Planning for the
crusade began more than 18 months ago among a group of Canton area pastors who gather
weekly for prayer. Ted Johnston, WCG district superintendent, is part of
that group and served as publicity director for the crusade.
OMAHA, Nebraska--Members from Grand Island, Nebraska; Sioux City and Des Moines, Iowa; and Omaha enjoyed a praise and worship service with Ross Jutsum of State of the Heart Ministries Sept. 9 at Trinity Presbyterian Church.
After a potluck meal, Dr. Jutsum conducted a seminar for many of the members. In one session, he helped worship leaders from the four congregations improve their style.
Live music is a treat here, and Dr. Jutsum reminded the members that they have percussion instruments, their hands, and it is OK to worship in any way that brings them in communion with the Lord--whether they lift their arms on high, clap their hands or hold them at their side.
Dr. Jutsum encouraged members to practice their Christianity daily in feeding the hungry and helping the homeless and strangers. He has visited 154 congregations educating them about worship. Mary Thompson.
MISSOULA, Montana--Tim Love, a deacon in the Missoula church, and a United States Forest Service forest ranger in charge of fighting the Monture fire, was injured in a collision with a semi-trailer Aug. 30.
According to the Missoulian, the accident happened when a semi-tractor trailer swerved to avoid hitting a slower moving car that was turning. As the semi swerved around the car, it crashed into the driver's side of Mr. Love's Jeep Cherokee. He received a broken arm and internal injuries. He is expected to recover but may lose some use of his left arm.
Mr. Love was featured in a front-page Missoulian story two days before the accident about fires in the Ovando, Montana, area, and about his experiences during fires in the area in 1988.
PASADENA--Jan Weiner, events manager, earned recognition from the Convention Liaison Council by obtaining the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation.
Mrs. Weiner was among 352 meeting managers who passed the certification examination Jan. 29. According to the Convention Liaison Council, only those meeting managers who have demonstrated high standards of proficiency through substantial professional experience and superior examination performance achieve the CMP credential.
CANTON, Ohio--Members of Grace Community Fellowship (the Akron-Canton congregation of the WCG) were involved in an evangelistic crusade Sept. 16 to 21 in Canton, OH.
Called Encounter 2000, the crusade was a joint effort of 140 congregations in the greater Canton area and Wingfield Ministries, crusade evangelists from Virginia.
Evangelist Steve Wingfield was keynote speaker with a nightly audience that averaged 1,500 people. The size and scope of the event was of historic proportions in the community. Not since a Billy Sunday crusade in Canton 88 years ago had so many churches worked together to reach out to the community in this way.
Planning for the
crusade began more than 18 months ago among a group of Canton area pastors who gather
weekly for prayer. Ted Johnston, WCG district superintendent, is part of
that group and served as publicity director for the crusade.
Many WCG members served in the crusade in various roles including singing in the 200-member community choir, ushering, staffing the crusade office, working with product sales, coordinating women's ministry events and serving as evangelism counselors.
Those who served as counselors received extensive training in personal and prayer evangelism. Several prayed with and counseled individuals who made first-time commitments or recommitments to Christ during the crusade. Through this involvement in Encounter 2000 the WCG congregation has become much more aware of the need for and methods to achieve effective evangelistic outreach.
PRESCOTT, Arizona--Northern Arizona Christian Fellowship will be host Dec. 29 to 31 for a camp in the high pines of Prescott for people ages 12 to 20 .
Included will be Christian fellowship, live worship music, inspired teaching and spirit-filled activities. Jeb Egbert, director of the Summer Educational Program, is one of the inspirational speakers.
The cost is $55 per person (for lodging and meals) and must be received by Nov. 18. For applications, brochures, other information or to send payment, contact Jason and Teresa Haas, Box 3292, Flagstaff, Arizona, 86003; phone 1-520-522-9123; e-mail: jsh@dana.ucc.nau.edu
For a virtual tour of the camp go to www.ucyc.com (United Christian Youth Camp in Prescott).
HOUSTON, Texas--Fifteen members of the Pearland Christian Fellowship (Houston South congregation) joined about 2,000 other participants from 34 denominations Oct. 14 at Lakewood Church for John Maxwell's Lay Ministry 2000 seminar.
Using Acts 6:1-7 as the biblical basis for lay ministry, participants learned how to raise the level of lay ministry in their congregations.
Dr. Maxwell used five analogies of a football team and how they would be if they played football like we participate as churches: the pastor does it all, the church as an exclusive club, the church filled with argument and bickering, the church that wants to play the game but hasn't been trained, and the church that has the training and the unity and the winning game plan.
Hebrews 10:23-25 was the introduction for the second portion of the seminar. The discussion was about how to encourage people to participate, equipping them for participation and using spiritual gifts to be an effective participant.
At one point, Dr. Maxwell asked all of the senior pastors to stand. He then asked the rest of the people to gather around a pastor, lay hands on him and pray for him. He also asked those pastors who were at the seminar alone to raise their hands so that those who had a large group with them could share their members and every pastor would have someone to pray for them.
Dr. Maxwell
himself, before the seminar begins, asks some of the pastors present to gather around him
and pray for him. Mark Mounts, WCG pastor, was one who participated in
this way.
Members from Pearland Christian Fellowship who attended this seminar are Mark and Debra Mounts, Walter and Margaret Hawkins, Gary and Sue Hewitt, Johnny and Iris Hutto, Rasha McChesney, James McGee, James and Edith Schultz, Susa and Mary Washington and Sylvester Washington. Walter Hawkins.
ORLANDO, Florida--About 80 WCG members from various cities in Florida gathered at the Pinelake Retreat Center Sept. 22-24.
Members have gathered at this site every six months for the last six years and have humorously called it the Pinelake Church. This gathering was dubbed the Pinelake Festival with a focus on enjoying a spirit of joy.
The Tampa church praise band, The Christones, provided worship music. Bob Persky, district superintendent for Florida, gave the keynote address on What Is Our Vision? He also spoke on The Cross--The Tree of Life and Feed My Sheep. Kay Persky shared a presentation titled The Heart of Worship.
Pastor Larry
Hinkle gave a presentation on Becoming a Contagious Christian.
Pastor Ken Smylie spoke on The
Power of Worship. The festival included a two-hour prayer and healing service.
Both Friday and Saturday night The Christones led the group in singing praise songs late into the evening. The festival ended with a musical communion lead by the Perskys. Ken Smylie.
Lorain women
hosts for Victorian tea partyLORAIN, Ohio--Lorain women were hosts for a Victorian tea party July 26 attended by about 45 members.
Dainty sandwiches, tarts and sweets were served, along with teas from that era researched and made by Linda and Shirley Leimbach. A display table was set up with an array of fine China, silver, handmade tea napkins and family heirlooms--all provided by women of the church.
Laura and Gary Moore provided the furniture, and a number of the women dressed in period attire. Kitty Denny-Smith.
MENA,
Arkansas--Members conducted a three-day revival, July 21-23, at their new church building
in Potter, Arkansas.
Pastor Don Thurman preached sermons on repentance, redemption, and salvation. Members had a cookout on the third day and a song service before the regular worship service.
Six visitors attended. On the final day two young people were baptized, Sandy and Susie Snider. Pastor Thurman officiated, along with John Snider, father of the two girls. Ellen Matthews.
HALEYVILLE, Alabama--Frances Gillentine received the annual Woman of Distinction award from the Double Springs Study Club March 14.
Mrs. Gillentine teaches math and science in the Walker County Schools. She was referred to as a "concerned and caring woman who works diligently in numerous ways within her church and community," who "has earned the respect and admiration of those privileged to know her."
Mrs. Gillentine attends the Florence, Alabama, church.
PASADENA--Church Administration announced the following ministerial ordinations.
Brian Crum, Altoona, Pennsylvania; James Dunbar, Lafayette, Indiana; Tom Logan, Washington, D.C.; Richard Ridgell, Strasburg, Virginia; Mark Stapleton, Altadena, California, Community Life Fellowship; Ron White, Champaign, Illinois.
CADILLAC, Michigan--The youth Bible class of the Cadillac church had a survival camp-out July 29 and 30.
Under the guidance of Ray and Claudette Griffee, who planned the camp-out with the television show Survivors in mind, the youths left after the worship service July 29.
At Healy Lake Forrest Campground they divided into two teams, each with their own flag and name. The girls (Zapidos) were Candice Griffee, Brigette Sims and Christine and Tina Spivey. The boys (Sentinels) were Andrew, Zach and Caleb Griffee and Andrew Smith.
Each team chose items they thought they might be able to use for their survival. They had to start a camp fire, rescue a team member, follow a map to a buried treasure and find items in the dark.
Pastor Al Sims and his wife, Nancy, joined the group for the first day. The next morning the group went to Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes, and in the afternoon they swam in Lake Michigan. Ina Mae Smith.
MIAMI, Florida--Ten children ages 3 to 10 from the Miami church created their own bears or other animals at a Build-a-Bear workshop at the Aventura Mall July 9.
The youngsters selected an animal, stuffed it, pledged to take care of it, bathed it for the first time and used a computer to produce a birth certificate. Some shopped for an outfit for their animals before placing them in a specially built house. Mattie A. Johnson.
The WCG has four members who are permanent residents of Hong Kong: Jimmy Wong, Irene Lee, David Yeung and Winston Fung, who is married to Pastor Yong Chin Gee's daughter, Li Nyuk, but they live temporarily in the United States on business.
Three other families live there because of their work: James and Alisi Panuve (daughter and son-in-law of Pastor Epeli Kanaimawi from Fiji. James is from Tonga); Muan and Kiaw Lim (from Melbourne, Australia), and Marites Baniqued (from the Philippines).
It is difficult for everyone to get together because many travel on business. However, if everyone could be together at one time, with children there would be nearly 20 people.
During a visit by Yong Chin Gee in September, the group had a farewell dinner for Terri Ko and Victor Stiso who were leaving to get married Oct. 8 in New Jersey.
SYRACUSE, New York--The Syracuse and Utica congregations celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Syracuse church Aug. 19.
Several members shared encouraging comments thanking and praising God for the 30 years, and members remembered the 40 people listed in the program who have died.
A Syracuse and Utica women's chorus participated in the worship service. Shaena Bogart performed a vocal solo.
Pastor Eric Larison read greetings from previous pastors, Leslie Schmedes and Randy Bloom, as well as playing a taped message from Ken Williams, former pastor and now district superintendent.
The Utica congregation presented Syracuse with 30th anniversary engraved silver trays for use in serving communion.
Among the visitors were 11 teens from Long Island and Rochester.
Sunday, Aug. 20, the members had a picnic at Verona Beach State Park with many people formerly associated with the Syracuse church attending. Katie Rounds was baptized that day. Marilynn Denny.
SYRACUSE PICNIC--Teens from Long Island and
Rochester with Katie Rounds at the Syracuse picnic
[Photo by Michael Rounds]
HERWIJNEN, Netherlands--Pastor General Joseph Tkach paid a rather unexpected visit to the Netherlands Sept. 23.
While in England for the annual board meeting, he and John Halford, European regional director, decided to fly to Holland to say hello to the Dutch brethren and speak at a combined service with the four congregations.
During the service, Jesse Korver, Netherlands pastor, congratulated elder Henk Buist and his wife, Metha, for their 40th anniversary. Diny van der Ley performed music, and children sang a special song in English: "Jesus' Love Is So Wonderful."
The visit concluded with a question and answer session with Mr. Tkach.
After the service Mr. Tkach and Mr. Halford talked with Mr. Korver, the Dutch pastor, and Mr. Buist, who is responsible for preaching and teaching in the Netherlands. They together discussed the church in the Netherlands in more detail. Gerrie Belo.
MAKAK, Cameroon--The church in Cameroon conducted an evangelistic campaign Aug. 11 to 14 with the theme Youths and Evangelism. Seven young people gave their lives to Christ. Serge Nama Omgba.
LOS ANGELES, California--One hundred twenty-eight current and former Los Angeles members and friends celebrated the Los Angeles congregation's 40th anniversary Aug. 26.
The service began with a call to worship by the NewLife Fellowship praise team, Hearts of Praise. In opening remarks, Pastor Bermie Dizon dedicated the celebration to God.
John Campbell recited an oral history highlight of the Los Angeles church. A taped message from former pastor Abner Washington was played, and music presentations were made by the Los Angeles choir and soloist Adriane Graham-Lacey. Curtis May, district superintendent, gave a sermon on Evangelism Through Reconciliation.
Awards of recognition and appreciation were given to the two oldest members in the Los Angeles congregation, Robert Lindgren, 85, and Kathe Ernst, 92, who no longer attends because of age and health.
Awards were also given to Billy Johnson, the longest baptized member in the congregation at 41 years; members from the original Los Angeles congregation, Felix and Melba Johnson, William and Mariah Thompson, and Jean Campbell.
Also in attendance was Clifton Tracy, a Los Angeles church charter member, from Little Rock, California.
A potluck meal took place after the service. Festivities closed with comments from Mr. May, a slide show of past activities and comments by Mr. Dizon.
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