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July 2000
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This is our July cover
We used to think
that we were the only true church on earth, writes Pastor General Joseph Tkach.
We understood the Bible in a way that no one else did. We had doctrines that made us distinct from "all those other churches." We had a clear sense of identity.
We gradually came to see that our distinctive doctrines were in most cases a misunderstanding of the Bible. Our clear sense of identity was based on mistakes. We had to swallow our pride, and discover from the Bible who we really are. Page 6.
Some passages in
the New Testament indicate that we won't be saved unless we are doing good works. How do
these passages fit with the passages that tell us we are saved by grace and not by works?
Mike Feazell responds to this question and others in Standing in Christ Alone. Pages 8 to 11.
The
idyllic island nation of Fiji has erupted in political violence because of a May 19 coup.
Pastor Epeli Kanaimawi and his wife, Sofi, have been asked to serve the people of Fiji to try to bring peace again.
Mr. Kanaimawi reports on his meetings with coup leader George Speight and his efforts to help bring peace to the island nation. Pages 12 & 13.
The WCG in
Africa is alive with excitement, writes regional director James Henderson.
We are following Jesus so he can make us fishers of men in his time and at his pleasure.
We are learning to take the opportunities that God places before us. Stepping out in faith is becoming part of our Christ-nature. It is amazing to see how unexpected opportunities come our way and that we can use such occasions in his service. Pages 14 & 15.
Teen weekends took place in Jacksonville, Florida, and White Lake, North Carolina.
Teens in Jacksonville took part in World Vision's 30-Hour Famine to raise funds for starving children.
Teens in North Carolina had many opportunities for spiritual growth and enjoyed many recreational activities. Pages 18 & 19.
The 2000 Women's International Conference took place May 19 to 21 in Costa Mesa.
Two hundred women from three countries, 17 states and more than nine denominations met to laugh, cry, share and learn, writes Deena Murray.
One of the visiting women flew to the conference from Georgia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, after seeing the information about the WCG on the Internet.
The weekend wrapped up with the women being invited to meet in Des Moines, Iowa, for the 2001 conference. Pages 16 & 17.
The financial picture for the Worldwide Church of God is tracking pretty much according to projections, writes controller Ron Kelly.
Our regular member donations for May were a little more than $1.9
million. Income for January through May from all sources including estate donations as
well as PTM income and donations is now at $11,691,145. Page 29.
Attendees leave Auditorium after last service, June 17
Curtis May, district superintendent, gives message
Members gather in lobby after service
Pastor General Joseph Tkach gives sermon
Oasis Praise Band and choir lead worship. Inset: Dennis Pelley
People tour campus buildings
Ambassador Hall
[Photos by Nick Cavallo, Ron Grove and Thomas C. Hanson]
I just finished reading "Trusting God With the Problem of Sin" (June WN), and I guess WOW is the closest word I can find to describe how I felt. This article seemed to take all the previous articles and snap them into focus. I had a fair grasp of grace but now it is so much clearer.
I am excited to see the solidness and yet the simplicity of the explanations presented in the WN. I am impressed by the fact that even the smallest congregation in this denomination has such guidance so that we are not left to figure things out for ourselves.
The structure causes both the laity and the leaders to work from the same page. We can progress toward Christian maturity at our own pace but still stay on the same road together.
The bottom line is that I am proud to be a part of this denomination. I am excited at having the chance to preach the true gospel. I am humbled by seeing that the Spirit is working in front of me to make that road passable. I believe we are now in the finest hours of the WCG's history and it only looks like it will get better. Thanks to all of you who help keep us focused on the common goal of trusting Jesus.
It is indeed a good day to love God.
Michael Lampley
Tupelo, Mississippi
I enjoy reading and knowing about the churches in different parts of the world and the way our church is helping other people in many ways. I'm glad we can make a difference--a positive uplifting difference--in the lives of many people.
Lynn Bickel
Brighton, Colorado
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah--Gerald and Connie Schnarrenberger serve the Salt Lake City district. They live in Clinton, a northern suburb of Salt Lake.
The district extends from the southern border of Utah to the Canadian border and from eastern Oregon to western South Dakota and Nebraska.
Mr. Schnarrenberger also serves as a Church Administration staff member. He coordinates ministerial employment and transfers and new pastors training, writes the church's ministerial manual and provides guidance for bi-vocational pastors and house churches. While living in Pasadena, Mrs. Schnarrenberger worked for PTM and member files.
Both started attending the Worldwide Church of God in the late 1950s when it was still named the Radio Church of God. They have two children, a son, Gerald, in Spokane, Washington, and a daughter, Carla, in Minneapolis, Kansas.
They served in Pasadena from 1985 to 1987, where he was on the development team for the church's SWIFNET in-home WATS calling system. They were back in the field until 1994, when he was brought back to Pasadena to serve in Church Administration. They have served churches in Ohio, Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota and Illinois.
The following pastors, wives and congregations are in the Salt Lake City district.
Missoula, Montana: Jim and Sandra Anattol
Baker City, Oregon: Larry and Margaret Auld
Salt Lake City and Layton, Utah: Mike and Diane Kuykendall
Kalispell, Montana: Lloyd and Joanne Barrie
Rapid City, South Dakota: Michael and Delta Cody; Larry and Cleo Martin, co-pastors
Cheyenne, Wyoming: Shannon and Denise Fertig; John and Dorothy Flynn, co-pastors
Green River, Wyoming: Wayne and Barbara Fisher
Scottsbluff, Nebraska: Walter Ford
Ontario, Oregon: Wesley and Lavinia Higgins
Helena, Montana: Tobe and Barbara Johnson
Scottsbluff, Nebraska: John and Linda Kehn
Grand Junction, Colorado: Del and Louise Leger
Boise, Idaho: Bill and Priscilla Linge
Butte, Montana: Floyd and Patty Sayler
Wheatland, Wyoming: David and Rose Weber
SACRAMENTO,
California--Mike Swagerty began attending the WCG in 1964 after hearing the World Tomorrow
broadcast on radio for two years.
He met his wife, Sandy, while at Ambassador College, and they were married in 1968 upon graduation. They began their service in the ministry at that time, being assigned first to Toledo, Ohio, as an assistant pastor.
A little more than a year later, North New Jersey became their new home. They served there for six years. This was followed by pastoring assignments in Akron, Ohio, and Chicago, Illinois, until 1991, when they were moved to Sacramento, where they presently serve.
Mr. Swagerty became a district superintendent when this position was set up in 1993. He continues to function as the Sacramento pastor, enjoying both jobs.
They have two married sons, Terry, who lives with his wife, Carrie Ann, in Sacramento, and Robert, who lives with his wife, Angie, in Seattle, Washington.
The following pastors, wives and congregations are in the Sacramento district.
Reno and Battle Mountain, Nevada: Hugh and Linda Wilson
Chico, California: Larry and Judy Van Landuyt
Redding, California: Barry Mlinarcik
Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Modesto and Eureka, California: Steve and Karon Smith
San Francisco and San Leandro, California: Jim and Hazel Roberts
Fresno and Visalia, California: Joe and Susie McNair
San Jose and Watsonville, California: Mel and Barbara Dahlgren
Upper Lake, California: Ray and Elizabeth Shelton
San Francisco, California, Community Fellowship: Richard and Renee
Roberts
Personal from Joseph TkachWe used to think that we were the only true church on earth. We understood the Bible in a way that no one else did. We had doctrines that made us distinct from "all those other churches." We had a clear sense of identity.
Oops.
We gradually came to see that our distinctive doctrines were in most cases a misunderstanding of the Bible. Our clear sense of identity was based on mistakes. We had to swallow our pride, and discover from the Bible who we really are.
We are sinners, just like everybody else. We are saved by God's grace, just like everybody else. And we see ourselves not in opposition to the "other churches," but as part of the Christian community.
Each church has its own personality, and we have ours. Just like other churches, we have slightly different views on some minor matters. But these things do not define who we are, or what our purpose is. Rather, our identity is in Jesus Christ.
As Christians, we are defined by our faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot tell you who we are without also telling you who he is. We accept him as our Lord and Savior. He made us, he loves us, he died for us, and he lives to help us. Through him, we have eternal life.
Our mission is to tell others this wonderful news--the simple truth that God made us and wants really good things for us. Even though humans run away from God, act as if he's not there, or refuse his help, God still loves us.
He sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to become a human, to be one of us, to speak our language, to feel our pain. Jesus shows us what God is like, that God is willing to forgive us no matter what we've done wrong, no matter how evil we have been.
But forgiveness does not mean that God winks at evil. He hates evil, because it causes pain and suffering to the people he loves. So in Jesus, God accepted the suffering of sin himself, showing that he has the right to forgive our sins. The barrier between us and God is removed. We can return, if we want to.
In a way, all humanity has a mistaken identity. People think they can be self-sufficient and make their own way in the world. But an identity without God is a mistaken identity.
Many are sadly misinformed about what God is like. They've heard that he is mad at the world, ready to incinerate it. This is also a case of mistaken identity. What God is like is perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ. He is willing to suffer for us, even die for us, so that we can live forever with him.
Everyone has sinned, fallen short of perfection. And in Christ, God has done something about it.
People react to this in different ways. Some people won't accept the idea that Jesus died for their sins, because they don't think their sins were anywhere near that bad. They feel that God should accept them whether or not they accept Jesus. They have too high an opinion about themselves--a mistaken identity.
Others are painfully aware of their guilt, and are perpetually trying to make up for what they've done wrong. They try to earn their way back into God's favor.
They also overestimate their ability, for no one can work themselves back into God's favor. His favor is already there. Even when we were sinners, even when we were enemies, he loved us and sent his Son to die for us. No amount of work is going to make him love us any more than that.
Here's our true identity: We are sinners. We can't change that, but God
can. As his gift to us, he sent his Son to die for our sins, so we can be forgiven. And in
him, through faith in him, we find our true identity as his children. That's who we are,
and what our church is all about.
PASTORAL INTERNS--From left: Geoff Pittman, Louisville,
Kentucky; John Putterman, Pasadena Community Life; and David
Kaiser, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Not pictured: Micah Royal,
Fayetteville, North Carolina.
COMMISSIONING--New pastors and wives are commissioned
at the end of the New Pastor Intensive Training Session in Pasadena
May 29 to June 2. [Photos by Thomas C. Hanson]
Charles & (Kate) Adams
Assistant pastor
Richmond, Virginia
Patrick & Mary Adeleke
Miami, Florida, South
Frank & Kim Ancona
Bi-vocational pastor
Mount Airy, North Carolina
Walt & Pat Boyll
Assistant pastor
Grand Island, Nebraska
Arlen & Emma Bryant
Bi-vocational pastor
Cookeville, Tennessee
Arthur & (Diana) Courchesne
Bi-vocational pastor
Springfield, Massachusetts
Todd & Denise Crouch
Bi-vocational pastor
Washington, Pennsylvania
Shannon & Denise Fertig
Co-pastor
Cheyenne, Wyoming
John & Dorothy Flynn
Co-pastor
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Tommie & (Josephine) Grant
Bi-vocational pastor
Charleston, South Carolina
Warren Hill
Bi-vocational pastor
Salinas, California
David & (Christine) Kaiser
Intern
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Tony, Heather & Alex McKinney
Bi-vocational pastor
Marion, North Carolina
William L. & Kristina Miller
Bi-vocational pastor
Muncie, Indiana
Geoff Pittman
Intern
Lexington, Kentucky
Jonathan Putterman
Intern
Pasadena Community Life
Richard & Renee Roberts
Bi-vocational pastor
Community Fellowship
San Francisco, California
Dennis & Janet Robertson
Bi-vocational pastor
Jonesboro, Arkansas
(Not pictured)
Micah Royal
Intern
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Jeff & (Sally) Snyder
Bi-vocational pastor
Savannah, Georgia
Ron & (Gail) Stoddart
Pastor
Concord, New Hampshire;
Portland, Maine
Bob & Carol Thurlow
Assistant pastor
Portland, Maine
George & Jennifer Weber
Bi-vocational pastor
Bethel, Maine
Ezil & (Bessie) Wilder
Assistant pastor
Jackson, Tennessee
By J. Michael
Feazell
"OK, I can see that we're saved by grace and not by works, but I'm still not clear on a couple of things. For example, some passages in the New Testament indicate that we won't be saved unless we are doing good works. How do those passages fit with the passages that tell us we are saved by grace and not by works?"
Good question.
The truth is, just as these passages tell us, we cannot enter the kingdom of God unless we are righteous, unless we are meeting the righteous demands of the law of God (that is, the law of Christ, not the law of Moses). That is a fact, and there is no way around it. Unless we are righteous, we are doomed.
The bad news is, the righteous demands of the law, which are indeed righteous demands, leave us in exactly that position: doomed. Why? Because we don't have what it takes to be sinless. "There is no one who is righteous, not even one," Paul reminds us (Romans 3:10).
But that is where the gospel comes in. The gospel, which is, remember, good news, tells us that God made Christ, who was sinless, to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). Like the man said, it is good news.
That means we are saved by, and only by, God's gracious acts of love on our behalf. In spite of our rebellion, he loves us and wants us in his kingdom (John 6:40; 2 Peter 3:9). His eternal banquet of joy and celebration is so important to him that he has decided to have it overrun with guests even if the only guest-pool in the world is made up of nothing but loser, ne'er-do-well, no-good-nicks.
God wants us at his eternal dinner party, and he has made sure we can have, free of charge (because we haven't got the price of a ticket), the soapy scrub-down, fragrant oils and clean clothes not to stink it up. He has made sure, with no help from us, because we bring nothing to the arrangement but our smelly, dirty selves.
So, when we read a passage like Galatians 5:24, for example, we need to keep firmly in mind that this kind of person is exactly who God has made us to be in Christ. We are not righteous of ourselves; we are righteous only in Christ, and only by God's grace, and we can know that only by faith.
We can believe it or not, but that is what God says he has done. If we believe it, we will welcome the scrub-down and the clean outfit.
If we don't believe it, that is, if we don't accept God for who he is, the Father of Jesus Christ through whom he has saved the world, then we will simply continue the futile masquerade we call life and cut ourselves off from the joy of real life waiting for us in God's banquet hall.
In the kingdom of God, righteous pretenders aren't welcome. Only sinners who know they are sinners, and who trust God to forgive them and make them righteous in Christ, are allowed in. Pretenders, who think they are in some way more deserving, or more acceptable, or less dirty than the others, can't stay. They remain in their sins because they won't give up their little righteousness charade and trust God fully to be their righteousness.
Knowing what God has done for us and in us, we are led to work on ourselves to overcome the sin that so easily entangles us (Hebrews 12:1-3). But keep this in mind: we are accepted as righteous by God only because of what Christ has already done for us, not by our three-stooges-Keystone-cops-overcoming-performance, which is the best we can ever muster.
The Holy Spirit in us moves us to devotion, but the victory in which we participate is the victory of Christ (Ephesians 2:4-7). We can enjoy the glorious fruit of his victory only by trusting him, not by improving our behavior (Romans 3:27-28).
When we rest in Christ, the peace of God removes our doubt, fear, anxiety and worry (Philippians 4:6-7). We are secure in him, like a helpless baby comforted in his mother's arms.
When God sent his Son to die for our sins and to be raised for our life, he made two things indelibly clear: 1) He loves us immeasurably and unconditionally, to the point of taking our burden as his own, even to the point of death, and 2) Our salvation was entirely his work; there is nothing we can do to save ourselves.
What is it about sin that makes it so bad? Sin amounts to an inseparable gulf between us and God. Imagine what would happen to, say, a tomato plant if it suddenly declared independence from soil, water and light. Without resting in the elements that produce its life and growth, the wretched little plant is doomed.
It can never be what it is, a tomato plant, without soil, water and light. It can never do what tomato plants do--bear tomatoes--without soil, water and light. Yet our little rebel tomato plant, if we can still call it a tomato plant, has decided it has a better plan toward self-realization than the natural plan that makes tomato plants be tomato plants.
Sin amounts to a state of declared "independence" from God. It cuts us off from the very source of our life and being. It is refusal to be who we really are, who we were created to be, in a mad effort to be who we think we ought to be. Sin is more than mere actions. It is the very condition of our lives. Individual sins are merely the natural fruit of a corrupt heart.
On our own, because we are sinners, we are like that tomato plant, trying to scratch out a life for ourselves in a hostile world, ignorant of the fact that we are not even stuck in the ground. Lying as we are in the dark on the concrete sidewalk, the best we can hope for is to stay as green as we can for as long as we can and finally wither up and die.
But the gospel tells us that we are not on our own. God has come to our rescue and planted us in the rich, moist soil in broad daylight. What can we do about it? The truth is, there is nothing we can do about it. But we do have a choice about whether we will believe it and enjoy it or deny it and shut off our roots and close our leaves and go on pretending we are lying on our side in the dark on the sidewalk. Such tragic pretense can end only in withered ruin.
To put it another way, if any one of us is fog-brained enough to think we are actually acceptable and righteous before God because of our devoted efforts to do what is right and avoid what is evil, then what can anyone say? Imagine a spoiled can of Spam shedding a layer of its reeking, bacteria-infested mass and then humbly telling you that it would now, free of that layer of putrefaction, make an acceptable lunch for you, and you have something of the idea.
In other words, no matter how much you overcome, no matter how many sins you shed, no matter how many bad habits you replace with good ones, no matter how much better you are today than you used to be, it is still fourth down and one million yards to go.
That is why we need to get our minds off ourselves and onto our Lord and Savior. We need to give up on ourselves and put our trust in Christ. He fixes us from the inside out.
Quit looking at the evidence you see in your life and start trusting him to be for you and do for you what he says he will be for you and do for you. Quit worrying that he will not be faithful on account of your being a sinner, and start trusting him to forgive you and clean you up like he said he would.
You see, it works like this: your unfaithfulness does not keep God from being faithful. He will be faithful because that is the way he is--faithful. You can stick out your tongue at him all day long, and he will still be faithful. You will have a sore tongue and you will miss out on all the fun he wants you to have, but in spite of your woodenheadedness he will still be faithful.
He will not stop loving you and he will not stop knocking on your door, hoping you will let him come in and have supper with you. He is, and always will be, faithful, even when you are not.
We are free even to deny him. We are free to give up on him. We are free not to believe him, even to hate him. We have that choice, the choice to love our own self-defined pseudo-lives and turn down his gift of real life. We don't have to enjoy his kingdom. He will let us stew in the misery of sin and death if we want to.
Even so, he will always remain faithful, never forcing himself on us but always desiring our love.
As Paul wrote: "The saying is sure: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he will also deny us; if we are faithless, he remains faithful--for he cannot deny himself" (2 Tim. 2:11-13).
You can get yourself into all the trouble you want, and God will still be faithful. He will hurt for you and grieve for you, because he loves you, but he will not force you to trust him.
He earnestly wants you to trust him and receive the glorious benefits of his grace, mercy and love, but the choice is yours.
You ask me if you can sin and still be saved, and all I can say is that you are a sinner and God saves sinners, so there can be no other answer but yes. You ask me if I am trying to encourage you to sin, and I answer, no, I am not; I am encouraging you to trust God to love you and forgive you and save you in spite of your sins, because that is what he promises to do.
You ask me how a person can have true faith in Christ and still keep sinning, and I answer, it would be nice if we believers would quit sinning, but nobody, ever, in all history has quit sinning this side of death. You try to think of some other way to ask it, and I still can answer no other way and be faithful to the Word of God.
We are all sinners, and God saves us anyway, because saving sinners is what he does. That is not an invitation to sin; it is simply a fact. God remains faithful to us even when we are unfaithful to him, and thank God it is so. If we put our trust in him and admit we are sinners, he is faithful and just to forgive us.
"But God will not save us unless we change, will he?"
Change how much? Change a little, change a medium amount, change a lot? Listen! God saves sinners. He heals the sick, not the healthy (Mark 2:17).
"Mike, you know what I mean. You have to change at least some, or he will not save you."
God does not save on the basis of human changes. He saves on the basis of his own righteousness (Romans 3:21).
"Come on. You know what I mean. If you believe, and Christ lives in you, then you have to put sin out of your life or you won't be saved."
OK, how much sin do you have to put out? All sin, most sin, some sin, a little sin? How much sin have you put out? How much sin is still left?
"Look, I may not have all the answers to your cute little fast and loose in-my-face questions, but I know this much: God is not going to save us if we just keep on sinning and not even caring about it."
Ah, now we're getting somewhere. Who said anything about not even caring about it? That is precisely what believers can't do. Not that there is a rule against it. There doesn't have to be. When you love somebody, you care, that's just the way it is. The fact that we are believers means we do care about it.
The very thing that believers are trusting God to do is to forgive their sins and raise them from the dead. People who sin without caring about it, you see, do not, by definition, care about whether God forgives them for sinning. They might figure that it's nice if he does, but it's all the same to them if he doesn't.
In other words, to them, it doesn't matter what God thinks, one way or the other. They only care about one thing: themselves, which is why they don't mind sinning in the first place.
Believers, on the other hand, care about themselves too, of course, but they also care about something else even more: God. They care that God says sin is wrong, they care that sin destroys, and they don't want to be sinners, which is why they want to be forgiven.
They trust God's Word about everything, including sin, they care about the fact that God loves them and has forgiven them, and they care about loving, thanking, praising and serving their gracious God.
Believers fight their sinful nature, desiring to live in harmony with their calling in Christ. But when they sin, as they all do, they trust God to forgive them for the sake of their Advocate, who is their Savior. That is, they ought to trust him to forgive them. But with all the legalistic you'd-better-measure-up-or-go-to-hellfire preaching and teaching loose on the planet, tragically, many Christians live in dread that God will in the final analysis reject them because of their sins, not save them.
Ask the average churchgoer, "How do you avoid hellfire?" He will say something like this: "By living a good life."
That is not the gospel, but it is the common perception not only of John Q. Public, but also of John Q. Churchperson. Why is it the common perception? Because that is what has passed for preaching in untold numbers of Christian pulpits for centuries. Believers are lured in with promises of grace, then held hostage by a long and slippery list of required moral demands necessary in order to stay on God's good side. It is called religion.
The gospel, however, is not religion. The gospel is a loving God's good news to humans: "I love you so much that I sent my Son, so that by putting your trust in him you will not perish but live in joy and peace with me forever."
When we love God, we obey him. Right? Well, maybe that works for you--maybe the fact that you love God moves you into a life of faithful obedience and steady purity. It doesn't do that to me. I love God with all my heart, and in many ways I do better than I used to when it comes to sin, but I still grieve the Holy Spirit a whole lot more than I want to.
God's children want to obey him. The Spirit of God in us leads us to obey him. Our consciences, appropriately, plague us when we know we are disobeying him. Still, two things to remember: 1) We have been forgiven already, and 2) We keep sinning no matter how much we overcome.
The person who thinks he stands is the very one who needs to take heed (1 Corinthians 10:12). Why? Because nobody stands except in Christ. Even with all the apostolic urging to do what is right, not one of us actually walks a pure and holy life--except as we are held in Jesus, and that life is invisible to us (Colossians 3:3).
Unless our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, Jesus said, we have no part in the kingdom (Matthew 5:20). What? The Pharisees were the most careful and devoted law abiders around! They took the word of God seriously, and they devoted themselves scrupulously to observing it. But Jesus said that anyone who will be in his kingdom must have even greater righteousness.
Do you have such a level of righteousness? I sure don't.
And that is just the point. Salvation does not come by what we do, no matter how good we are--or think we are. Our righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:30), and our faith is in his promise of deliverance, not in what we can do (Ephesians 2:8-9).
So how do we stand? By admitting that we are stone dead, flat on the ground, unable to lift a finger, and by trusting Christ who raises the dead (John 11:25).
How do we stand? By faith in the God who justifies the ungodly (Romans 4:5). How do we know we can trust him? Because he has proved how much he loves us by sending his Son (Romans 5:8). How much proof do we need to be able to put our trust in him? What does he have to do? Die for us? He did just that. More than that, he was raised for us too. And it is in him that our true life is hidden with God until it is revealed with him when he comes (Colossians 3:3-4).
Then we shall see ourselves for what we really are, for what he has made us, and we can accept our resurrected life, which includes and springs from our death, or we can reject it in favor of what we have always had, this pitiful excuse for life we see all too clearly right now.
We can keep the crisp five bucks Monty Hall gave us for the two used Kleenexes in our back pocket and think we have really got a handle on life, or we can trade it all in for what's behind the curtain--trusting God's gracious promise that even though we can't see it yet, it is the mother of all jackpots.
In other words, we can die to all the things we thought were worth fighting, clawing and bleeding for in this world, and trust God to give us the real life we don't yet see, the one that is hidden in Christ with God.
The two cannot exist together. We must give up the fake life we hold so tightly with both hands in order to grasp the real life God continually holds out to us (Matthew 6:24).
Yes, we do need to "get serious" about overcoming sin. But we need to do so in the context of complete assurance that we are God's forgiven and beloved children for Christ's sake.
We need to get serious about overcoming sin knowing full well that God has not and will not reject us because of our sins, and that he will always stand with us in our struggle against sinning. The only thing that can cause us to "lose" our salvation is for us to stop caring about it altogether and stop trusting God (Hebrews 2:3). Even then, God will continue to knock on our door, earnestly desiring that we answer it and let him in (Revelation 3:20).
The bottom line is, fight sin tooth and nail but quit worrying that your failures, setbacks and dry periods cut you off from God. They don't. God is not arbitrary in his love for you, nor does he keep score (1 Corinthians 13:7).
He is absolutely true to his covenant promise; he will never leave you nor forsake you, and you can count on that no matter how deep in the miry pit of sin you have wallowed.
In his eyes, even while you still wage war with your sins, you are already new and righteous with him in Christ (Colossians 3:3). He sees you for what he has made you in Christ, not for what you have made yourself by a lifetime of wrong turns, bad decisions, weak moments, failures and sins.
Again, that is why this gospel is good news!
From Randal Dick
Superintendent of Missions
The idyllic island nation of Fiji--a place where millions have gone to find peace and tranquility--has erupted in political violence, because of a May 19 coup.
Pastor Epeli
Kanaimawi and his wife, Sofi, have been asked to serve the people of Fiji to try to bring
peace again. Following are excerpts from the Kanaimawis' reports.
A civilian coup took place yesterday after a demonstration march. Seven armed men rushed to Parliament just as it was resuming debate for the day and took all parliamentarians hostage.
Sofi and I drove through the centre of Suva yesterday, and downtown Suva was in total ruin! After the demonstration, the Fijians ran riot and started destroying properties and burning down buildings.
Yesterday evening I was away with the prime minister's prayer group for an emergency meeting and did not return till late. The group discussed what advice to give to those in authority regarding the takeover. We considered Proverbs 20:28 ("Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure") as well as other texts from chapters 28 and 29.
We decided that our advice to our leaders would be against military intervention, as that would mean killing innocent people. The hostages are safe and communicate with the outside world through the media. We will encourage that dialogues continue until the matter is resolved peacefully.
Five women parliamentarians are among the hostages, one of whom is the daughter of the president and minister for tourism. Discussions took place yesterday about a military attack, but we are happy that common sense prevailed.
George Speight's group is backed by a faction of the army. A swelling number of supporters (estimated at 1,500) have entered the Parliament compound. Thousands of Fijians sit outside the gates and act as human shields.
At the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) meeting in April, the chiefs agreed that I chair a committee to look into the subject of Fijian unification. Before the GCC meeting ended this Thursday, the council again asked that I lead a delegation of members to convey the decisions of the council to George Speight and his group. This responsibility came as a surprise, as I am not a member of the GCC. I seek prayers of the brethren as our discussions provide the only key to ending the coup.
So far we have had two meetings with George and his group inside Parliament, and the results have been encouraging. On our way to Parliament yesterday afternoon, the atmosphere was tense. The police force and soldiers surrounded the Parliament complex after armed civilians were seen on eight occasions outside the complex. The army was brought in to ensure that weapons were not being smuggled to the coup supporters.
Rumours had spread inside Parliament buildings that the army had stopped my delegation. They did not realise that we were at a checkpoint waiting for other members to arrive.
Meanwhile George Speight with his armed guards and hundreds of supporters acting as human shields marched down the road to question the combined police and military forces as to why they were detaining us and blocking free access to his supporters.
Because of this incident, the coup group requested in a traditional Fijian ceremony that the meeting be postponed to this afternoon. We accepted that request as we needed time to prepare certain legal documents before we met.
The members are fine and not directly affected by the coup. They spent yesterday praying for a solution to the political problem in Fiji, and I am confident that a way forward will be found.
We are going in for another round of talks this afternoon but I am informed that there are plans to sabotage our efforts.
For the first time there were shootings yesterday, with two army officers and a British press reporter injured. This would not have happened had the army retreated on Friday afternoon. Once blood is shed, there will be retaliatory measures taken and we all pray that common sense will prevail.
The situation is still explosive, and each time we walk into the Parliament complex, surrounded by young people with guns, anything can happen.
The Kanaimawis have to be more cautious about their movements since he, in his role as chief negotiator, is essentially acting as the spokesman for the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC). He was advised that some of Speight's supporters might express their discontent toward him as a representative of the GCC.
Sofi said that it was stressful and the days were long, but she and Epeli were doing OK (although she sounded tired, naturally). I told her that everyone here was praying for their safety and for God's blessing on Epeli in this heavy responsibility that has been thrust upon him.
We are praying for God's intervention in the impasse to settle the hostage problems and for George Speight to lay down arms. We are also praying that the Fiji Military Forces (FMF) would hand over executive power to a civilian government through the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC).
We have had two illegal coups, one carried out May 19 by George Speight with the backing of the indigenous Fijians and the second on May 29 carried out by the army on the guise of providing the country with law and order.
The army commander, Frank Bainimarama, removed the president and abrogated the constitution. He is now head of state and does not want to hand over power to the GCC. He wants to form a military government and expects the GCC to rubber stamp it.
As chairman of the Special Purpose Committee of the GCC, I issued a statement last week to inform the commander and the country that it would be wrong for either the commander or George Speight to form a government and expect the GCC to endorse it.
Sofi had an interesting but rather scary experience yesterday afternoon as she was taking one of the women to a meeting at the Vice President's office. They stopped at the Parliament complex to pick up the woman's uncle, who was also to attend the meeting.
Instead of the uncle showing up, George Speight and two armed body guards got into the car, as they were also going to the same meeting. They had to go through military checkpoints on the way to the Vice President's office, and armed soldiers were on both sides of the road.
Yesterday morning I attended a meeting with the acting president. George Speight asked Sofi and me to please pick him up and his security for the meeting. We did that just as Sofi did the previous day and again ran the risk of being caught in the crossfire between his armed guards and the armed soldiers at the checkpoints. All went well, though.
The meeting at the acting president's office was attended by the army commander, George Speight and his legal advisers and a Methodist minister. I represented the Great Council of Chiefs with a secretary and our legal counsel. Being the first meeting convened by the acting president, it was exploratory and did not achieve much.
After the meeting George Speight and his bodyguard decided to return to the Parliament complex in the Methodist minister's car, as the group wanted go and see some relatives on the way. Their motorcade was attacked by soldiers at the last checkpoint, but George and his party escaped without injury.
The soldiers detained the second car and its passengers. This angered those in the Parliament complex and they came marching to the checkpoint to retrieve their group members. The soldiers knew that they had made a mistake and allowed George's party to go.
He rang me yesterday after the incident and again last night. I advised him not to retaliate. Fortunately I also have a direct line to his security officer and also counseled him against any violence.
The young armed people inside the camp demanded a full explanation from the army before yesterday's sunset, and the army sent them an apology. Had that not happened, they planned to attack the armed forces.
This attack on George Speight will delay further negotiations, and it appears that the release of the hostages may take some time because of the military's firm stand to form a military government. As long as they insist on this, the George Speight group will not release the hostages, and the stalemate will continue. Meanwhile the hostages are well looked after but the country suffers from trade embargoes, closure of hotels, no sugarcane harvest and mass layoffs.
George Speight agreed June 2 to release the women hostages but they refused to be released on the grounds that either all hostages are released or none at all. That was a brave stand on the part of the women but I question the wisdom of it as some have families and children back home to look after. As for Pentecost, we had services in Suva and Nadi last Sabbath but attendance was low because of difficulties in travel and other things.
Imagine yourself drafted into this situation, and you can understand
how much the Kanaimawis need our prayers. I'm sure they would appreciate cards of
encouragement as well. (You can write to them at 50 Muicolo Rd., Nltbs, Tamavua, Suva,
Fiji.) We will endeavor to keep you informed.
From James
and Shirley Henderson
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa-- The WCG in Africa is alive with excitement. We follow Jesus so he can make us fishers of men in his time and at his pleasure.
We are learning to take the opportunities that God places before us. Stepping out in faith is becoming part of our Christ-nature. It is amazing to see how unexpected opportunities come our way and that we can use such occasions in his service.
An example of this took place in Benin. Atsu Dravie, area pastor for Togo, Benin and Burkina Faso, told me of a challenge God presented to our congregation in Cotonou.
"A group of Christians who had become disenchanted with their local pastors' alleged immoral activities, contacted our church to ask if we would pastor them. Now some of them are attending our weekly Saturday services and in addition we have provided weekly Sunday services to meet their needs."
The challenge is that our group in Cotonou is pastored by an unordained pastoral team. Yet God was opening a door, and without any qualms they walked through it.
Also from Benin, Arthur Adjibodou, pastor in Porto Novo, sent me this report of an evangelistic effort made by the WCG.
"In December we declared an open day and encouraged members to invite guests. The theme was Christ Is the Answer. Eighteen new people turned up, and have continued to attend with us ever since."
In remote parts of Zambia, groups and individuals have sought contact with us, but our funds are limited. Out of the blue, an Australian member offered to sponsor a pastoral tour of the area.
Kalengule Kaoma, regional pastor for Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe, accepted the offer. At the time of writing (late May) he is midway through his trip and has informed me that during the first three weeks of May he baptized 47 people. Thanks be to God!
Similar stories abound. In Zimbabwe, despite tensions, God is working with our fellowship. Pastor Ken Clark and his wife, Jeanette, began a Bible study five months ago in the farming community of Marondera.
In South Africa, church planting opportunities have opened to us, and we have begun new services in various locations.
In western Kenya more new groups have contacted Pastor John Amadala. That area seems to be growing, and we don't have the resources, yet still God brings people to us, and Mr. Amadala and his wife, Jennipher, just can't turn God's loved ones away. They step out in faith time after time.
We need to let God prepare us for the harvest. Our leaders need to learn how to evaluate opportunities, to operate within the freedom of accountability, to be well-versed in sound doctrine, to be filled with wisdom so they can help feed the flock: to be prepared to become fishers of men.
With the growth God is giving us, the recognition and training of leaders becomes a vital focus. Our church needs to be equipped with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and to be given resources through teaching and information.
At our regional conferences we address such issues. We also stress the need to make sure that a leader's relationship with Jesus is where it should be, as only then can we begin to be effectively used by him.
For example, in early April, about 40 leading men and women from Ghana assembled in Accra for a three-day workshop on the theme of Preparing to be Fishers of Men. Discussions revolved around the importance of understanding and following Jesus. Similar workshops either are planned or have already taken place in other parts of Africa.
Many of the national leadership teams run their own indigenous conferences. In February the Cameroon ministers, led by national Pastor Jean-Jacques Ndoudoumou, organized their first national congress, with a concentration primarily on evangelism. They organized and funded the event by themselves. This shows the kind of confidence that is beginning to be felt in many places.
One of our strengths is the ongoing training of our ordained and nonordained leaders through mentoring and conferences. This is a resource we can share, so we have opened our ministerial conferences to ministers and leaders of other fellowships and non-affiliated groups.
Whenever a group expresses interest in us, we invite the leaders of that group whether or not we have visited the group. This approach has begun to bear fruit. I addressed the Hour of Revival Gospel Church in Tsakane near Johannesburg. Their pastor, David Mathebula, decided to attend our conference in June.
Wencelas Kamwenubusa, leader of our group in Burundi, wrote that most of them are in government-controlled regroupment camps. Conditions are deplorable, with much hunger, malnutrition and disease.
Wencelas' daughter-in-law died in one of the camps, leaving three young children for the extended family to take care of. Please pray that God will comfort not only our brethren but also all who are trapped in these unbearable conditions. We also have contacts in similar situations in other parts of Africa.
Since 2000 began there have been many areas of concern all over the continent, and the brethren appreciate the prayers of our worldwide fellowship, especially for Christians in the Congo, Sierra Leone, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Sudan, Uganda, Nigeria and for other countries where either political strife or environmental disasters dominate the news headlines.
Another prayer request concerns communication. Mail is generally unreliable, but in most countries we have established at least one e-mail connection, thus allowing vital flock feeding and leadership mentoring material to get through.
We lack Internet connections in a few areas, and I would appreciate your prayers that somehow a connection can be established. Please pray in this regard for Kinshasa (in the Congo), Uganda, the Seychelles, Swaziland, Reunion, Tanzania, Malawi, Angola and Mozambique.
Please also pray that we will be bold enough to go through the doors God opens to us. It is clear that God is giving our fellowship many opportunities in Africa, and often we lack the personnel, physical and financial resources to respond in a timely way. Nevertheless it is amazing what God can accomplish with what we have. So we walk in faith, always.
It is difficult to know where to stop when writing about how God is using the WCG in Africa. Truly Jesus is making us into Fishers of Men.
Thank you for your intercession for and support of all of us in this area of the world. It is clear that often we get by "on the wings of a prayer"! Above all, thanks be to God for the wonderful opportunities he provides for us in the service of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Ghanaian fishermen [Photos by James Henderson]
GHANA--Emmanuel and Monica Sobgo take notes at April conference
PRAISE AND WORSHIP--Atsu Dravie (front) and Arthur Adjibodou sing praises.
WESTERN KENYA--John Amadala
Ken and Jeanette Clark of Zimbabwe
WEST AFRICAN CONFERENCE--Small group discussion.
By Deena Murray
COSTA MESA, California--"We felt so blessed to be a part of your weekend," said Michael Rozell, keynote speaker with his wife, Pam, about the 2000 Women's International Conference May 19 to 21 in Costa Mesa.
Two hundred women from three countries, 17 states and more than nine denominations met to laugh, cry, share and learn.
The Rozells have a ministry called Potter's Field, and they presented a message Saturday evening, May 20, illustrating the conference theme of "In the Master's Hands." Michael, a potter by trade, showed the women how God shapes and molds us by demonstrating his skill on a potter's wheel. (Potter's Field will also do a presentation at the festival in Palm Springs, California, Oct. 14 at 2 p.m.)
Under tents by the pool, the mistress of ceremonies, Thelma Davis, and Brenda Townsend welcomed everyone to the conference. After a worship session presented by the Pasadena Women's Ensemble and a welcome by Tammy Tkach, guest speaker Fay Angus shared her experience of being molded by God while a teenager in a Japanese internment camp in Shanghai, China.
She told of her anger toward God, and then how God brought into the camp a man with a Bible who reached her. One cold, snowy morning, God used a Japanese guard to touch Fay's heart as he sang "Onward Christian Soldiers," in Japanese, while on duty.
That evening at the conference, a non-Christian woman accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior after discussion with other women.
Saturday morning opened with the musical group Between the Lines followed by guest speaker Kathleen Hart. Kathleen spoke on Taking Control of Your Attitudes and Actions. She asked the women to consider whether they allowed others to control their attitudes and emotions by allowing themselves to react to situations. She also shared that women are called to be a blessing.
After the morning message, the women chose from six workshops: Divine Discipline: Within the Master's Hands, by Mitzie Farmer; Secure in the Hands of the Master: Facing Rejection, by Belinda Falk; In the Master's Hands... We Can Use Our Time Wisely, by Terry Davis; Abiding and Growing in the Master's Hands, by Kathleen Labedz; Help! I Need More Time in the Master's Hands, by Anne Stapleton; and God, Women and Chocolate: Our Divine Destiny in the Master's Hands, by Deena Murray.
Sharing sessions followed the workshop time. These allowed the women to share openly about a particular subject with a facilitator. Subjects included barriers to faith, commitment, depression and anger, being a friend to adult children, self discipline, forgiveness, the names of Jesus, spiritual growth partners, stepping out of our comfort zones, two beliefs in one family, our fantastic God, life-threatening illness, and raising difficult children.
After lunch, the women had free time to shop at the mall across from the hotel, take naps, fellowship or to do an optional Bible study on faith. Some joined for the Bible study in a conference room, while others met with their roommates or friends.
After the Bible study, Jan Weiner, overall conference coordinator, facilitated a women's ministry discussion forum.
One of the visiting women flew to the conference from Georgia, formerly part of the Soviet Union, after seeing the information about the WCG on the Internet. Unfortunately she had some dental problems and was in pain and missed most of the conference. Saturday afternoon she had to be moved to a hospital. With God's healing power, the hospital released her within five hours and she joined the rest of the women on Sunday.
Saturday evening began with a sit-down dinner. Each table centerpiece was a decorated clay pot custom made by Lorna Davis. In addition, each woman received her own flower pot created by Diane Appleton and the women of the Bellflower, California, congregation.
During the meal, Diane Siston played the harp as background music. Before the keynote message, Don and Joanne Sharp led a worship service with a group from the North San Diego congregation. Then the Rozells gave their presentation on how God shapes and molds people.
Sunday morning began with a praise session by the Oasis Praise Band. Guest speaker Tammy Tkach gave a message on Caring for Your Clay Pot. She shared with the women how they need to take daily care of their clay pot, their bodies, that God has given them, physically and spiritually. God wants us to enjoy life, and we need to keep ourselves filled, she said.
After Tammy's message, Mittie Mansker sang "He's Always There," and the the Corona, California, Fellowship Players did a re-enactment of the various encounters between Jesus and women in the New Testament. From there, Richard Parker and Lou Davies conducted a communion service as it might have been done during the first century.
The weekend wrapped up with the women being invited to meet in Des Moines, Iowa, for the 2001 conference. Then forming a large circle around the room, everyone joined hands and sang "Women of Faith."
POTTER'S FIELD--Michael Rozell
and his wife, Pam (left), with Rose
Neumann. [Photo by Mary Allgood]
SMILING FACES--Women and children
at Women's International Conference.
[Photo by Sheila Graham]
Name Home Phone
Address E-mail
City, State/Province Country Zip/Postal Code
Audiotapes (may not be copied or reproduced) Suggested Quantity Total Cost
Proceeds will be used to offset the cost of women's ministry conferences. Donation
Entire Set (total of 10 tapes) All prices are in U.S. dollars $50
In the Master's Hands $ 6
Fay Angus (guest speaker)
Taking Control of Your Actions & Attitudes $ 6
Kathleen Hart (guest speaker)
Caring for Your Clay Pot $ 6
Tammy Tkach (guest speaker)
Abiding & Growing in the Master's Hands $ 6
Kathleen Labedz (workshop)
Divine Discipline: Within the Master's Hands $ 6
Mitzie Farmer (workshop)
God, Women & Chocolate $ 6
Deena Murray (workshop)
Help! I Need More Time in the Master's Hands $ 6
Anne Stapleton (workshop)
In the Master's Hands ... We Can Use Our Time Wisely $6
Terry Davis (workshop)
Secure in the Hands of the Master: Facing Rejection $ 6
Fearlessly--Belinda Falk (workshop)
Women's Ministry Open Forum & Discussion $ 6
Shipping for Audiotapes
United States--included in the cost of tapes
International (in U.S. dollars):
Canada $ 3.50
Mexico $ 5
All other countries $ 11
Shipping
Grand Total
Make checks payable in U.S. dollars to Southern California Women's Ministry
Mail payment and order form to
Glendora Women's Fellowship, Box 2222, Glendora, California, 91740-2222
NASHVILLE, Tennessee--The Nashville women's ministry met for a retreat Feb. 5 and 6 at the Scarritt-Bennett Center, a conference facility near downtown Nashville owned by the United Methodist Women.
Thirty women attended the Saturday workshops and Sunday worship service. The planning committee asked the Holy Spirit to guide them in the inspiration for every activity. Women who volunteered ideas for workshops were given opportunities to lead them.
Saturday started with a Rhythm of Worship workshop where worship and joy were expressed through dance. The whole group learned one dance to the theme song for the retreat, "Circle of Friends," by Point of Grace.
The next session, Adoring God, focused on praising God for who he is rather than always on what he does for us. In the Listening to God workshop, the women spent time practicing quiet meditation focusing on scripture passages.
The day ended with a Ministry Development workshop, which encouraged each woman to fully yield herself to Jesus Christ.
The weekend ended with group prayer, a worship service and communion.
Lynn Jordan.
JACKSONVILLE, Florida--Teens from all over Florida and Georgia gathered for fasting, fellowship, fun and spiritual rejuvenation at Camp Keystone, south of Jacksonville, Feb. 26 and 27.Ministerial staff at the camp included previous Summer Educational Program (SEP) pastoral staff, Marty Davey and Charles Taylor, as well as pastors Ken Smylie and Jeff Snyder. Robert Persky, Florida district superintendent, shared messages of love and Christian living.
In addition to Christian living messages and praise and worship services, the program included basketball, volleyball, mini-golf, tennis and horseback riding.
The teens participated in the 30-Hour Famine, sponsored by World Vision, which receives donations to feed starving children around the world. Many of the teens obtained pledges from people who sponsored them for every hour they could go without food.
The fast began Friday at 6 p.m., and ended Saturday at midnight, with a banquet of lasagna prepared by Edna Hendrickson, Jacksonville member. A dance followed.
Sunday afternoon during praise and worship led by Mr. Taylor, teens told stories of their personal growth and spiritual revitalization they experienced at SEP.
Teens and adults from the Brunswick, Georgia, and Jacksonville congregations raised more than $4,000 selling concessions at Jacksonville professional football games this past season for teens' SEP expenses.
If you'd like to attend next year's mini-SEP in Florida, contact Pastor
Marty Davey at Box 611, Middleburg, Florida, 32050; phone 1-904-282-1055, or send e-mail
to him at Martin_Davey@wcg.org
WHITE LAKE, North Carolina--More than 80 teens from a variety of denominations attended the third annual Discovery Weekend youth retreat at White Lake March 24 to 26. The Mid-Atlantic WCG district sponsored the weekend with assistance from Impact Ministries, a youth ministry founded by Robby Cloninger.
"What a spectacular weekend!" said Robby. "God's spirit really fell upon the camp, producing incredible messages, immense fun and great praise and worship."
In addition to the many opportunities for spiritual growth, campers enjoyed water sports, basketball, volleyball and other recreational activities. A 1970s retro dance took place Saturday night.
Impact Ministry's praise band led chapel services. Messages were given by Greg Williams, pastor of the Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Dillon, South Carolina, congregations, and Paul David Kurts, pastor of the Hickory and Boone, North Carolina, churches. Messages centered on the weekend's theme, God--a Lamb.
"I enjoy praise and worship the most because that is when you bond with your friends the most, including my best friend and Savior Jesus Christ," said camper Alex Johnston.
Camper Garrett Williams added, "The praise band was into the music, and it helped us to worship more freely."
Frank Ancona, an Impact leader and pastor of the Mount Airy, North Carolina, congregation, said: "All of the campers really wanted to grow in their relationship with Christ. We're really trying to do something special with Discovery and make a major impact that will extend back into the schools where the campers attend. We want them to be walking sermons of the Gospel."
Mr. Williams said: "It is rewarding to be a part of ministry where significant growth is noticeable. We have increased our number of campers from 30 in 1998, to 70 in 1999, to 86 in 2000." John Brian Heath.
DISCOVERY WEEKEND--Teens who attended retreat in
White Lake, North Carolina. [Photo by Warren McKoy]
PONTIAC, Michigan--Eight teens from Toledo, Ohio, and two guests from Indianapolis, Indiana, were among 60,000 who attended Acquire the Fire's Stand Up conference at the Pontiac Silverdome April 14 and 15.They are Suzi Brown, Aleshia Adams, Travis and Jessica Sanderson, Melissa Bukovinac, Joe and Dan Cramer and Josh Wissinger. Joining them were adult guests Brandy Dickerson and Jessica Dwiggins.
Exuberance, joy and excitement predominated as speakers, including Pat Robertson, John Maxwell, Reggie White of the Green Bay Packers, and others, admonished teenagers to make a difference.
Joining the speakers were eight Christian rock artists, including the Newsboys, Rebecca St. James, Sheppard Hall, According to John, Jaci Velasquez, Kirk Franklin, the Orange County Supertones and Wynans Phase Three.
Many teens gave their lives to Jesus or recommitted their lives to him. Many experienced the forgiveness of sins they have been longing for for years. A call was set forth for teenagers and young people to become leaders of this generation--100 percent on fire, convicted, honest, moral, world-changing leaders.
The teens answered the call to rock this generation and flip it upside down for the sake of everything we hold firm to, our faith in Jesus Christ.
Former President Gerald Ford attended and convicted teens that with God they can become and do anything their heart and their God calls them to do. Jeff Miller.
FLORENCE, Alabama--Michael Fulmer, 14, an eighth grader at Central High School in Lauderdale County in northwest Alabama, and four other students began a prayer group that meets each morning before classes. Since its inception in April the group has attracted an average of 35 students but reached 47 in attendance for one day. The group prays for the school and any special requests brought to it. At times several teachers have attended and, as a direct result of the prayer group initiative, one fifth grade class now has Bible study each Wednesday before school time.
Michael participates in the prayer teams that open services for the
Florence congregation where he attends with his parents, Mike and Jenny Fulmer, and
brother Matthew Taylor. Roland Stanley.
NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana--A youth weekend is planned in New Orleans Aug. 4 to 6 for youths ages 5 to 18. Parents are invited as well. Activities include a youth worship service, dance, visit to the Aquarium of the Americas, IMAX, Riverwalk and Jazzland Theme Park. Cost is $65, which covers two nights lodging (with free continental breakfast), dance and all entrance fees. Meals will be extra. A $25 nonrefundable deposit must be mailed by July 14 to Joy Cryer, 2604 Slagle Rd., Leesville, Louisiana, 71446, telephone 1-337- 239-7139, e-mail: edo@dtx.net
REDDING, California--Katie Tomich volunteers to raise puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc.
This is a 24 hour a day project. She receives puppies from the organization at about eight weeks. The puppies live with families for a year. Besides keeping the puppies healthy, she must teach them obedience at home and in public, taking them everywhere the family goes--to the grocery store, school and church. For more information contact Guide Dogs for the Blind at 1-800-295-4050.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas--The New Beginnings congregation was host for the monthly meeting of the city's youth pastors May 16. More than 70 people representing at least 35 churches fellowshipped, prayed and praised together.
Some WCG members prepared an Italian meal. The speaker was from Group Publishing. He said this meeting was one of the only ones he had attended where across denominational lines people knew each others' names, ate a meal together and worked together to serve youths without regard to denominational beliefs.
The goal of the Christian life
Our goal: Christ formed in us
A four-point plan for spiritual growth
Our need for spiritual training
Three basics of Christian life
Our greatest needs: prayer and study
The importance of Scripture
Five simple rules for Bible study
Paul's pastoral prayers
Our relationship with Christ
God knows each of his children
God is building us a new life
Growing in Christ: five spiritual disciplines
Why you need the church
Our upward, inward and outward responsibilities
The role of the law in Christian life
Love, the greatest commandment
Trials and rejoicing
Trials, faith and healing
An introduction to moral development
Leading in spiritual formation
Five basic principles of worship
What is worship?
Why our worship style is changing
Basic points about worship days
Introduction
Discipline and grace
Prayer
Silence and solitude
Study
Fasting
Meditation
Submission
Service
Guidance
Confession
Worship
Celebration
Stewardship
Lifestyle
Spiritual gifts and church growth
Spiritual gifts for the gospel
Spiritual gifts are given for service
Gifts and fruit of the Holy Spirit
Use and misuse of spiritual gifts
What the Bible says about speaking in tongues
Comments about the word of faith movement
Four observations about the "Toronto" manifestations
Are WCG members allowed to speak in tongues?
By John Zaprzala
PASADENA--The primary reason for my February trip to the Philippines was to receive a condensed version of a mission training course and exposure to the work God is doing there.
While one could receive similar training in the United States, it would cost more and would not have the effect of being exposed to the cross-cultural missions conducted by the WCG. To be immersed in another culture and see the challenges people face makes for an enriching experience.
I attended the inauguration of the church at Bucay in a province of Luzon island called Abra. Later I attended an outdoor Bible study overlooking the hills of San Paulo-Canay. That weekend I also visited a church at Antipolo.
We traveled 13 hours to Albay in southern Luzon. There I saw Mayon volcano, which had a major eruption the day I left the region.
In that area we visited the Cimmaron tribe. One evening we had a Bible study using lanterns, as no lights were available. The Bible study took place in a meeting hall made of bamboo and without windows or doors. We filled this tiny hall with crowds overflowing to the outside.
The last area I visited was Payatas, about two hours north of Manila. This is a community of 100,000 people who live in and around Manila's main trash dump .
About 20,000 people make a living scrounging for recyclable material to sell. In the middle of this trash heap we have members who live there with a retired pastor. The church is not only spreading the gospel but also serving people by teaching them skills and providing a means by which they can earn a living through production of handmade greeting cards.
If you are interested in helping me in this project please e-mail me at zaprzala@hotmail.com
The country is experiencing a spiritual revival. The Philippines is a bridge between west and east, and God is calling many Filipinos to be used as missionaries throughout Asia and even in the Middle East.
Within our own denomination we have many missionaries as well, and they are raising up churches through their work of evangelization of local communities. The process usually starts with an outreach program such as a medical mission. This then leads to acceptance of our missionaries and what the church has to offer in terms of preaching the gospel.
The areas I visited such as Bucay and the Cimmaron tribe were reached by such a missionary work, and today we have churches there.
While living in comfort in the United States I had to ask myself what my response is to the call that God has given to Christians? "Go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19)
In 1990 statistics (Global Evangelization Movement Database), it is estimated that Christians worldwide earned about $8.95 trillion, yet they contributed less than two percent of their income to churches, out of which less than .01 percent went for mission work.
"Over 90 percent of the foreign missionaries, 87 percent of mission funding and over 94 percent of the full-time Christian workers are directed toward those countries where 60 percent or more of their people identify themselves as Christian" (AD2000 Global Monitor, April 1991). Yet 1.2 billion people have yet to be reached with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Michael Green in his book, I Believe in the Holy Spirit, said that the reason Jesus Christ promised his disciples the Holy Spirit is "to equip them for mission. The Comforter comes not in order to allow men to be comfortable but to make them missionaries."
The harvest is ready, and laborers are needed. Will you be a missionary, or perhaps one of those who will send and support the work of a missionary?
ANTIPOLO, PHILIPPINES--John Zaprzala
and members en route to baptism of two new members.
BUCAY CHURCH--Three children
at the inauguration of the Bucay church.
In part 1 of this study, we saw Jesus teaching that people enter the kingdom of God by grace, by God's mercy and blessing. Jesus came to do what the Scriptures said, and every law remained in force until Jesus accomplished everything he was sent to do. Now, he teaches a better righteousness, and this is what we look at this month.
Jesus gives six contrasts between the old teachings and the new. Six times he quotes a traditional teaching, most often from the Torah, and six times he explains that the old way is not enough. He presents a more exacting standard of righteousness.
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment' " (v. 21). Where did people hear this saying? They heard it in the synagogues, when the Scriptures were read. This is a quote from the Torah and a summary of its civil laws.
Who said this "to the people long ago"? God himself, at Mount Sinai. Jesus is not quoting a distorted tradition of the Jews--he is quoting the Torah.
He then contrasts it with a more rigorous standard: "But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment" (v. 22). Did the Torah really mean this? Perhaps, but Jesus does not say that. He simply teaches it on his own authority.
Anyone who is angry will be subject to divine judgment. Jesus states the principle in bold terms, without listing any exceptions--although exceptions exist. Not all anger is sin (Jesus himself was sometimes angry). Here and elsewhere in the sermon, Jesus phrases his demands in an extreme form.
Jesus then says, "Again, anyone who says to his brother, `Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell" (v. 22). Jesus is not referring new lawsuits to the Jewish leaders. More likely, in the saying about "raca," he is quoting something that the scribes were already teaching.
Jesus says that the penalty for evil attitudes goes much further than a civil court--it goes all the way to the final judgment.
Jesus himself called people "fool" (Matt. 23:17, same Greek word). Jesus' saying is not a rule that must be enforced to the letter. No, it is a startling statement designed to make a point: that we should not despise other people. This is the true righteousness of the kingdom of God.
Jesus then gives two parables to illustrate (vs. 23-26). It is not always possible to reconcile, but it is always possible to try.
"You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery' " (v. 27). God said it on Mount Sinai. But Jesus tells us "that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
The tenth commandment prohibited lust, but the seventh commandment prohibited "adultery"--a behavior that could be regulated by civil laws and penalties. Jesus is the living Word, and he has more authority than the written Word.
Jesus' teaching falls into a pattern: The old law says one thing, but true righteousness requires more. He then gives extreme statements to drive the point home. When it comes to adultery, he says: "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell" (vs. 29-30).
Yes, it is better to lose a body part than to lose eternal life. But that is not really our choice, because eyes and hands cannot cause us to sin, and if we remove them, we have committed another sin. Sin originates in our thoughts, and we desperately need a changed heart.
"It has been said, `Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce' " (v. 31). This refers to Deuteronomy 24:1-4, which accepts divorce as an established custom among the Israelites. The law did not allow a remarried woman to remarry her first husband, but other than this rare situation, it did not make any restrictions. The Law of Moses permitted divorce, but Jesus did not.
"But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery" (v. 32). It is difficult to understand this saying. Suppose an evil man puts away his wife for no reason at all. Is she automatically guilty of adultery? And is it a sin for anyone to marry this victim?
We cannot treat Jesus' statement as an unchangeable law. For one thing, Paul was inspired to write about another legitimate exception for divorce (1 Cor. 7:15). When we study the Sermon on the Mount, we must remember that it is not the last word on the subject of divorce. What we learn here is only part of the picture.
Jesus' saying here is a shocking statement designed to make a point--in this case the point that divorce always involves sin. God intended for marriages to be life-long, and we must strive to keep them the way he intended. Jesus did not discuss here what we should do when things go wrong.
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord' " (v. 33). These principles are taught in Scripture (Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:31). But what the Torah clearly allowed, Jesus did not: "But I tell you, Do not swear at all.... Simply let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your `No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one" (vs. 34-37). The principle is simple: honesty.
Again, exceptions are allowed. Jesus himself said more than Yes and No. He said that heaven and earth would pass away, but his words would not. He called God as witness that what he was saying was true. Paul also wrote some oath-like affirmations, rather than simply saying Yes (Rom. 7:1, 2 Cor. 1:23).
Again, we should not take the bold statements of the Sermon on the Mount as prohibitions that must be enforced exactly as written. We should have simple honesty, but we can on occasion emphasize the truth of what we are saying.
In a court of law, to use a modern example, we are allowed to "swear" to tell the truth, and ask God to help us tell the truth. It is nitpicking to say that the word "affirm" is acceptable but "swear" is not. In a court of law, these words mean the same thing--and both are more than a simple Yes.
Jesus again quotes the Torah: "You have heard that it was said, `Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth' " (v. 38). This was a maximum limit for vengeance in the Old Testament, and it was sometimes a minimum, too (Lev. 24:19; Deut. 19:21).
But what the Torah required, Jesus prohibited: "But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person" (v. 39). But Jesus himself resisted evil people, and so did the apostles. It is permissible to resist evil people. Jesus would allow us, for example, to report crime to the police.
Jesus' next statements must be seen as exaggerations for effect, too. That does not mean we can dismiss them as irrelevant. Rather, we must allow the principle to challenge our behavior, without turning these rules into a new law-code as if exceptions were never allowed.
"If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also." But sometimes it would be better to object or walk away (Acts 12:9; Acts 23:3). Jesus is teaching a principle, not a rule that must be kept in a rigid way.
"And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who asks you" (vs. 40-42). But if people sue you for $1,000, you do not have to give them $2,000. If a drunk asks for $10, you do not have to give to him.
The point in Jesus' sayings is not that we must always let people take advantage of us, nor that we should reward people who do that. Rather, it is that we should try to make peace, not to seek vengeance.
"You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor and hate your enemy' " (v. 43). The Torah commands love for neighbors, and it commanded Israel to kill all the Canaanites and punish all evil-doers.
"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (v. 44). Jesus teaches a different way, a way different from the world. Why? What is the model for all this radical righteousness?
"That you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (v. 45). We are to be like God is, and he loved his enemies so much that he sent his Son to die for them. We cannot do that, but we are to love our enemies and pray for them to be blessed.
We are called to do more than what is natural, more than unconverted people do (vs. 46-47). We fall short, of course, but that does not mean that we should quit trying. Our love for others is to be complete, to extend to all peoples--and that is what Jesus means when he says, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (v. 48).
Michael Morrison
For a longer version of this study, with a chart summary, see www.wcg.org/lit/bible/gospels/matt5.htm
By Ronald Kelly
The financial picture for the WCG is tracking pretty much according to projections.
Our regular member donations for May were a little more than $1.9 million. Our festival or seasonal offerings were more than $1 million for the month. (Note: even though most of our congregations collected festival offerings in late April, our mail reading staff tabulated and banked much of those funds in May. Thus the majority of the spring festival offerings are counted in the May statistics.)
Income for January through May from all sources including estate donations as well as PTM income and donations is now at $11,691,145. That's just a tad more than the $11.4 million we projected for the year-to-date.
Your regular and dependable donation pattern has helped us with our budgeting process a great deal this year. Member donations, coupled with the Big Sandy property sale, have made it possible for us to plan the 2000 budget without any major decreases in projects.
Of course, we are operating on a budget that will reduce our reserve fund by about $6 million by the end of the year so we won't have to cut employees. So far in 2000, we have had to take almost $3 million from reserves.
Perhaps the next major concern for church finances is the location of a new office facility in Southern California that will be ready when the property sale concludes. Our prospective buyers, Legacy Partners, are still working on their plan to close escrow before the end of the year. Of course, that means, when escrow closes, we will need to move fairly quickly to a new facility.
Let me share our concerns with each of you and solicit your prayers for God to direct our paths. To have a facility ready for occupancy in December or January, we need to locate a building and negotiate the lease or purchase arrangements.
A certain amount of construction and renovation will be necessary. If the building were to be ready by December, renovation would need to start by July or August at the latest.
Yet we don't want to arrange financing for a new office facility until we are near the close of escrow on the Pasadena property. If the Pasadena sale could not be completed as quickly as we hope, we could have a period of overlap where we would be paying on a building at the same time we were completing the sale of the main campus. Needless to say, these kinds of decisions are hard on the nervous system.
Hardly a day goes by when we are not praying specifically for God's blessing and direction in the sale and relocation process. And the primary consideration in all of this is to make possible a financial restructuring that will direct a flow of funds back to donating congregations enabling each to fulfill a local outreach mission and evangelism program.
We are hard at work with plans for this financial restructuring. I discuss the overview of a future church financial structure in our district conferences. Hundreds of members have attended these conferences and have been motivated and inspired, as we look ahead to wonderful and exciting opportunities for service and growth in our local congregations.
We deeply appreciate your patience and generous support as we move toward our goals. It seems every month the pieces of the puzzle are coming together and the picture we see emerging is certainly one we can all be excited about. So keep up the good work.
Statement of Income and Expenses for WCG and PTM combined for May 2000
For the Month For the Year-to-Date
Income
Donation Income $ 2,938,768 $ 9,928,238
Other income (17,737) 1,762,907
Total income 2,921,031 11,691,145
Expenses 2,881,127 14,686,898
Net gain or (loss) to bank reserves $ 39,904 $ (2,995,753)
The Worldwide News would like to honor graduates (college, high school, junior high and elementary school).
Please send us the graduate's name, name of school, type of school (high school, junior high), city and state to The Worldwide News by July 21. In the case of college graduates, please also include the degree program and degree awarded. For high school students, please also include whether the student was a valedictorian or salutatorian.
World Impact needs dedicated Christian teachers for its inner-city mission schools in Los Angeles and Watts, California; Newark, New Jersey; and greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, according to Ron Robinson, pastor of the Newark congregation, who with Pastor Dan Bierer are advisory board members of World Impact in Newark.
World Impact schools provide a quality Christian education for the urban poor. Teachers live in a missionary community in the ministry neighborhoods.
Elementary school teachers and music, art, computer and physical education teachers are needed at all schools. The middle school needs social studies, science, math and technology education teachers.
For more information or to request an application, contact World Impact, Attention: Human Resources, 2001 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, California, 90007; phone 1-323-735-1137; fax 1-323-735-2576; e-mail: info@worldimpact.org For more information about World Impact in the Newark area contact Fred Clark, 275 Sussex Ave., Newark, New Jersey, 07107; phone 1-973-483-0326; e-mail fclark@worldimpact.org
EDMONTON, Alberta, Canada--Edmonton members have partnered with Living Light News, named by the Evangelical Press Association as the best Christian newspaper in North America.
Members have pledged to have Living Light News sent to 1,500 homes surrounding their church building. "An insert gives an opportunity for the church to tell neighbors who we are and what we're all about," said pastor Robert Millman. Included are a mission statement, programs and activities along with the pastor's name, phone number and web site. The paper also commits to do a feature story on the congregation.
The Westlock, Alberta, congregation (attendance 30) pledged to adopt 540 homes, more than half the town.
Living Light News is seeker-sensitive and is written for the non-believer. It features human interest stories that testify to God's love and power in people's lives, reviews of music, movies and literature and columns by ministries such as Focus on the Family.
The newspaper was the brainchild of owner-editor Jeff Caporale, a salesman who came to know Jesus in mid-life. When he told his co-workers that he was a new Christian, he was met with comments such as, "Me too!"
Mr. Caporale asked, "Why didn't any of you share your faith with me before now?"
Realizing that most Christians are not gifted at sharing their faith, he was moved by God to begin Living Light Ministries to bridge the gap between believers and non-believers.
For further information, check out the Living Light News website at http:// www.livinglightnews.org or send e-mail to shine@livinglightnews.org Robert J. Millman.
LIVING LIGHT PARTNERSHIP--Members stuff information flyers into Living Light
News. From left: Gail Millman, David Kerich, Ronald Playne, Bob Millman, Sue Lauchlan and
Neil Sommers. [Photos by Al Nordstrom]
PARTNERS IN MINISTRY--Pastor Bob Millman (left) and publisher Jeff Caporale
OLEAN, New York--The Olean congregation had a pre-service breakfast Easter morning and invited residents, staff and graduates of Genesis House, a temporary shelter for families.
Twenty-six came for breakfast and 12 stayed for the Easter services. Rose Anna Ladage.
OLEAN, New York--The Olean congregation sponsored showings of the video "Who Is Jesus?" with Bruce Marchiano as Jesus on local access cable television in Olean.
Member Mark Hollamby and Pastor Leonard Ladage were in an introduction and a concluding invitation with the church address and phone number for those who might have questions.
The video was shown 20 times in late April. The April 22-25 schedule was advertised in the Olean newspaper for six days.
After the first weekend of airing the video, Mr. Hollamby received a standing ovation when he arrived at work because his fellow workers had seen him on television.
Member Hal Elsigan, who did technical work on the video, said the station received a call from a woman asking if she could tape the program for her Sunday School class. She said she had never seen the subject matter covered so well.
The station, which had not received feedback of any kind about other programs, received only positive feedback from the showings. Rose Anna Ladage.
MINERAL WELLS, West Virginia--The Mineral Wells congregation joined with other Parkersburg area churches April 6-9 as hosts for the Mid-Ohio Valley Celebration 2000 Crusade with Ralph Bell, an associate evangelist with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, which put on the crusade.
"This was a wonderful opportunity for our members to work together with other believers to help evangelize the unsaved for Jesus Christ," said Pastor Warren Wilson.
The congregation as a whole took part in Operation Andrew, which involved committing to pray for unsaved friends and family and to invite them to the crusade. Several members also took the Christian Life and Witness classes the association offered and served as counselors to people making commitments to Christ at the crusade. Others served in the 600-member choir or as ushers.
Participating members had this to say.
"It was beautiful to see the different denominations putting aside their differences and coming together to advance the kingdom," said Carol Salmons.
"I have gone from being used to the pastor doing all the evangelizing to getting out on the floor and taking part in an amazing happening--people being moved to make a decision to accept Christ as their personal Savior,"said Helen Hill.
"We were able to sing for Christ and witness and cry and laugh at being so near to his bringing new converts to him," said Melinda Miller. "It was emotional to sing at the invitation each night and see the people respond, especially when the teens came forward and packed the front of the hall and aisles on youth night," she said.
Merle Youtzy, 86, the oldest member in Mineral Wells, attended youth night and said: "It was great. I loved seeing all those young people up there."
The final evening, Governor Cecil Underwood gave his testimony. Melinda Miller.
HOUSTON, Texas--WCG members participated in the CEE-JAY (City for Jesus) Crusade April 8 in Houston.
Pastor Steve Ams, originally from Nigeria, and pastor of The Chapel of Praise Church and Messiah Communications, organized the event along with many other pastors and ministry leaders.
More than 100 churches participated in doing evangelistic outreach, medical missions, homeless ministries and a job fair. Many turned to Christ as a result of hearing the gospel.
The Hope Community Church (Houston North), Houston South and the Houston North Saturday congregation participated in the crusade by getting involved in intercessory prayer and service.
John and Becky Flores served in the job fair, and the medical missions social service information booth. Milton Randle, Dorris Carter, Joey Verdun, Alex Odems, Ben O'Neal, Ester Reed, Vernon Strickland, Karen Odems, Sheryl Malone, Lisa Smith, Jim Ryan and Pastor Chris Beam participated in the medical missions and homeless ministry outreach at various sites around the city.
The final event of the day was a message presented by evangelist Rod Parsley, in which 1,000 people committed their lives to Jesus Christ.
Pastor Ams asked Mayor Lee P. Brown to come to the stage, and the pastors, ministry leaders and wives prayed for him. Chris Beam.
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VISIT FROM CONGRESSMAN--Congressman James Rogan visits NewLife Fellowship in Pasadena May 21. Clockwise from upper left: Mr. Rogan gives testimony to children and adults of how he came to know Christ in adulthood; elder Merv Walton (right) and Pastor Bermie Dizon lead congregation in prayer for Mr. Rogan; Steve Brooks (right) gives gift of Christian children's videos to the congressman for his twin daughters, Dana and Claire; and Jubilee Concert Series members through whom the invitation came for the congressman's visit (from left): Odie Mangram, Steve Brooks, Trudy Magee, Congressman Rogan; Carmelita Dizon, Leardis Macklin, Mr. Dizon and Henry Wong. [Photos by Thomas C. Hanson]
PASADENA--Curtis
May, director of the WCG's Office of Reconciliation Ministries, was elected to serve on
the board of directors of African Enterprise April 11.
Mr. May was told by Archibald Hart, a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, that serving on the board would enhance the Office of Reconciliation Ministries by giving Mr. May exposure to some prominent people who do that kind of work.
Mr. May attended their second quarterly meeting and was asked to share about his ministerial responsibilities, as well as the story of the WCG's journey.
They dismissed Mr. May from the meeting to discuss the issue of adding him to their board of directors, and Mr. May was later informed that he was unanimously approved to serve on their board.
RIZAL, Nueva Ecija, Philippines--Pastor Jerry Ortiguero reports that the church showed the Jesus film in the Tagalog language to a group of more than 120 people at Barangay San Juan.
Member Josie Vidal-Fabul had arranged for the showing of this video. Tony Gaspar, with three others from the Cabanatuan City congregation, including Gloria Ortiguero, led the group in praise songs, after which Mr. Ortiguero opened the meeting with a prayer.
When the film reached the scene where Jesus was nailed to the cross and the cross was hoisted into the hole, the video was stopped, and Mr. Gaspar read Isaiah 53, where the prophecy concerning Christ's life, death, resurrection and ascension is recorded. He announced a twice monthly follow-up Bible study.
Outreach Bible studies in south La Union are all initiated and supported by Alfredo Cacanando Sr. as his way of sharing the gospel.
A church building of cogon grass as roofing and bamboo posts and framings will be built for worship services and activities. Mr. Cacanando will provide the funds for this bulding. This will be the third church planted in Ilocandia since these outreach Bible studies have been started.
Earlier in April they showed the Jesus film in the Ilocano language to more than 100 people at a remote barangay in BilaBila, Sallapadan, Abra.
WICHITA, Kansas--The Wichita and Wichita South congregations had combined services April 25. The South congregation, pastored by Lyle Campbell and Ron Haines, was host.
The guest speaker was Gerald Schnarrenberger, district superintendent in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The Wichita congregation is pastored by Charles C