Edmonton, Alberta.
Dr. Jutsum, former chair of the Ambassador University Music Department, led worship at two services and at a Family Praise Evening in Hot Springs. "I was particularly moved by the encouraging comments of guest speakers, H.B. London [of Focus on the Family] and Jan Johnson [women's ministry speaker]. Their warm respect for our fellowship, as well as their vision for our place in the Body of Christ, were expressed quite profoundly."
In addition to leading worship at the final two festival worship celebrations in Edmonton, on Sunday, Oct. 22, Dr. Jutsum was invited to give a testimony in worship and song at the Gospel Centre, and then serve as a guest at the opening night of a Community Crusade with evangelist Jack Wright.
"I believe that these visits bring the number of different denominations in which I have been invited to lead worship to 37," Dr. Jutsum said. "It seems quite fitting to follow the eight days of worship and renewal in our fellowship with helping out with a revival in another part of the Body."
BARABOO,
Wisconsin--More than 200 brethren met to worship and celebrate Christ the weekend of Oct.
13 to 15. The Baraboo congregation was host for services at the Walnut Hill Bible Church
in Baraboo. The La Crosse, Wisconsin, and Rochester, Minnesota, congregations assisted.
Pastor Doug Peitz and his wife, Rosa, were coordinators.
Members took communion Sunday, Oct. 15. "Observing the Lord's Supper more than once a year has become a blessing," said Lori Campbell of Rochester. "Not only does it help keep our lives focused, but it has created an avenue where our children see our commitment and renewal to Christ, and they are expressing interest in forming their own commitment, even at a young age. That's exciting."
HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas--The Office of Reconciliation Ministries (ORM) had a booth displaying the goals and missions of ORM at the festival site in Hot Springs.
About 750 people attended the site, and many obtained the ORM newsletter Reconcile. A number of books on reconciliation were on display. Chris Beam.
SOLDOTNA, Alaska--More than 75 Alaskan members and friends enjoyed a Spirit-filled and rejuvenating time at Solid Rock Bible Camp near Soldotna, Oct. 20-22.
Activities included an opening night praise and worship service led by friends from The Abundant Life Assembly of God Praise Band. After breakfast, prayer meetings set the atmosphere for each day. The weekend came to a close with a communion service. Barbara A. Johnson.
ROARING BRANCH, Pennsylvania--In the Endless Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, members from five states memorialized and celebrated the living Christ.
The celebration took place Sept. 14 to 18 at the Mount Zion Retreat Center in Roaring Branch.
Bert Brandes and Darlene Plate were the worship leaders, and Pastor Lou Tsiknas officiated the communion and final service. Duane Dietrick.
HAWAII--Seventy-seven people attended a four-day festival at the Turtle Bay Hilton on the Hawaiian island of Oahu Oct. 14 to 17. Neil Earle, festival coordinator, conducted a service at the home of Pastor Gary Crowell and his wife, Risa, Oct. 21.
Members heard messages from Jeb Egbert, director of the Summer Educational Program, and Bob Persky, Florida district superintendent. His wife, Kay, gave a testimonial, and members provided aid to and prayed for a Japanese tourist (outside our fellowship) who died in an accident during the festival.
An offering was collected, part of the proceeds of which went to help finance a diesel irrigation pump for members in Bucay, in the Philippines. George and Carolyn McIntosh of Canada presented a gift from the Calgary, Alberta, church that went to support this project as well. Neil Earle.
WORSHIPFUL PRAISE--Kay Persky
(left) leads the Hawaiian festival singers.
[Photo by Susan Earle]
MURFREESBORO, Tennessee--The Murfreesboro congregation was host to 150 members, family and friends from middle Tennessee and neighboring states who came to the Ramada Conference Center to celebrate Jesus Christ.
Friday, Oct. 13, an evening of praise and worship featured a number of singers, musicians and the Clarksville Praise Band. The praise group also led worship on Saturday and Sunday.
Members of another church joined the group on Saturday and taught some praise dancing as part of worship. Richard A. Weber.
MURFREESBORO FESTIVAL--Families and
friends join in on festival event. [Photo by Elaine Sobiek]
HOUSTON, TEXAS--The Houston North and Hope Community Church WCG congregations participated with 107 other Houston churches Oct. 7 to be hosts for the Convoy of Hope.
Convoy of Hope is a worldwide ministry that brings in trucks of food to give away to needy people. It works with area churches to distribute food and provide services such as medical and dental care, a job fair and hair cuts. Each person who attends hears the gospel message and then is given bags of food.
More than 4,600 people attended, and 600 gave their lives to Christ. To learn more about Convoy of Hope, call 1-417-823-8998, send e-mail to info@convoyofhope.org or visit their website at www.convoy ofhope.org Chris Beam.
HOUSTON VOLUNTEERS--Some of the Houston, Texas,
members who helped with the Convoy of Hope. [Photo by Lue Ennis]
Bookings for the Western Caribbean 2001 festival cruise are ahead of last year's rate, as more than 100 people have already paid deposits.
A discount of 65 percent on most cabins and the warm weather ports of call are partly responsible for the interest.
Typically cabins at the low introductory prices (starting at $579 plus port charges and taxes) and those with verandas tend to fill quickly. Those who want these cabins are encouraged to book early. Please contact John Siston at Travel Gallery for a complete cruise packet. (Call him at 1-800-858-6999 or send e-mail to him at john@travelgallery.com)
In the September WN, a 2001 Turkey festival tour was advertised. Here is the complete itinerary of that tour.
Sunday, Sept. 30: Depart United States from your gateway city.
Monday, Oct. 1: Arrive Istanbul.
Tuesday, Oct. 2: Istanbul. Site of the Hippodrome, Blue Mosque, Aya Sofia and archaeology museum.
Wednesday, Oct. 3: Istanbul. Topkapi Palace, Egyptian Spice Market, underground water cistern, Istanbul's Grand Bazaar.
Thursday, Oct. 4: Fly to Izmir. Tour of ruins of Smyrna.
Friday, Oct. 5: Motorcoach to Pergamum. Visit Acropolis and Asclepion. Return to Izmir.
Saturday, Oct. 6: Motorcoach to Ephesus. Tour ruins. Drive to Kusadasi. Return to Izmir.
Sunday, Oct. 7: Motor coach to Pamukkale. Visit ruins of Laodicea. Tour Hieropolis and Necropolis and hot springs. Overnight in Pamukkale.
Monday, Oct. 8: Motorcoach back to Izmir airport. Board plane for Istanbul.
Tuesday, Oct. 9: Istanbul. Early evening cruise on the Bosphorus. Farewell dinner.
Wednesday, Oct. 10: Return flights to United States or optional tour.
Cappadocia optional tour
Wednesday, Oct. 10: Depart Istanbul on flight to Kayseri.
Thursday, Oct. 11: Kayseri. Tour of troglodyte dwellings. Visit Uchisar, Urgup, Goerme, Zelve and Avanos.
Friday, Oct. 12: Visit underground city of Kaymakli and the Agzikarahan Caravansari. Transfer to airport for evening flight to Istanbul.
Saturday, Oct. 13: Transfer to airport for flight to home city.
For application packet and more information please contact John Siston at Travel Gallery; 1388 E. Walnut St.; Pasadena, California, 91106-1528; 1-800-858-6999; fax: 1-626-577-0577; e-mail: john@travel gallery.com web: www.travel gallery.com
BOREHAMWOOD, England--John Halford, regional director, reports that the British Office is planning a festival tour of selected European capitals for 2001.
Details will be forthcoming. Those interested should contact John Siston at Travel Gallery at 1-800-858-6999.
PASADENA--K.J.
Stavrinides is organizing a biblical study conference on the Book of Revelation in April
in Greece. Dr. Stavrinides will examine the book from beginning to end, so as to show what
the apostle John was conveying to the churches he was addressing.
The conference will be conducted in northern Greece April 21 to 29. It will entail intensive, three-hour, morning and afternoon sessions (a total of 30 hours in class). Two all-day tours are also included--to the biblical sites of Philippi and Thessalonica--with on-bus explanations and on-site lectures. Free time for shopping and entertainment is included.
The conference is for serious students of the Bible. The hotel is right on the beach. Fees are being negotiated but should be about $500 for a single person, $800 for couples and $1,100 for families of three. The fees will include transportation from and to the airport of Thessaloniki, hotel accommodation for the duration of the conference, breakfast, one main meal per day, tours and entrance to archaeological sites and museums.
Early registration is recommended so it can be known whether we have the minimum number of applicants to claim the above prices or better. In the event of over-booking, applicants will be accepted in the order their applications are received.
For reservations from the United States, contact K.J. Stavrinides at K._J._Stavrinides@wcg.org, or by letter at 425 E. Arrow Hwy. No. 334, Glendora California, 91740.
For reservations from Europe, please contact Michael Marcou at Michael_Marcou@wcg.org, or by letter at Box 54047, New Philadelphia, 14310 Athens, Greece.
PASADENA--The Pasadena Spanish and NewLife congregations conducted their first worship services at their new meeting facility, a boys and girls club in Pasadena, Nov. 4 and 5.
That leaves only the Pasadena A.M. congregation still meeting on campus while it searches for a new facility.
ORLANDO, Florida--A tri-district conference for pastors and members is scheduled for Jan. 12 (Friday afternoon) through Jan. 14 in Jekyll Island, Georgia,
Districts included will be Florida (Bob Persky, superintendent), Mid-Atlantic (Keith Brittain, superintendent) and Southeast (Al Barr, superintendent).
Members in those three districts can ask their pastor for details and a registration form. Members in any district can call Marty Davey, registration coordinator, at 1-352-473-8497. Completed registration forms should be mailed to Mr. Davey at Box 611, Middleburg, Florida, 32050. Motels will be listed on the registration form with phone numbers for members to make their own arrangements. Registration is also available on the Internet at http://churches.wcg.org /orlando
The conference will be in the Jekyll Island Convention Center, (location of previous fall festivals). Capacity is about 1,600.
Carol Register of the Orlando, Florida, church wrote about last year's conference: "As a lay member, I appreciated being included in a pastors conference. In the past this would have been unheard of. There was such a wall of separation between the pastors and the brethren because of the authority structure of the church at that time. With our understanding now, that we are all in the priesthood of Christ, the wall of separation is being knocked down.
"I left the conference thinking: `Wow, what the pastors deal with day to day is much tougher than I thought. I really need to be praying for them more!' I knew your job could be tough, but the conference helped me realize how heavy on your hearts the burden is that you carry for the care of your congregation.
"All of the pastors at the conference seemed interested in what the lay members there had to say. It made me feel valued as a member of this church. I enjoyed the separate women's ministry seminar by Barbara Rogers that I attended. She had us break into small groups, which were intimate and nurturing. It seemed to me that the feedback both ways was important to all. Being valued in this way encourages my loyalty to our church." Bob Persky.
FRISCO, Texas--The SEP Office announced the following youth district weekends.
Dec. 8 to 10: Camp Summit, Lewisville, Texas; $50; host, Frisco church; speaker, Jeb Egbert; worship, Nuclear Family and others; contact, Barb Egbert at 1-972-712-5739 or barb_egbert@wcg.org
Dec. 21 to 23: Blowing Rock, North Carolina, Blowing Rock Assembly Grounds; $55 teen and young adults ($18 to $30 extra for skiing); $35 for adults; speaker, Greg Williams; worship, Paul David Kurts and others; contact, Mr. Kurts at 1-828-313-2311 or paul_david_kurts@wcg.org
Dec. 29 to 31: Prescott, Arizona, United Christian Youth Camp; host, New Life Christian Fellowship (WCG in Flagstaff Arizona); $55; speaker, Jeb Egbert, worship, Tom Kuipers, Katrina Weber, Hector Amaya and others. Contact: Jason and Teresa Haas at 1-520-522-9123 or jsh24@dana.ucc.nau.edu
Dec. 29 to 31: Memphis, Tennessee; WCG Worship Center; host, Memphis congregation; $35; speaker, Jeff Broadnax; worship, SEP Connection; contact: Frederick Moore at frederick_moore@wcg.org or Jennifer Moore at psycho jen777@juno.com or call her at 1-901-377-2415
Dec. 28 to 31: Minneapolis, Minnesota, $55 if skiing or $20 for non-skiers; host, Minneapolis-St. Paul congregation; speaker Doug Johannsen; worship, Twin Cities Youth Praise Team; contact Jeff and Sarah Skrove at 1-763-856-3578 or by e-mail at skrove@earthlink.net
Jan. 5 to 7: Covington, Louisiana, $40; host, Anthony Rice; speaker, Jim Blackwell; worship, Jim Blackwell and others. Contact Joy Cryer at 1-337-239-7139 or send e-mail to joycryer@earthlink.net
Jan. 13 to 15: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; facility, Baraboo, Wisconsin; $55 to $120 (depending on ski package); speaker James Newby; worship, Cranial Halo; contact James Newby at 1-847-741-6653 or james_newby@wcg.org
Jan. 13 to 15: Utica, New York.
Feb. 16-18: Camp Cotubic, near Bellefontaine, Ohio (northwest of Columbus); host, Dayton and Tipp City, Ohio, congregations; worship, Dayton Youth Group; contact Jim Valekis at 1-937-432-1892 or jim_valekis@wcg.org
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