HARARE, Zimbabwe—Despite political uncertainty and heavy rains, about 50 leaders from Zambia and Zimbabwe gathered in Harare Feb. 16 to 18 for part two of a three-part Principles of Effective Ministry conference.

The WCG Zimbabwe Ecclesiastical Council was host, and Raymond Munengwa was organizer. Regional Pastor Kalengule Kaoma led worship, and James Henderson, WCG superintendent of African Missions, chaired the meetings. Returning to Zimbabwe for a second time in 12 years was guest speaker Curtis May, a U.S. district superintendent and director of the WCG’s Office of Reconciliation Ministries.

Mr. May gave a sermon called The Samaritan Woman to more than 300 people at the Harare church service, and gave leadership presentations on the subjects of Passionate Commitment, Empowerment, and Reconciliation. Mr. Henderson spoke on Prayer Under the Old and New Covenant, Parables for Pastors (part 2) and Reflective Leadership.

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Office sent the following report from Diody A. Silva, a WCG missionary in China.

"After three months of staying here, I am convinced that this is a good place to start ministry," Mr. Silva said. "With the help of an American couple, I started two cell groups. One is conducted on Wednesday and the other on Thursday."

Mr. Silva said he is recruiting members to form a third group.

PASADENA—Church Administration announced the following ministerial ordinations.

Clifford Herrboldt, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Obed Letsela, Maseru, Lesotho.

Lawrence Marshall, Phoenix, Arizona.

Edward Neal Sr., Baltimore, Maryland.

Byron Randall, Grand Rapids, Minnesota.

John Robertson, Bournemouth, England.

Mathew Stewart, Baltimore, Maryland.

Ian Toppin, Atlanta, Georgia.

CANTON, Ohio—The Great Lakes District invites WCG members and friends to a worship retreat at Beulah Beach, Ohio, June 22 to 24.

The focus of the retreat is seeking an intimate and fresh encounter with our Lord and Savior through worship emphasizing prayer and praise, according to Ted Johnston, district superintendent.

The retreat features four worship services centered on the theme PRAY:

Praise—Friday night, June 22, the opening service will lead participants into God’s presence through praise.

Repent—Saturday morning, participants will turn their hearts to God in a more pensive and personal way as they acknowledge the wonderful forgiveness they have received in Christ and confess their need for ongoing cleansing from sin.

Ask—The Saturday evening service will focus on bringing petitions to God who is the giver of every perfect gift including his lavish gifts of healing and deliverance.

Yield—The Sunday morning closing service will direct members’ prayers toward offering themselves to God as the living sacrifices he has called them to be.

Retreat worship services will be led by a team of gifted worship leaders, musicians and singers presenting a mix of musical styles. Preachers including Mr. Johnston will bring inspiring messages to lead participants into the specific prayer focus of the service.

The retreat will provide plenty of time for private, family and small group prayer, relaxed meditation, fellowship and recreation on the grounds of the Beulah Beach Retreat Center, which is near Vermilion, Ohio (west of Cleveland).

Situated on Lake Erie, the center offers cottage, motel-style and bunkhouse-style housing together with campsites. All participants share meals in the center’s cafeteria. For recreation, Beulah Beach offers walking paths, a swimming beach and a fishing pier. Canoes and paddleboats are available on a private pond with volleyball and basketball facilities on site. Children and adults will find plenty of indoor and outdoor activities to enjoy together.

The cost of the retreat (including two nights lodging and five meals) varies from about $65 to $120 for each adult depending on the type of housing selected. Children staying in lodging with paying adults pay only for the meal package, which varies in price from $27 to $42 for each child depending on the child’s age.

PASADENA—A reporter from the Wall Street Journal interviewed Pastor General Joseph Tkach, Mr. Albrecht, and Ralph Helge, the church’s legal counsel, for an article about the church that appeared on the front page in the Feb. 21 edition.

Although the article is neutral toward the church, one statement about the church’s lawsuit for copyright infringement against the Philadelphia Church of God can be misleading, Mr. Tkach said.

The statement is: "But Worldwide claims it is entitled to all the tithes and other contributions given to the splinter group’s church by people inspired by copies of the book that the group printed."

"The truth of the matter is that the Ninth Circuit Appellate Court ruled in our favor, and eventually Gerald Flurry’s group will have to pay what is known as damages for the wrong they committed," Mr. Tkach said.

BONN, Germany—Foundation German Sport Aid offered the church exclusive advertising space for Nachfolge (Discipleship, a magazine published by the WCG in Germany) in a poster the foundation will display for a year beginning in March and April, according to Alois Mair of the German Office.

The poster will depict a known German athlete and will be displayed in public offices, sport facilities and certain industries in Bonn and the surrounding area. Below the picture of the athlete is room for five ads.

"We were surprised that the foundation would select us and offer us the best space in the middle of the advertising segment," Mr. Mair said. The representative of the foundation said he had seen an advertisement for Nachfolge in Schaufenster, an advertising paper in Bonn.

He felt that this ad was "different, open and more fresh" than what he was used to from other churches.

SILVERTON, Oregon—Pastors from the Pacific Northwest region gathered Jan. 12 to 14 at the Christian Retreat Center near Silverton for a prayer retreat.

Five men gathered Friday evening, Jan. 12: Wayne Mitchell (Salem and Albany, Oregon); Steve Schemm (Federal Way and Tacoma, Washington); Robin Chester (Bend, Oregon); Tim Sitterly (Eugene, Oregon); and Glen Weber (Spokane, Washington). They were joined Saturday evening by Tracey Rogers (Eugene and Medford, Oregon); Joel Lillengreen (Portland East and Hood River, Oregon); and Al Allworth (Coos Bay, Oregon).

"We came with no agenda except to seek the face of our Lord and to worship him and hear from him," Mr. Weber said.

Throughout the weekend, time was spent praying for the regional conference taking place at the same time in Jekyll Island, Georgia, and the district superintendents meetings that followed.

Hours were spent simply worshiping in various forms—song, prayer, reading scripture or silence. "Twice we went into a time of a discipline of silence, when we did not talk but simply spent time in the Word of God listening to what he had for us as a group," Mr. Weber said. "Everyone assembled felt that Jesus spoke clearly to us about how he would like to see us minister over the coming months."

Saturday evening Mr. Rogers brought heartfelt excitement to the topic of evangelism that challenged everyone to become more active in leading people to Jesus.

"On Sunday morning a wonderful time of healing took place as wounds were revealed and healed from the past six or more years of battle," Mr. Weber said. "It was like we were sitting in a room with Jesus, and he was personally ministering healing to each of our tired and wounded hearts."

Mr. Weber continued: "This refreshing led to a spontaneous time of worship. Few moments in life are as powerful as pastors singing to their Shepherd from the depths of their heart! Afterward he led us to lay hands on each minister and pray his heart to each one attending. Jesus knows our inner being better than any of us, so we asked him to speak to each man as he led our brothers to pray for us."

Mr. Weber said that it was "a marvelous time of refreshing as Jesus spoke personally to each of us through seven other men as they prayed and read scripture over us!"

MANILA, Philippines—Rey Taniajura, manager of Leadership Development and Church Relations and head of the Institute of Family, Leadership and Biblical Studies of the Philippine Office, graduated Feb. 24 with a master of sacred literature degree from Trinity Theological Seminary.

The commencement took place at San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines.

The degree is Mr. Taniajura’s second degree from Trinity Theological Seminary, which is based in Newburgh, Indiana. Trinity has an extension campus in San Pablo City. His first degree from Trinity was a master of arts in biblical studies, which he obtained in 1998.

SPOKANE, Washington—Pastor Glen Weber of Spokane was asked to speak at several congregations in January and February.

Mr. Weber spoke at Colbert Chapel, an Evangelical Church of America congregation, Jan. 7. He was then asked by the senior citizens group to speak at their Valentine’s dinner in February.

MIAMI, Florida—Sunday, Dec. 3, was an evening of elegance for 34 couples from North Miami and Boca Raton, Florida. The couples spent an evening of dining, dancing and fellowshipping at a Holiday Inn.

Music was provided by Professor Mike from Dynamics Productions. Professor Mike also served as the master of ceremonies for the evening. The dance floor was rocking with the twist, cha cha, electric slide, fish, scratch my back, reggae, two step, swing and more.

Charles Fleming, regional director for the Caribbean and Latin America, shared a humorous perspective of a married couple. Pastor Charles Taylor and his wife, Keysha, shared with the couples the likenesses and differences of two married people.

MUSKEGON, Michigan—Arlene Beckem conducted a black history service Feb. 3 with a theme Combat Racial Hatred and Prejudice With Love Within the Church. She told the predominantly white church that they had been there for her during the deaths of her mother, niece, sister and nephew.

She concluded the program with her visiting nieces and nephews doing a praise and worship dance to the song "Revolution" by Kurt Franklin, and a tribute to Pastor Norm David by her sister singing the theme song from Golden Girls, "Thank You for Being a Friend."

TOLEDO, Ohio—The Toledo church was host to a benefit concert for persecuted Christians in Sudan Feb. 24.

The Imani Gospel Family, from the Detroit, Michigan, East church, were among the performers. Also performing was First Creation, a group of three men from the Toledo area who have performed throughout the United States and in Canada, and have won three consecutive Peoples’ Choice awards in Gospel music.

The last group, Theo Rane, is also from the Toledo area.

DALLAS, Texas—The Dallas Central church conducted a Black History service Feb. 25. Barry Ford, leader of the congregation’s gospel chorus, coordinated the service.

Mr. Ford, who plays saxophone, spoke about jazz saxophonist John Coltrane, who has mentioned his dedication to Jesus on several of his album covers.

Nettie Streets and her son, Patrick Bradshaw, sang a duet. Earl Thomas sang a solo. Todric Logan performed two instrumentals on string bass and the gospel chorus sang. Several chorus members gave testimonials about how they were inspired by singing to inmates at a women’s prison.

Jerry Booker spoke about his and his wife Jo’s efforts in forming an interracial small group to work at racial reconciliation in their town.

Mike Read, a 30-year employee of the City of Dallas, talked about numerous black city employees he has known who have risen to prominent positions in city government.

Mike Newell read the story of a black family being led by God to leave their comfortable surroundings to serve in music ministry to an all-white congregation in another state.

Tammy Ford discussed the history of Martin Luther King and John Henry Jr., and read Dr. King’s I Have a Dream speech.

COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho—Senior pastors or a designated associate pastor from about a dozen churches around Kootenai County gathered in Coeur d’Alene for a think tank Feb. 12.

This was based on similar think tanks facilitated over the past year by Mission Houston. The concept of the think tank is to gather pastors for a day of seeking the direction of Jesus Christ.

In Coeur d’Alene, our desire was to ask and discuss two questions, according to Pastor Glen Weber. They were: "If Jesus were to have his way in Kootenai County, what would it look like?" and "What must the church of Kootenai County do to be a worthy vessel so Jesus can accomplish such a work?"

The rest of the day was filled with discussion and prayer. The pastors left feeling they had some specific direction from the Lord regarding what the Church of Kootenai County needs to do in the next few years.

TORONTO, Ontario, Canada—Three Chinese were baptized in the Toronto East church Jan. 27, according to Pastor Richard Wilding.

The three new Chinese members emigrated from Mainland China. When Li Li Huang left Shanghai, her father encouraged her to find a Christian church to attend when she came to Canada. Her father had been a Christian for many years, but because of great pressure has been quiet about it, Mr. Wilding said.

Li Li and her husband, Wei Hu [Richard], were walking in the neighborhood and decided to give the Worldwide Church of God congregation a try.

"It was just the right day," Mr. Wilding said. "Besides our regular service we had lots of refreshments afterward and a drama presentation in the afternoon. They were given a warm welcome and were invited to attend a small group by its leader, Gus Thomas."

They invited two of their friends, Hongli Cai [Henry] and Hai Yan Zhi [Carrie], to attend services and the small group. Li Li, Richard and Henry made a decision for Christ at one of their small group meetings, and Mr. Wilding counseled them for baptism.

DALLAS, Texas—A reunion for Ambassador University faculty and alumni who attended Ambassador during the post-consolidation years (fall 1990 to spring 1997) is planned over Memorial Day weekend (May 26 to 28) in Dallas.

More information, including hotel reservations, a reunion schedule, church service information, and registration process can be found on the Internet at www.aureunion.com Questions about the Ambassador reunion can be sent to questions@aureunion.com

NASSAU, Bahamas—An eight-day festival will take place on Paradise Island, Bahamas, Oct. 1 to 9.

The festival will include inspiring worship services, evangelistic outreach ministries, family activities, sun-filled days and tropical nights. Lodging is at the newly expanded Comfort Suites.

Attendees will have access to the amenities of Atlantis Resort: the open-air aquarium, five swimming pools, an 18-hole championship golf course, tennis, spa and Camp Paradise for children.

Room rates are $125 a night plus taxes.

For more information contact the Worldwide Church of God, PO Box N-3934, Nassau, Bahamas; telephone 1-242-364-8050, fax 1-242- 364-8061; e-mail wcg@batelnet.bs

Space is limited, so apply by May 31 to guarantee your place.

OCHO RIOS, Jamaica—An eight- day festival will take place in Ocho Rios Oct. 2 to 9.

The Ocho Rios site offers a festival with an evangelical component; a variety concert featuring Jamaican and overseas talent; and a family fun day.

An all-inclusive plan offers accommodation with private balcony and ocean view; full buffet breakfast daily and lunch daily with a choice of restaurants; dinner daily with a choice of restaurants or theme parties; non-motorized watersports and day and night tennis; daily activities program; and nightly live entertainment.

The cost for this is $170 per room per night, single occupancy, or $210, double occupancy.

Doug Johannsen, pastor of the Minneapolis North congregation, gave the sermon, and Novella Meisner, Jeremy and Loretta Bushlack, Diane Kraft and Rebecca Nielsen provided music.

Denise Hoeft catered a Mexican fiesta meal.

"It is wonderful getting together with people to reconnect, especially when it is to fellowship and praise God," said Novella Meisner, one of the many who helped organize the event. Lori L. Campbell.