PASADENA--Community Life Fellowship, which formerly met at the headquarters facility, conducted it first service at 6 p.m., July 15, at its new meeting hall, Altadena Baptist Church.
Pastor
Eric Shaw shared a letter from George Van Alstine, Altadena Baptist pastor. Mr. Van
Alstine wrote: "Our deacon board was quite enthusiastic about this possible shared
usage. We're anxious to see the Lord's property used to maximum advantage for the Lord's
work."
Mr. Shaw said, "We are excited about this new opportunity to move into a community and work together with our brothers and sisters in the Body of Christ."
GENTING HIGHLANDS, Malaysia--Twenty-two people, including all full-time Asian pastors and a number of pastoral team members, attended a ministerial conference in Genting Highlands July 4 to 6.
Charles Albrecht of Church Administration International also attended.
Regional director Rod Matthews said that it was inspiring to hear of the effect that "a genuine and non-confrontational personal example is having on the lives of those who come in contact with our people."
Mohan Jayasekera, who pastors the congregations in Sri Lanka, facilitated a discussion on the issues the church faces in trying to represent God in Asia.
"Historically, many who have come in the name of Christianity have not lived and walked as Jesus did," Mr. Matthews said.
"In some parts of Asia, Christianity is regarded as a tool of imperialism. In India, Christianity is considered by many to be offensive because it is regarded as seeking to buy converts, that it lures people through material or life-style gain, because the good works, which are an integral part of our way of life, are considered a deliberate inducement to convert."
Mr. Matthews explained that this is sometimes a hard situation to deal with, unless enough time is taken to develop a relationship with someone so they can see the sincerity, genuineness and love that comes from Christ living in a person.
Discussion followed on how to represent our Creator in non-Christian societies, the need to separate cultural elements from theological ones, earning the right to talk to someone about their beliefs and how the religious background of some people means they have to accept God before they can be receptive to learning about Jesus Christ.
ASIAN CONFERENCE--Pastor Mohan
Jayasekera speaks to conference in Genting
Highlands, Malaysia. [Photo by Charles Albrecht]
SAN TOMAS, La Union, Philippines--Sunday morning, June 25, the church conducted an outreach worship service for more than 180 primary, elementary and high school teachers from San Tomas, La Union.
"We emphasized the truth that the cross, the symbol or logo of Christianity, is about our loving relationship with God and with one another," said Pastor Jerry Ortiguero. "One of the teachers commented that this is the first time they have ever heard such explanation on the meaning of the cross."
After lunch, they baptized 46 people. About a third of them are young people who graduated from the Vacation Bible Studies (VBS) conducted by Rommel Madriaga and his team of teachers.
The number of baptized members in Cadumanian, Rosario, La Union, is now 89. They have outgrown the church building they erected for their meetings.
PASADENA--Church Administration announced the following ministerial ordinations:
Larry Badowski, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada.
Matthew Baker, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.
Eriberto Colona, Ipil, Philippines.
Anthony Dady, London, England, South.
Tim Disney, Victorvalley Fellowship, Victorville, California.
Ralph Dow, Anchorage, Alaska.
Robert Gnage, Rushville, New York.
Bradley Haist, Midland, Michigan.
Gary Hansen, Brainerd, Minnesota.
Tony McKinney, Marion, North Carolina.
Charlie Piscitello, Batavia, New York.
Frederick Reid, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
Jose Ribeiro, Lisbon, Portugal.
Barry Robinson, Camberwell, England.
Mark Schneider, Omaha, Nebraska.
Terry Smith, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Leon Steele, Central Arkansas Christian Fellowship.
Frederic Wahlen, Basel, Switzerland.
ORDINATIONS IN SWITZERLAND--Henry Sturcke (right), elder and former pastor of the
Basel and Zurich, Switzerland, congregations, prays for Frederic Wahlen, who was ordained
an elder and commissioned as bivocational pastor of the Basel congregation in Wettingen,
Switzerland, July 8. Hermann Birawe (left) was commissioned as bivocational pastor of the
Zurich congregation at the same time. [Photo by Hans K. Sidler]
LONDON, England--Pastor General Joseph Tkach and Randal Dick, superintendent of missions, attended the annual meeting of the church board of trustees July 28.
July 29, Mr. Tkach attended a combined worship service for the three London congregations--North, South and Camberwell--attended by about 240 people, with a few extras from elsewhere.
Mr. Tkach, with assistance from all ministers present, ordained Anthony Dady of the London South congregation and Barry Robinson of the Camberwell congregation.
July 30 Mr. Tkach flew to Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for a Canadian ministerial conference Aug. 1 to 4. John Stettaford.
COLUMBUS, Ohio--The Columbus congregation celebrated its 35th anniversary July 15.
The theme for the occasion was A Celebration of Friendship, and invitations went out to members past and present. About 40 percent of the nearly 200 in attendance were former members of the congregation, some from the WCG and others who either attend a WCG offshoot, various mainstream Christian churches or are not attending anywhere.
The celebration began with a worship service led by Jericho, the congregation's praise band. Pastor John Karlson spoke on The Blessing of Friendship. A fellowship reception and potluck dinner took place afterward. Larry Brown, Jim Hopkins and Mike Dutko reminisced about fond memories and friendships they have developed over the past years.
"A number of our guests who no long attend with us expressed the
desire to get together more often than at church anniversaries," Mr. Karlson said.
"Some were hoping we could do something like this every year. Judy Hoban.
John Karlson
MYRTLE BEACH, South Carolina--The theme for the festival in Myrtle Beach is "Go! and Make Disciples." "Our main objective is to equip our members for evangelism," said coordinator Greg Williams. All services will be geared around some aspect of reaching the lost.
Pastor Larry Hinkle has assembled a team of presenters to conduct a Festival Evangelism School (seven classes conducted by our pastors along with Shelby Smith and Tom Hammond from national evangelism organizations).
Opening night, Oct. 14, will feature a family concert. The featured artist is Mark Shultz, who sings I Am the Way. Before he performs, Bill Scott, national youth speaker, author, radio host and founder of ZJAM Youth Ministries, will address the audience. The opening act is a contemporary band called IRIS, made up of WCG members.
Advance tickets are students $6; adults $8; family of three or more $20. On the day of the concert, tickets increase to students $8; adults $10; family of three or more, $25. To purchase tickets send a check or money order to Mount Airy Christian Fellowship, 1959 Peace Haven Rd. No. 253, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27106, and make payable to Mount Airy Christian Fellowship LCAF.
Bruce Marchiano, who played Jesus in the Matthew video, will return as guest speaker for the last two days.
For more information see the website: www.myrtlebeach.wcg.org
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands--Hans de Moei, a Worldwide Church of God elder in the Netherlands, attended the July 29 to Aug. 6 Amsterdam 2000 evangelistic conference with 12,000 others from 190 countries.
The Amsterdam 2000 conference was sponsored by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. It served as a passing of the torch for Rev. Graham's vision and commitment to worldwide evangelism. The conference was designed to train, equip and encourage evangelists to be more effective at reaching people with the gospel--and to give continuity to a ministry that will live well beyond the life of one man. Hans and Denise de Moei.
MUSKEGON, Michigan----Percy Skinner was honored July 8 for being a member of the Worldwide Church of God for 40 years.
A framed certificate of appreciation was presented to him. Diane Clark talked about his life in the church.
The theme for the day was faithfulness. Pastor Norm David gave the sermon. Many of Mr. Skinner's family members attended the service. Sandwiches and cake were served afterward. Michele Templeman.
40-YEAR MEMBERS--Jon Kurnik, pastor of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, church,
honored six people June 10 who have been WCG members for more than 40 years. From left,
Edna and Al Munzinger, Mr. Kurnik, Blanche Moore and Dolores Nytra. Not pictured: Rose
Luzar and Helen Wabash. [Photo by Ila Kurnik]
LAURINBURG, North Carolina--Willie Covington, a health care nursing assistant, was named employee of the month by Scotland Memorial Hospital and home care aide of the year by Scotland Home Health. Mr. Covington was one of six finalists for this year's America's Home Care Aide of the Year selected by the National Association for Home Care.
According to the Laurinburg Exchange, Jane Murray, executive director of Scotland Health Care, said it is not uncommon for them to receive letters and phone calls from patients complimenting Mr. Covington's gentleness and kindness.
Mr. Covington attends the Dillon, South Carolina, church.
MEDFORD, Oregon--For the past two and a half years, the Medford congregation has supported a family in Ukraine, a single mother with two children.
Periodically, they receive letters from her detailing the desperate plight of the Ukrainian people and her gratefulness for the help the congregation gives, which is keeping her family alive amidst millions who are starving.
Member Sharon Bontrager spent the summer of 1993 in her city teaching English, and this woman was a student in her class. At that time, she was a new Christian, having given her life to Christ after reading some Gospel tracts from a street vendor.
Sharon befriended her, spent a lot of time with her and her children and helped her understand more fully her salvation.
A seven-year correspondence has ensued, during which time the entire congregation got involved, with Medford hearts touched to give, and one Ukrainian heart touched to overflowing with this demonstration of the love of God, something quite foreign to former atheists.
Now the congregation endeavors to bring the family to the United States to provide a future for her two teens. They went on an area radio to announce their intentions. Sharon Bontrager. e-mail swesnerwc@aol.com
ANNISTON, Alabama--The Anniston church celebrated its 25th anniversary June 25 with almost 150 in attendance. Gilbert Flournoy spoke at the worship service. Also in attendance were Frederick and Laura Moore of Memphis, Tennessee, and Bob Miller of Birmingham, Alabama.
Several former pastors sent greetings. The musical group Inspirational Voices performed during the worship service and also afterward during lunch. Many former members attended. Don Johnson.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2000