This is our December cover.

In this issue

Men's ministry

For the second year, elder Paul Sniffen was assistant event volunteer manager of the Promise Keepers event in California.

Promise Keepers is a Christian men’s ministry focused on helping men come to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to help those who are already Christians to develop a more meaningful relationship with God and to understand their role as men. Page 3.

Emmaus

Bob Persky, Florida district superintendent, took part in a Walk to Emmaus, June 21 to 24.

"The Emmaus walk was more than I expected," Mr. Persky said. "As with the men in Luke 24, I feel that Jesus met me in the way I needed most." Page 5.

Christmas

Jesus’ birth involves more humiliation than glory, writes Pastor General Joseph Tkach. When Jesus was born, there was no pageantry. There was no glory in a family who couldn’t find a decent place to stay. Page 6.

Youth ministry

Summer Educational Program camps will take place at several locations around the country next summer. In this issue we look at the camps at Camp Eaton in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California and at Hicks Lake in Lacey, Washington.

Both will offer camps for teens and preteens. Pages 8 & 9.

Window on the World

The example of Kenga Ndiso is so inspiring—mainly because it shows how God takes ordinary people and through them produces much fruit for his kingdom, writes Randal Dick in "Window on the World."

Mr. Ndiso, a nonsalaried pastor for the coastal region of Kenya, felt that his ordination gave him a sense of responsibility he could not put in storage. Page 11.

Financial report

Donation income for October remained at a consistent level, writes controller Ronald Kelly.

Donation income for the month was just over $2.1 million. That brought the annual contribution income to $18.2 million. Page 14.

Women's ministry

The Renaissance Hotel in Los Angeles was the site for a Ministers’ Wives Conference, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2. It was sponsored by Jannice May, founder of Connecting and Bonding. Page 15.

Christian Beliefs

The Bible says that people who have faith in Christ become part of the "church," writes Michael Morrison in Basic Christian Beliefs. What is the church? How is it organized? What is its purpose? Page 16.

Promise Keepers
meet in
Southern California

ANAHEIM, California—For the second year in a row, elder Paul Sniffen was assistant event volunteer manager of the Promise Keepers event in California.

Mr. Sniffen said that Promise Keepers is a Christian men’s ministry focused on helping men come to Christ, and to help those who are already Christians to develop a more meaningful relationship with God and to understand their role as men.

This year’s event took place at the Anaheim Pond with more than 18,000 in attendance and 2,000 making a commitment to Christ.

Speakers addressed the need to strengthen relationships during times of crises—relationships with God, families, friends and co-workers.

The theme for this year’s conferences was "Turn the Tide," an encouragement to men on becoming better husbands, fathers, friends and co-workers. Each conference was divided into three segments that reflect this theme: extreme surrender, extreme empowerment and extreme relationships.

Speakers included Joe White, founder of Kanakuk Kamps; Jack Hayford, chancellor of The King’s College and Seminary in Van Nuys, California; Josh McDowell, president of Josh McDowell Ministries in Dallas, Texas, and a traveling representative for Campus Crusade for Christ; Tony Evans, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas; and Matthew Barnett, senior pastor of Los Angeles International Church.

For more information about men’s ministries or to have Mr. Sniffen speak about the subject in your area, call him at 1-626-447-9567 or send e-mail to mediate_4@juno.com

A Promise Keeper is committed

l To honor Jesus Christ through worship, prayer and obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.

l To pursue vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises.

l To practice spiritual, moral, ethical and sexual purity.

l To build strong marriages and families through love, protection and biblical values.

l To support the mission of his church by honoring and praying for his pastor and by actively giving his time and resources.

l To reach beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity.

l To influence his world, being obedient to the Great Commandment (Mark 12:30-31) and the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20).

VISITOR—From left: Rich Labrie, assistant to exhibit supervisor, Parfait Nkonomo from Cameroon and Paul Sniffen.

Promise Keepers stage. [Photos by Thomas C. Hanson]

Promise Keepers at Anaheim Pond

Paul & Leigh Sniffen

On the road to Emmaus

By Larry Hinkle

CORAL SPRINGS, Florida—Have you ever wanted to spend a weekend with the Lord free of the usual distractions that your day-to-day life throws at you?

Or, have you ever wondered what it felt like to live in a community of Christians like the one described in Acts 2, where the disciples worshiped together and broke bread together?

Bob Persky’s Walk to Emmaus

Bob Persky, Florida district superintendent, had just such an experience at a Walk to Emmaus, June 21 to 24.

"For me the Emmaus walk was more than I expected," Mr. Persky said. "As with the men in the story in Luke 24, I feel Jesus met me in the way I needed most. He showed me why his agape love is so transforming.

"As dozens of other Christian brothers and sisters ministered to me the love of God through unceasing prayer, self-sacrificing service and multiple acts of kindness, I was able to focus my mind on the teachings of Jesus and the apostles through 15 discipleship talks.

"The 72 uninterrupted hours of total concentration on my walk with Christ gave me a tremendous clarity of vision of true Christian belief, life-style and purpose.

"Along with time in quiet prayer and meditation in the chapel and the taking of communion I was immersed in Christian fellowship, meals and small group interaction.

"I can easily encourage any serious-minded Christian who would like to grow closer to Christ and ‘meet the Lord along the way’ to find out where and when he or she can be sponsored to take the Emmaus walk."

The walk began in Spain and was called Cursillo. It came to this country in the 1950s and was then adopted by the United Methodist Church and called the Upper Room. Later, the name was changed to Emmaus.

The Emmaus Walk is open to all denominations. It involves a three-day spiritual experience in which all participants (pilgrims) receive an outpouring of God’s grace while hearing talks by laypeople and clergy on the themes of grace, the disciplines of Christian discipleship and what it means to be the church.

The course is wrapped in prayer and meditation with times of worship and daily celebration of communion. Each pilgrim does a walk only once in a life-time and then becomes part of the Emmaus Community.

Emmaus Community in Caribbean

Charles Fleming, Caribbean regional director, is a Worldwide Church of God representative for the Oceanside Emmaus Community in South Florida. He spearheaded the establishment of a new Emmaus Community on the Caribbean island of Dominica in the summer.

Mr. Fleming said: "I love the Emmaus movement because it promotes and models so much of what God is calling our church to be." He noted the following examples.

An Emmaus community is generally interdenominational. The commitment is to develop strong Christian leaders who will go back to strengthen their home churches. Our common heritage in Jesus is highlighted to such an extent that doctrinal differences become non-issues.

The Emmaus movement actively promotes the priesthood of all believers. The movement is a co-operative effort between the laity and clergy to bring renewal to congregations by taking seriously the biblical mandate for all Christians to be part of the priesthood of all believers.

Emmaus is committed to small groups and insists that the benefits of the weekend walk will be lost to the individual unless he or she regularly attends a small group.

For information about an Emmaus Community in your area, check this website: www.upper room.org/emmaus/whatis/ or call the Upper Room’s toll free number: 1-877-899-2780. Ask that your call be directed to the Emmaus Office. The Emmaus Office is open 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Central Time. If you live outside the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, you may reach the Emmaus Office by calling 1-615-340-7227.

Larry Hinkle pastors the Port St. Lucie and North Broward, Florida, churches.

Personal from Joseph Tkach

A story of shame

A large church in southern California has a program each year titled "The Glory of Christmas." It is an elaborate program, filled with scenery, costumes, live animals, songs, flying angels and other impressive details.

The show promotes Jesus as the center of Christmas, and that is good, but I sometimes suspect that the show gets more attention than Jesus does. Sometimes it seems that people come to see the pageantry and to hear the music, more than to focus on Jesus.

Actually, it seems that Jesus’ birth involves more humiliation than glory. When Jesus was born, there was no pageantry. There was no glory in a family who couldn’t find a decent place to stay. No one wanted to bother with a woman having a baby. Maybe they were concerned about the laws of ceremonial uncleanness. They let the woman give birth in a stable.

Jesus’ birth is a story of shame, but we need to hear it. We need to remember that the Son of God lived in glory, saw us living in the slimepit of sin, and he loved us so much that he came into this slimepit to save us. He gave up his glory and he lived in shame.

Jesus didn’t deserve any shame, but he was willing to live in it, until we killed him. That is the example God has given us. It shows us what love is. It shows us what God is like. Jesus told Philip, If you have seen me, you have seen the Father (John 14:9). He wasn’t talking about appearance, but about love and humility.

When Christ became flesh, it was not some strange deviation in his character. No, it shows what God is like all the time. God is always so loving that he is willing to come to our slimepit to rescue us. He is always willing to put his own comfort and glory aside so he can rescue us.

This is true greatness. Glory is not about power and bright lights. True greatness is not in strength or money. True greatness is humility and service, and that is just as true of God as it is for us. God’s greatness is seen in his love, in his willingness to serve. The birth of Jesus shows that.

To put it in human terms, it would be like Pharaoh decided to give up the throne, give away his wealth and join the Hebrew slaves in the claypits, trying to make bricks without straw.

If any Pharaoh actually did this, we would think he was insane, but God did this on an even greater scale. He gave up more, and he descended even more—and this is what God is like all the time. His glory and greatness is seen in how much he is willing to give up, not in how much he has now.

Think about the circumstances of Jesus’ birth. He did not come when the Jewish people were a strong nation. Rather, he came when they were despised and ruled by a pagan empire. He did not come to the most important city—he grew up in a backwoods region called "Galilee of the Gentiles."

Jesus was born in embarrassing circumstances, less than nine months after Mary and Joseph married. God could have easily caused the conception after Mary and Joseph were married. It would have been just as easy for the Holy Spirit to create a baby in a married woman as in an unmarried woman. It would have been easy to avoid the appearance of evil, but God did not.

Even before Jesus was born, Jesus was in a compromised situation. Maybe that is why they didn’t find any room at the inn. Luke tells us that Joseph went to Bethlehem because everyone was supposed to go to their family’s city to be counted for the census (Luke 2:3-4).

I don’t know, of course, but it seems that Joseph would have had at least a few brothers or cousins in the family of David who would have gone to Bethlehem, too. But, apparently, none of the relatives would give Joseph and Mary a place to stay.

In traditional societies, families who want to uphold the family name can be harsh with people who don’t conform. The embarrassing part of the family is ostracized, is rejected, to set an example so that others learn to obey the rules. Perhaps this happened to Joseph and Mary.

Luke tells us the baby was placed in a feed trough, probably the best way to keep him off the ground. Jesus was born in a stable, in the worst possible circumstances. This is a story of poverty and social alienation.

God loved the world so much that he gave them his only Son—and the world didn’t want him. They knew God only as a God of power and wealth; they had forgotten about the God who walked in the garden of Eden calling for his wayward children. They had forgotten about the God who had a still, soft voice.

The world didn’t want God, but God still loved the world. Even when we were sinners, even when we were ungodly, God loved us and sent his Son to die for us (Rom. 5:6, 8, 10). That is what God is always like. The birth of Jesus should remind us of that. Christmas should remind us of his great humility.

The angels were a touch of glory in the nativity story. Here were the bright shining lights, the heavenly choir singing praises to God. But where did they appear? Outside of town, with shepherds, the lowest level of society. Shepherds were so despised that they couldn’t even testify in court. No one trusted them because they moved from one town to another. But God sent his angels to shepherds, not to priests and kings.

The wise men of Jerusalem knew that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:4-6), but they didn’t bother to make the trip. God was drawing the far-off, but the ones who were close, couldn’t even see the star. The glory of Christmas was so hidden that only a few people from the east could take the hint.

Not long after this, an angel warned: "Flee for your life. The king is out to kill you." The Christ child was taken to Egypt, becoming a refugee in the land the Jews had left—the land of slavery, the land of outcasts.

This is the glory of being poor, persecuted, rejected by the people you have come to save. This is not the way we usually think of glory, but it is God’s kind of glory—the glory of love and self-sacrifice. Whoever wants to be great, Jesus said, let him become a servant. This is true greatness because this is the way God is.

God is like a king who steps into the mud to help us make bricks without straw. He is like a king who sends his Son to his people even though he knows they will kill him. God is like someone who sacrifices himself to keep his enemies from being punished.

God is like Jesus—all the time. He is like a man who loves children, touches lepers and socializes with tax collectors and prostitutes. God is like someone who was hated without a cause, beaten without mercy and crucified without committing a crime.

God lets people hate him and beat up on him—not because he is a fool, but because he knows the best way for us to come to our senses is to see what selfishness really leads to. He knows that the best way to overcome evil is not by force, but by persistent love.

Thankfully, God has the power to pull it off. He is not hurt by our flailings. He does not get depressed when we reject him. He does not get vindictive when we insult him.

He is bigger than that, so much bigger that he can be patient with us. He can be a helpless baby, he can be a crucified criminal, he can stoop that low because he loves us.

In this way, Christmas shows us what God is like. It shows us how much he loves us. It shows us the extreme that he went to in order to save us. God is so glorious that he left his glory and came down into the slimepit to save us. He was willing to be a baby conceived before marriage. He was willing to be born in a stable, to be rejected, to flee to Egypt. He was willing to give it all up, even his life, for us.

God wants us to be like he is, to be like Jesus was. Not in appearance, not in power, but in love and humility. He set the example for us, and Christmas, or the birth of Jesus, has a message for us in how we behave toward one another.

Jesus said that a servant is not greater than the master. If he, our lord and teacher, has served us, we should also serve one another (Matt. 20:26-28). Whoever wants to be great should become a servant. Jesus wants us to go out of our way to help others. We are to use our time and our resources to help others. Jesus also said, If you want to follow me, take up your cross. Be willing to lose, even your life, and you will be great.

This is the way we are to follow Jesus’ example. We don’t follow his example in keeping Hanukkah, in cleansing the temple, or in going to synagogues on the Sabbath. But he specifically says that we are to follow his example in serving others. That’s the message of Christmas and the path of true glory.

We need to identify with that baby in the manger, to be like he is. We need to identify with the woman who had to give birth in a stable, and with the family who were refugees in another nation. Our role model is someone who loved his enemies, who was rejected time and again, and yet loved them. He was taken advantage of, ridiculed, despised and convicted of a crime, all because he wanted to help us.

SEP camp for
teens and preteens
set for California

By Dennis Pelley
Regional camp director

The WCG will offer two concurrent youth camps at Camp Eaton in the San Gabriel Mountains of Southern California, July 7 to 13, for teens and pre-teens (those going into grades four through six). The cost is $250 per camper.

The camp will be seven days of spiritual enrichment and outdoor adventure. Camp Eaton has boulders to climb, volleyball, basketball and water polo. You can bicycle on paths overlooking vistas that span 100 miles.

Campers will roast marshmallows around a camp-fire circle under starry skies as they laugh and play together. They will raise their voices in song as they lift up the name of Jesus in a beautiful new praise and worship center.

Camp Eaton has warm, sunny days with low humidity and cool mosquito-free nights. Come and renew old friendships and make some new ones that will last for a lifetime. Get away from the noises of the city and enter a quiet natural retreat where you can be refreshed and spiritually renewed.

For those staying one extra night after camp is over, overnight housing can be provided and a group rate discount is available for Six Flags Magic Mountain for roller-coaster thrills. Space is limited, so apply early through the national SEP Office. For further details check out the SEP website at www.sepcamp.com or send e-mail to Dennis Pelley, regional camp director, at dennis_pelley@wcg.org or call him at 1-626-836-3199. Information about other regional camps will appear in future issues.

TOP OF THE WORLD—Bermie Dizon, assistant director for SEP California, looks over the camp site with two of his children, Ben and Carmel. [Photos by Ron Grove]

PLACE OF WORSHIP—From left: Curtis May, district superintendent; Bermie Dizon, assistant director; and Dennis Pelley, SEP California director, in front of building where worship services will take place.

SHOOTING HOOPS—Ben tries to block a shot from Carmel, as Abel waits for a chance.

BULL’S EYE!—Abel Dizon pulls an arrow out of a target at the new SEP camp.

TIME TO EAT?—Ben, Carmel, David and Abel try out the dining hall.

SEP Washington

By Amy Johnson
Regional camp director

LACEY, Washington—Two Summer Educational Program camps will take place in Washington next summer.

The first camp, Monday, July 8, to Saturday, July 13, will be a teen camp (ages 13 to 19). Leadership and missions training will also be available for interested teens. This will be a time for teens to grow in their knowledge of Christ and to have fun.

The SEP youth camp (ages 7 to 12) will take place Saturday, Aug. 17, through Friday, Aug. 23. Some teens will have leadership roles in the youth camp.

Both camps will be at Hicks Lake in Lacey. Both camps offer a positive, Christ-centered camp experience. Staff and workers are committed to building personal relationships with the children, sharing their faith as they share their time.

Campers will experience water activities, sports, Christian living, camp fires and more. Learning to do things God’s way will be a constant thread woven throughout every activity.

Our goal is simple: to help our young people more fully understand the value and importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, while having the time of their lives.

Staff and campers can apply online at www.sepcamp.com For more information contact Amy Johnson by e-mail at amy1steve@aol.com

Regional camps will take place at 
these locations next summer.

Camp Wyldewood, Searcy, Arkansas: Sunday, June 30, to Friday, July 5. Tuition $280.

Camp Eaton, California: Sunday, July 7, to Saturday, July 13. Tuition $250.

Plymouth, Connecticut: Sunday, Aug. 18, to Saturday, Aug. 24. Tuition $175.

Campbell University, Buies Creek, North Carolina: Sunday, July 21, to Friday, July 26. Tuition $300.

Camp Cotubic, Bellefontaine, Ohio: Sunday, July 14, to Friday, July 19. Tuition $275.

Camp Hicks, Lacey, Washington, Monday, July 8, to Saturday, July 13, Tuition $250.

To apply, see the Youth Ministry section at www.wcg.org, go to www.sep camp.com or write to the SEP Office, P.O. Box 2211, Frisco, Texas, 75034. Staff applications will be available Dec. 1.

Higher Ground II weekend planned for Dallas

FRISCO, Texas—The SEP Office, in partnership with the Dallas North congregation, will sponsor a Higher Ground II weekend in Dallas, Dec. 14 through 16.

This weekend will be available for those ages 20 and older who would like to experience a Discovery-type weekend. Ted Johnston, Great Lakes district superintendent, will be the featured speaker. Mr. Johnston will present three sessions that were offered at SEP this summer, the content for which was built on the Apostles’ Creed.

In addition, praise and worship, a banquet, a dance, team building and fellowship will highlight this function, patterned after the Higher Ground II program offered at SEP this summer. Cost for the weekend will be $60 for singles and $110 for married couples. Free shuttle service to and from the Dallas-Fort Worth airport will be provided.

For more information and a registration form, contact Brenda Cedeno at joenbren@msn.com or call her at 1-972-712-8783.

SAN JOSE, California—The San Jose church will be host for a Discovery Weekend for teens Dec. 22 to 24.

The event will be open to anyone ages 12 to 20. Plans call for a Christ-centered weekend of inspirational messages, praise and worship music, and recreational activities, including a dance. "It will be a great time to learn more about our walk with God and to meet friends from all over the West Coast," according to Bill Funsten, teen coordinator.

The event will be at Mount Cross Lutheran camp amidst the Santa Cruz Mountain redwoods, about 10 miles from Santa Cruz. The cost will be $80 per person (two nights, five meals). For more information, contact Bill or Joy Funsten at Joyfuns@aol.com or call 1-408-997-6344.

Window on the World

From Randal Dick
Superintendent of missions

K.I.S.S.

I would like to reprint the following piece by James Henderson, superintendent of missions for Africa.

"Being ordained gave me a sense of responsibility that I felt I could not put in storage. I had something to do for the Lord," said Kenga Ndiso, nonsalaried pastor for the coastal region of Kenya.

He was referring to how he felt after his ordination almost two years ago. He lived in an area that was too far for regular visits from our regional pastor in Nairobi, so we decided to ordain him to help serve even though only five members lived in the area.

Kenga had a vision to evangelize in the areas where the few members lived, and also to specifically target young people in those areas.

"Where there was a presence, I tried to plant a church," he noted. He now pastors three small congregations and two house churches with a combined attendance of 68.

In those days it was unheard of to actively minister-plant in the Worldwide Church of God. We had to wait for a congregation first and then a minister. In conferences, festivals and visits, Kenga and his wife, Mildred, impressed people with their deep conversion and with their zeal for Jesus Christ. It became clear that they had ministerial potential but no church.

We felt sure God would bless their ministry, and he did. Slowly but surely the church grew. God used us to minister-plant, then churches were planted and God has continued to give the increase.

Kenga and Mildred have motivated their churches in various self-help projects, including market gardening and the planting of trees for timber. His aim of targeting youths has paid off. About 46 percent of the members in the churches in his region are in their late teens or early 20s. He plans to have three evangelistic campaigns in the church areas this year, and I know he would appreciate your prayers and enthusiasm.

The example of Kenga Ndiso is so inspiring—mainly because it shows how God takes ordinary people and through them produces much fruit for his kingdom. Sometimes we just overcomplicate things when it comes to God. Kenga’s experience supports the theory that God is the actual author of the K.I.S.S. principle—Keep It Simple _______ (there are so many variations for what comes after Simple that I’ll let you choose the one you like best).

EVANGELIZING PASTOR—Coastal leaders with Kenga and Mildred Ndiso on far right.

CHURCH SIGN—Sign pointing to Tezo church near Malindi, Kenya.

EVANGELISM OF YOUNG PEOPLE—The Malindi youth choir. [Photos by James Henderson]

Sue Pinto:
memorial for
terrorist victim

By Frank Ancona

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina—On Oct. 13 we conducted a memorial service at St. Patrick’s church in Staten Island, New York, for my sister, Sue Pinto, who died in the World Trade Center attack Sept. 11.

To give you an idea of the impact one special person can have on the lives of others, more than 400 people attended Sue’s memorial in a church that seats only 300. People were in the choir loft and standing all around the church and out through the vestibule and entrance.

People who hadn’t worked with Sue for years turned up. Family members, many of whom I hadn’t seen since my teen years, came from miles around to support our family. Even a couple of former neighbors came from our old neighborhood in Brooklyn. My parents moved from there more than 15 years ago.

Sue’s boys, Nick, 14, and Joe, 11, were supported by their friends. Some of Joe’s friends asked their priest if they could serve as altar boys for the service because of their friendship with Joe and their love for Sue. Members of Nick’s high school football team attended wearing their jerseys over shirts and ties. They postponed the start of their game to attend the service and support Nick.

But the great thing about the service was the message of hope in our Savior, the resurrected Jesus. The monsignor who performed the service reminded the boys and the audience that not only would Sue live on in our hearts and memories, but we will see her again at Christ’s return.

I spoke from Jeremiah 29:11-12, which tells us that God has plans for us, plans for our good and not for harm, that we know nothing about yet. I also spoke about the promise of the return of Jesus Christ in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. One day with a shout and the sound of a trumpet, those who died in Christ will rise up to meet him in the air, and we who are alive in Christ will rise next, join them and dwell with him forever.

On Tuesday, Oct. 16, people came to my sister’s door to tell us that a final identification was made on Sue’s body. She was found Sept. 18, but was conclusively identified only the weekend of the memorial. God was merciful and heard our prayers for closure. At their recommendation, Sue’s remains were cremated. Her ashes were interred Oct. 25 in a cemetery near where her boys can come to visit.

We still need to pray for the thousands of other families who may never have remains to bury or closure because there is no body. We need to pray for the well-being of the heroes of the New York Police Department, the New York Fire Department, the emergency medical technicians and others who tried to help since that tragic day.

Please continue to pray for my family’s healing. My mom and sisters flew down to Florida. Mom says she just wants some time to cry and sort all of this out.

As I mentioned in my eulogy, nothing would make Sue more unhappy than if you weren’t there to see her again or meet her for the first time. It’s time we all turned to God in humble repentance. He wants to throw his arms around you if you’ll just turn to him, no questions asked.

If you haven’t already, please tell him how sorry you are for the way your life has been without him. Ask him to fill your life with his leadership, his promises and his joy. Tell him you need him more now than ever before. Joel 2:32 tells us that those who call on his name will be saved. Then we shall all dwell together with him.

Martha Carroll
crowned
Ms. Alamo Heights

SAN ANTONIO, Texas—Martha Carroll, a WCG member, was honored in September by being crowned Ms. Alamo Heights Nursing and Rehab Center.

Legacy, City
discuss reopening
Ambassador Auditorium

By Thomas C. Hanson

PASADENA—Legacy Partners, the proposed developer for the headquarters site, invited area residents to the Ambassador Auditorium Nov. 8 to announce plans to reopen the facility to performing arts by 2004.

The Auditorium closed as a performing arts location in 1995.

To reopen the Auditorium, Legacy is seeking approval from the City of Pasadena to form a community facilities district that will allow Legacy to give the Auditorium to the City of Pasadena. The city would then issue a bond with the sources of repayment coming from a tax placed on each parcel of the 48-acre property. Only residents of the property would be assessed this tax.

The proposal must be approved by the City Council, which is expected to make its decision early next year.

Legacy plans to have 1,727 housing units on the property. In addition to the Auditorium, most of the historic buildings will be retained and adapted for housing. The historic gardens and stream will also be preserved.

Legacy has been working with Pasadena citizens to form the Ambassador Hall board of directors. The board is committed to bringing back world class entertainment to the Auditorium. The board is preparing to create an endowment to cover the operating expenses of the Auditorium.

At the Nov. 8 event, about 350 residents watched performances by the Alkabu-lan Boys Choir, mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzman and pianist Vitaly Margulis. The master of ceremonies was Alice Coulombe, president of the Ambassador Hall board of directors.

Speakers were Bill Bogaard, mayor of Pasadena; Pastor General Joseph Tkach; and Bill Shubin, senior vice president of Legacy Partners. Attendees also watched a video about the Auditorium produced by Ross Jutsum, former chair of the Ambassador Music Department, and Dick Quincer, formerly of the Ambassador Television Department. Michael York was narrator.

Legacy paid tribute to those who made the Auditorium possible by including this in the program: "We wish to thank all the many thousands of people who, over the years, gave to the Worldwide Church of God and the Ambassador Foundation to create this remarkable building—an enduring cultural legacy for the community."

Bill Shubin, senior vice president of Legacy Partners.

Pastor General Joseph Tkach

Pianist Vitaly Margulis

Ambassador reception [Photos by Thomas C. Hanson]

The Alkabu-lan Boys Choir

Bill Bogaard, mayor of Pasadena

Alice Coulombe, president of the Ambassador Hall board of directors.

Mezzo-soprano Suzanna Guzman and Paul Floyd.

Update from Finance & Planning

October donations
remain steady

By Ronald Kelly

Donation income for October remained at a consistent level. This, following a good September, is encouraging. So a special thanks for your generous support through these difficult times.

Donation income for the month was just over $2.1 million. That brought the annual contribution income to $18.2 million. While the annual total is still five percent below the same period last year, we appreciate that the rate of decline is less than it was a few months ago.

All sources of income, other than member donations, were $256,000 for the month and $4.9 million for the year to date. Other sources of income are estate donations, Legacy Partners escrow extension payments, tuition and fees, auction sales proceeds and a few other smaller revenue sources. Thus our total income for October was almost $2.4 million and the total for the first 10 months of the year was $23.1 million.

As I write, we are preparing our income and expense budgets for 2002. And as with all annual budget planning we manage to request more in expenses than we anticipate in income. But that’s part of the process. A number of meetings are scheduled to prepare the final edition of the budget that will be sent to the church board of directors for approval in December. That is something to keep on your prayer list.

Most of you are aware that our desire is to implement a new WCG financial model. This plan will provide for congregations to have a large percentage of their donations attributed to or remain in each local church bank account. We had hoped that escrow would have closed before now and that implementation of the new model could begin in early 2002.

However, the earliest we can now expect to close on the property sale is late March. In order to implement the plan at the beginning of 2002, escrow needed to close long before now. These delays affect implementation of the new financial model.

We appreciate your patience as we move through what has proved to be a slow process. Those of us who work on these matters day-to-day are anxious to conclude the sale and move on with the new financial plan for our congregations. But until the Pasadena property sells we are limited in what we can accomplish.

We are holding our heads above water, but continue to use reserve funds for a portion of operating capital. As of Oct. 31 we have transferred $4.4 million of our reserves this year to maintain our expense budgets.

Each year, contributions for December are higher than other months. This is a good time to evaluate tax implications and consider generous year-end giving to assist the church.

Your regular and consistent contributions are a big help in our budget planning. And your prayers are even a more important part of the ability of our church to proclaim the gospel to the world. Truly the gospel message is the most important activity we can engage in.

What a wonderful God and Father we have who allows us to share in the work he is doing to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Statement of Income and Expenses for

WCG and PTM combined for October 2001

                                                For the Month         For the Year-to-Date

Income

    Mail Income                              $ 2,138,000             $ 18,215,000

    Other income                                  256,000                  4,977,000

        Total income                            2,394,000                23,192,000

Expenses                                          2,570,000                 27,644,00

Net gain (loss) to bank reserves       $ (176,000)            $ (4,452,000)

Wills and trusts

Many members have requested information on how best to make a gift to the Worldwide Church of God, either during their lifetime or upon death through wills, trusts or other means.

If you want to receive information regarding such gifts, the Legal Department of the church is available to aid you in this regard without cost or obligation. Please write to Legal Office, Worldwide Church of God, Box 111, Pasadena, California, 91123.

The Legal Department regrets that, because of the variance in laws of other countries, such legal information is only applicable to residents of the United States and Canada. However, in regard to other countries, the Legal Department will furnish whatever limited information it may have available.

Women's Ministry

Ministers's wives
conference 2001

By Marge Friddle

LOS ANGELES, California—The Renaissance Hotel in Los Angeles was the site for the fourth annual Ministers’ Wives Conference, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2, sponsored by Jannice May, founder of Connecting and Bonding, and wife of Curtis May, district superintendent.

Connecting and Bonding is an organization Jannice formed to minister to ministers’ wives.

One hundred nine women attended—97 from the United States, six from Canada, three from the United Kingdom, one from Martinique, one from the Bahamas and one from St. Lucia. Seventeen volunteers worked long hours before and during the conference to make it a success.

Jannice opened the conference Friday evening, Aug. 31, and welcomed the first guest speaker, Kathleen Hart.

Kathleen is an active cheerleader for the Worldwide Church of God. She is chaplain to student wives at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena.

She spoke on "The Seasons of Our Lives," instructing us in how to deal with changes in our lives by continually looking to Jesus.

Tammy Tkach, women’s ministry coordinator and wife of the pastor general, opened Saturday’s session and spoke on "Who Am I?" Tammy related how each of us is handpicked by God. She explained that we are new creatures, an expression of the life of Christ, chosen and appointed by him to bear his fruit, and we are heirs of God.

She taught us the importance of contemplative prayer—silence with God—picturing ourselves sitting right beside Jesus, perhaps leaning on him, feeling his heartbeat, or kneeling at his feet with tears, knowing how much he loves us.

Next was Naomi Beard, adjunct professor at The King’s College and Seminary and a member of the pastoral staff of The Church on The Way, pastored by Jack Hayford. In two sessions she spoke on breaking out of our mold, becoming leaders and how to face many challenges that come in ministry.

Saturday afternoon was sharing time as four speakers gave their stories. This was followed by small groups of women meeting together and learning more about each other.

Then a session of "Let’s Talk" was moderated by Susie Dick, wife of Randal Dick, superintendent of missions.

Sunday morning’s guest speaker was H.B. London, from Focus on the Family. He has been an ordained minister since 1962 and is the author of several books. He is a pastor to ministers and their families and has spoken at ministerial conferences in Pasadena.

He instructed us on what our approach to ministry should be, challenges we will face and have already faced, and reassured us that we serve a God of inexhaustible resources. We can depend on God.

Sylvia Frejd, daughter of Kathleen Hart and worship leader for the conference, gave a session on prayer and using a prayer journal to make our prayer life more meaningful.

Linda Riley, author of A Call to Love, founder of Called Together Ministries and writer on family ministry issues, was the final speaker.

She showed how we are God’s ambassadors of love to the world and how much we can help others by loving them.

The conference closed with a communion service.

Jannice May

Barbara Edwards
Worship dance

CONFERENCE ATTENDEES—From left: Doreatha Davis, Vicki Hart, Jannice May, Dee Beam, Gail Stoddart, Nancy Silcox and Sharie Meyer.

Virginia Rice, Dell Hanson, Tina Sullivan, Joan Backhus, Barb Dahlgren and Lela Duncan.

Basic Christian Beliefs

What is the church?

By Michael Morrison

The Bible says that people who have faith in Christ become part of the "church." What is the church? How is it organized? What is its purpose?

Jesus said, "I will build my church" (Matt. 16:18). The church is important to him—he loved it so much that he gave his life for it (Eph. 5:25). If we have the mind of Christ, we will love the church, too, and give ourselves to it.

The Greek word for "church" is ekklesia, which means an assembly. In Acts 19:39, 41, it is used for a large group of townspeople. But among Christians, the word ekklesia came to have a special meaning: all who believe in Jesus Christ.

For example, the first time that Luke uses the word, he writes, "great fear seized the whole church" (Acts 5:11). He does not have to explain what the word meant, for his readers were already familiar with it. It meant all Christians, not just those who happened to be there on that particular occasion. "The church" means all disciples of Christ. It refers to people, not to a building.

Each local group of believers is a church. Paul wrote to "the church of God in Corinth" (1 Cor. 1:2); he referred to "all the churches of Christ" (Rom. 16:16) and the "church of the Laodiceans" (Col. 4:16). But he could also use the word church to refer to all believers everywhere: "Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her" (Eph. 5:25).

The church exists in several levels. At one level is the universal church, which includes everyone worldwide who accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Local churches are a different level, including people who regularly meet together. Denominations are an intermediate level, containing groups of local churches that work more closely together because of shared history and beliefs.

Local congregations sometimes include unbelievers—family members who have not accepted Jesus as Savior, yet nevertheless meet regularly with believers. Local congregations may also include people who consider themselves to be Christians, but are really fooling themselves. Experience shows that some of these will later admit that they were not really Christians.

Many people claim to believe in Jesus Christ but do not want to attend any of his churches. Some of them are fooling themselves. The New Testament shows that the normal pattern is for believers to meet together (Heb. 10:25).

Paul repeatedly exhorts Christians to do different things to "one another" (Rom. 12:10; 15:7; 1 Cor. 12:25; Gal. 5:13; Eph. 4:32; Phil. 2:3; Col. 3:13; 1 Thess. 5:13). It is difficult or impossible for people to obey these commands if they do not meet with other believers.

A local church can give us a sense of belonging, of being involved with other believers. It can give us some spiritual safety, so that we are not blown around by strange ideas. A local church can give us friendship, fellowship and encouragement. It can teach us things we would never learn on our own. A church can help train our children, help us work together for more effective ministry and give us opportunities to serve that help us grow in ways we did not expect. In general, the value that we get out of a local church is in proportion to the amount of involvement we give to it.

But perhaps the most important reason for each believer to participate in a local church is that the church needs us. God has given different abilities to different believers, and he wants us to work together "for the common good" (1 Cor. 12:4-7). If only part of the work force shows up, it is no surprise that the church is not able to do as much as we would like, or to be as healthy as we would like. Unfortunately, some people find it easier to criticize than to help.

The church needs our time, our abilities, our resources. The church needs people it can count on—it needs our commitment. Jesus said to pray for laborers (Matt. 9:38). He wants each of us to be working, not sitting on the sidelines.

Individuals who try to be Christian without the church fail to use their strengths to help the people the Bible says we should be helping. The church is a mutual-aid society, and we help each other, knowing that the day may come (and in fact is already here) that we will need to be helped.

The church is described in several ways: the people of God, the family of God, the bride of Christ. We are a building, a temple and a body. Jesus described us as sheep, a field of grain and a vineyard. Each analogy describes a different aspect of the church.

Many of Jesus’ parables of the kingdom describe the church, too. Like a mustard seed, the church started small and yet has grown quite large (Matt. 13:31-32). The church is like a field in which weeds are scattered among the wheat (vv. 24-30). It is like a fishnet that catches bad fish as well as good (vv. 47-50). The church is like a vineyard in which some people work a long time and others only a short time (Matt. 20:1-16). The church is like servants who were given money to invest for the master, and some produce more fruit than others (Matt. 25:14-30).

Jesus described himself as a shepherd, and his disciples as sheep (Mark 26:31); his mission was to seek lost sheep (Matt. 18:11-14). He described his people as sheep that must be fed and cared for (John 21:15-17). Paul and Peter used the same analogy, saying that church leaders should be shepherds of the flock (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 5:2).

"You are ... God’s building," Paul says (1 Cor. 3:9). The foundation is Jesus Christ (v. 11), and people are the building on top of that. Peter said that we are all "living stones ... being built into a spiritual house" (1 Pet. 2:5). As we are built together, we "become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit" (Eph. 2:22). We are the temple of God, the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:17; 6:19). Although God may be worshiped in any place, the church has worship as a special purpose.

We are "the people of God," 1 Peter 2:10 tells us. We are what the people of Israel were supposed to be: "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God" (v. 9; see Ex. 19:6). We belong to God, because Christ purchased us with his blood (Rev. 5:9). We are his children, and his family (Eph. 3:15). As his people, we are given a great inheritance, and in response we are to try to please him and bring praise to his name.

Scripture also calls us the bride of Christ—a phrase that suggests his love for us, and a tremendous change within ourselves, that we might have such a close relationship with the Son of God. In some of his parables, people are invited to attend the wedding banquet, but in this analogy, we are invited to be the bride.

"Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready" (Rev. 19:7). How do we make ourselves ready for this? It is a gift: "Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear" (v. 8). Christ cleanses us "by the washing with water through the word" (Eph. 5:26). He presents the church to himself, having made her radiant, spotless, holy and righteous (v. 27). He is working in us.

The picture of the church that best illustrates the way that members relate to one another is that of the body. "You are the body of Christ," Paul says, "and each one of you is a part of it" (1 Cor. 12:27). Jesus Christ "is the head of the body, the church" (Col. 1:18), and we are all members of the body. If we are united to Christ, we are united to one another, too, and we have responsibilities to one another.

No one can say, "I don’t need you" (1 Cor. 12:21), and no one can say, "I don’t belong in the church" (v. 18). God distributes our abilities so that we work together for the common good, helping one another and being helped by working together. "There should be no division in the body" (v. 25). Paul frequently warned against the sin of divisiveness, even saying that a person who causes division should be put out of the church (Rom. 16:17; Titus 3:10). Christ causes the church to grow "as each part does its work"—as the various members cooperate (Eph. 4:16).

Unfortunately, the Christian world is divided into denominations that sometimes squabble with one another. The church is not yet perfect, since none of its members is perfect. Nevertheless, Christ wants the church to be united (John 17:21). This does not require a merger of organizations, but it does suggest a common purpose. True unity can be found only as we draw closer to Christ, preach his gospel, and live as he would. The goal is to promote him, not ourselves. The existence of different denominations has a side benefit, however: Through diverse approaches, more people are reached with the message of Christ in a way they understand.

The Christian world has three basic approaches to church organization and leadership: hierarchy, democ- racy and representative. These are called episcopal, congregational and presbyterian.

Variations exist within each type, but in general, the episcopal model means that a denominational officer has the power to set policy and ordain pastors. In the congregational model, church members choose their policies and their pastors. In a presbyterian system, power is divided between the denomination and the local churches. Elders are elected and given power to govern.

The New Testament does not require any particular church structure. It talks about overseers (bishops), elders and shepherds (pastors) as if these were different words for the same type of church leader. Peter told the elders to be shepherds and overseers (1 Pet. 5:1-2). Similarly, Paul told a group of elders that they were overseers and shepherds (Acts 20:17, 28).

The Jerusalem church was led by a group of elders; the church in Philippi was led by several overseers (Acts 15:2-6; Phil. 1:1). Paul left Titus on Crete to ordain elders, wrote one verse about elders and then several about overseers, as if these were synonymous terms for church leaders (Titus 1:5-9). In the book of Hebrews, the leaders are simply called "leaders" (Heb. 13:7).

Some church leaders were also called "teachers" (1 Cor. 12:29; James 3:1). The grammar of Eph. 4:11 implies that pastors and teachers were in the same category. One of the primary functions of a church leader is teaching—one of the qualifications for leadership is that the person must be "able to teach" (1 Tim. 3:2).

One thing is consistent in this: Certain people were designated as leaders. The local churches had some organization, though the exact title didn’t seem to matter much. Members were exhorted to respect and obey these leaders (1 Thess. 5:12; 1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13:17).

If the leader commands something wrong, members should not obey, but for the most part, members are to support their leaders.

What do leaders do? They "direct the affairs of the church" (1 Tim. 5:17). They shepherd the flock, leading by example and by teaching. They watch over the church (Acts 20:28). They should not lord it over others, but serve them (1 Pet. 5:2-3). They are to "prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up" (Eph. 4:12).

How are leaders chosen? We are told in only a few cases: Paul appointed elders (Acts 14:23), implied that Timothy would choose overseers (1 Tim. 3:1-7) and authorized Titus to appoint elders (Titus 1:5). At least in these cases, there was a hierarchy. We do not find any examples of church members choosing their own elders.

However, in Acts 6:1-6 we see members choosing some leaders. These men were chosen to help distribute food to the needy, and the apostles then appointed them for this work. In that way the apostles could concentrate on spiritual matters, and the physical needs could also be accomplished (v. 2). This distinction between spiritual leadership and physical leadership is also seen in 1 Pet. 4:11-12.

Leaders who serve in manual work are often called deacons, from the Greek word diakoneo, which means to serve. Although all members and leaders are to serve, some are specifically appointed for service roles. At least one woman is called a deacon (Rom. 16:1). (The fact that a masculine word is used for a woman suggests that a formal title is involved.)

Paul gave Timothy a list of traits needed in a deacon (1 Tim. 3:8-12), but he did not specify what they did. Consequently different denominations assign them different roles, ranging from custodial work to financial management.

The important thing in leadership is not what people are called, how they are structured or how they are appointed. The important thing is the purpose of leadership: to help God’s people grow in maturity we become more like Christ (Eph. 4:13).

Christ has built his church, given his people gifts and leadership, and he has given us work to do. Now let’s review the purpose of the church.

A major purpose of the church is worship. God has called us that we "may declare the praises of him" who called us "out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Pet. 2:9). God seeks people who will worship him (John 4:23), who will love him above everything else (Matt. 4:10). Everything we do, whether as individuals or as a church, should be for his glory (1 Cor. 10:31). We are called to "continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise" (Heb. 13:15).

We are commanded, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs" (Eph. 5:19). When we gather as a church, we sing praises to God, we pray to him and we listen to his word. These are forms of worship. So is the Lord’s Supper, so is baptism and so is obedience.

Teaching is another purpose of the church. It is at the heart of the Great Commission: "teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matt. 28:20). Church leaders should teach, and every member should teach one another (Col. 3:16). We should encourage one another (1 Cor. 14:31; 1 Thess. 5:11; Heb. 10:25). Small groups provide an excellent setting for this mutual ministry.

If we want to be spiritual, Paul says, we should want to "build up the church" (1 Cor. 14:12). The goal is to edify, strengthen, encourage and comfort (v. 3). The entire meeting should "be done for the strengthening of the church" (v. 26). We are to be disciples, people who learn and apply the word of God. The early church was praised because they "devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer" (Acts 2:42).

Ministry is a third major purpose of the church. Paul writes, "As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers" (Gal. 6:10). Our first duty is to our family, and then to the church and then to the world around us. The second-greatest commandment is to love our neighbors (Matt. 22:39).

This world has many physical needs, and we should not ignore them. But the greatest need is the gospel, and we should not ignore that, either. As part of our ministry to the world, the church is to preach the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. No other organization will do this work—it is the mission of the church. Every worker is needed—some on the front lines, and some in support. Some will plant, some will nurture and some will harvest, and as we work together, Christ will cause the church to grow (Eph. 4:16).

Some 1,300 people gathered in Myrtle Beach for worship and good Christian fellowship. The theme of "Believing and Receiving Jesus" was explored in the sermon messages and seminar classes.

Ted Johnston, Great Lakes district superintendent, taught three classes on the Apostles’ Creed. Pastors Ron Dick and Mike Greider taught three classes on the cell-based church.

We had a variety of talented musicians and singers. Many could have been featured as special music performers, yet they humbly combined their talents to bless us with the best of blended worship.

Next year’s dates for the Myrtle Beach festival are Oct. 12 to 19.

Five hundred seventy-five members gathered in Saratoga Springs Oct. 4 to 8 to Celebrate Salvation Through Jesus 2001.

The Friday evening, Oct. 5, service opened with worship led by Cheryl Cormier and Jeff Batter. The opening message, "It’s Good to Be Near the Lord," was given by Ken Williams, district superintendent.

On Saturday morning, the Manhattan Bible Church praise team led us in worship, and Tom Mahairas, evangelist and president of CitiVision, gave his message—"At Ground Zero." Mr. Mahairas has spent much time at ground zero in New York praying for recovery workers there.

On Sunday, Michael Feazell spoke to us about the assurance of our salvation in his message, "Come and Have Breakfast." More than 400 took communion.

The final worship was led by Judi and Charles Piscitello, and the message was given by Pastor Peter Whitting. His message, "Separating Your Trash From Your Treasure," encouraged us to focus on Jesus Christ and the basics of the gospel message.

Two workshops were conducted. Mr. Whitting led a group of worship leaders in a session on "Worship in the Small Church." Carl and Annabel Dayhoff of West Virginia gave us an introduction to Evangelism Explosion. After the workshops, Mr. Williams led a praise and prayer service. Dan Bierer.

Mayor Rosemary Baker-Monaghan welcomed 472 attendees to Seaside at the Oct. 6 service.

Vaughn LeMoss from Open Doors was also featured as a speaker and seminar presenter. He focused attention on the plight of suffering Christians around the world, including China, North Korea, Africa and Asia.

Much emphasis centered on the importance of Christian witness and personal evangelism. Many recommitted themselves to the service of Christ and felt that this festival was a turning point in their Christian lives.

Douglas Mullikan of Portland, Oregon, was baptized Oct. 6. God also healed him during the prayer for him and the laying on of hands. Mr. Mullikan had an accident in 1991 in which he broke his back and neck. He had suffered chronic pain ever since.

Near the end of the final service, seniors were asked to come forward as hands were laid on them. A prayer of thanksgiving was offered for their service to our church. It was also asked that God would bless their serving as prayer warriors to help us advance in God’s service and evangelize our communities.

Members donated $4,067 and 1,500 pounds of food to Clatsop Community Action to assist food pantries. Joel Lillengreen.

DAVENPORT—Barry and Maria Stahl with children. [Photo by Ron Grove]

The festival in Davenport focused on worship and fellowship. Our theme was "Come Celebrate Christ … and Walk the Talk."

Sermons carried forward the message that we "might have a walk worthy of the Lord." Workshops further instructed us on our Christian walk of witnessing, stewardship and evangelism.

Fellowship evenings provided times of sharing in family games, singing and building of friendships. A baby shower benefited children aided by a crisis pregnancy center.

Our teens had a high level of involvement, helping lead daily worship and presenting the gospel message in a moving drama presentation. Two teens committed their lives to Christ during the festival, and two more teens were baptized at a teen event. Mike Urmie.

Four hundred fifty members assembled in Hot Springs for a celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ that included praise and worship, activities and lots of opportunities for fellowship and renewal of old friendships.

Lonnie J. Allison was the keynote speaker. Dr. Allison is director of the Billy Graham Center on the campus of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. Dr. Allison spoke in the Saturday morning, Oct. 7, worship service, and then taught on personal evangelism. He taught a seminar attended by 150 members on how to work in cooperation with the Holy Spirit and other people, to move people one step closer to a decision for Christ.

The terrorist attack in New York on Sept. 11 influenced the sermons at the festival. Jim Kissee reminded everyone that Jesus Christ is our security and our hope in times of crisis; and Mike Booze addressed the ways that God fulfills his promises to us, even in difficult times. Ross Jutsum of State of the Heart Music Ministries presented an evening of praise and worship. Mike Booze.

About 500 members joined WCG President Joseph Tkach and his family at the Riverside Convention Center Sept. 28 to Oct. 1.

The four services and four workshops were tinged by a strong sense of identity with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"Thousands of people are turning to God through this tragedy," said Mr. Tkach in his opening night message, "and that’s a good thing." Pastor Neil Earle of Glendora, California, echoed that theme in his sermon: "America seems to be rediscovering its Christian roots."

Pastor Phil Rice of Phoenix, Arizona, and Ross Jutsum of State of the Heart Music Ministries led a communion service Sept. 30.

"We packed a lot of spiritual meat in three days," said Jewel Love, an elder from Redlands, California. On Saturday night, Sept. 29, the Oasis Praise Band gave a concert that raised more than $1,300 for Christ Extension Ministries, a drug and alcohol recovery program.

In his closing message, Pastor Tom Ecker of the Inland Empire churches challenged the audience to "take what we have here and have it go with us. Jesus wants to live big in you." Larry Dietrich.

GRAND JUNCTION, Colorado—About 350 members met in Grand Junction for Festival 2001, a Festival of Grace. The festival took place at the Adams Mark Hotel and Conference Center and Golf Club.

From the first message by Del Leger to the last message by Wes Higgins, every day was spiritually uplifting.

Activities included an evening of praise and worship, a teen activity, youth day, children’s church and children’s choir, a singles drop-in, a senior citizens lunch, family day and a Western show and dinner. Bob Wright and Coy and Annetta Colbert.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Florida—More than 200 members attended a local festival in St. Augustine.

It was an inspirational retreat and reminder of God’s great love for us during these trying times in our nation. Sermons were given by Bob Persky, district superintendent, Gadson Burgess, Stanley De Veaux and Marty Davey. The festival concluded with a communion service.

Activities included a fishing contest, a praise and worship service, a family day and fish fry, a catered banquet and a Hawaiian costume dance.

TURKEY—Group tour at the library at Ephesus.

Twenty-seven members spent two weeks touring the biblical and historical sites of Turkey, Sept. 30 to Oct. 10. Ron Kelly, church controller, was the group coordinator.

The first few days were spent in Istanbul. Highlights were tours of the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia church built by Emperor Justinian in the sixth century A.D. Other excursions were Topkapi palace, where the sultans of Turkey lived for more than 400 years, shopping at the Grand Bazaar in more than 4,000 shops and finally a cruise on the Bosphorus.

The group flew to Izmir to visit the area of the seven churches John addressed in the book of Revelation. The most impressive visit was the city of Ephesus, where the apostle Paul confronted the pagan worshipers of Diana.

Members spent an additional three days touring Cappadocia in central Turkey. During the second and third centuries, Christians often escaped persecution by moving to underground cities carved out of the soft rocks as deep as seven to eight stories under the earth’s surface. Ron Kelly.

Seven hundred forty-seven members sailed on Holland America’s M.S. Maasdam through the Western Caribbean. This seven-day cruise left Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sept. 30 for ports of call in Playa del Carmen and Cozumel, Mexico; George Town, Grand Cayman Island; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas.

Members enjoyed a variety of shore excursions such as touring Mayan ruins, snorkeling, deep sea diving, fishing, visiting plantations, shopping or just relaxing on white sand beaches with turquoise water.

The two days at sea provided additional time to enjoy the amenities of the ship and fellowship.

The coordinator was Steve Botha, pastor of the Brooklyn, New York, church. Charles Taylor, pastor of the Miami, Florida, church, and his wife, Keysha, coordinated worship music teams led by Celestine Olive, Dennis and Lorraine Pelley and Murdock "Doc" and Vera Gibbs.

Services were offered daily, with sermons given by Bernie Schnippert, Curtis May, Dennis Pelley and Mr. Botha. In addition, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor led a praise and worship service with communion. Mr. Botha also conducted a prayer service. Jeb Egbert facilitated teen church, and his wife, Barb, facilitated children’s church.

John and Diane Siston from Travel Gallery were cruise hosts and information coordinators. The cruise was so successful that Mr. Siston received reservations for next year’s cruise while still on board ship. Steve and Harlean Botha.

By Bill Hall

BATTLEFORD, Saskatchewan—Canadian members from coast to coast gathered together to fellowship and worship. The number of U.S. visitors increased this year. Their presence was a welcome addition and gave an international perspective to celebrations.

St. John’s Newfoundland

Fifty-six people from many parts of the province converged in St. John’s for services. The theme was the presentness and the future fullness of the kingdom of God. Meals were served and enjoyed together and a harvest was taken in to help provide for needy people in our communities.

This year’s festival in Halifax proved to be an enjoyable experience for the more than 100 people in attendance. The main emphasis was on the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, Oct. 5 to 8, with different speakers each day—Gary Moore, Neil Earle, Eric Vautour and Owen Willis.

Vendee, Quebec

In the intimacy of Camp Vendee and surrounded by the spectacle of autumn colors of the Laurentians, up to 100 enjoyed this fall retreat with a focus on the theme of evangelism. During the final service when members prepared to take communion, they were treated to the first snowstorm of the year.

As many as 400 people attended at least one service during the Come Celebrate Christ regional weekend. The theme was "The Cross of Christ," stimulating meaningful meditations. Activities included worship services, seminars, children’s programs, a mini-concert by the Caribcana Steel Band and a family movie night.

The high attendance for services this year was 296. Since the festival coincided with Canadian Thanksgiving, members put on a turkey dinner for more than 200 people. Steve Bell, Canadian Christian music performer, presented a worship concert for members.

The theme in Battleford was "Celebrating Community." The highest attendance was 58 in services that featured members of the area ministerial association bringing their own perspectives on community. Activities included a tour of historic Fort Battleford, a women’s study on the book of Ruth and a community supper.

Edmonton, Alberta

More than 400 attended the annual Festival of Faith. Terry Peterman, director of The Counseling Center, a Christian counseling clinic, was guest teacher. In a moving testimony, he shared how Jesus saved him from the aftermath of his father’s suicide and misspent teen years suffering with a hard-core drug addiction. An offering was taken to support the work of The Counseling Center, and offerings of food, clothing and cash were also received in support of J-Jirah Street Missions.

Penticton was blessed with abundant spiritual food and fellowship for 420 attendees. Ross Jutsum of State of the Heart Music Ministries set the stage for a theme focusing on glorifying God for what he has done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ. Attendees generously contributed nonperishable foods to the Penticton Food Bank.

By John D. Stettaford

Bridlington, England

BOREHAMWOOD, England—About 956 members met at festival sites in the United Kingdom. In Bridlington, England, Robert Harrison reported that heavy-duty fellowshipping created an atmosphere of warmth and togetherness, necessary considering the backdrop of world events.

Raymond Jordan said that Kenmare, Ireland, activities raised 600 pounds ($1,400) for an Alzheimer’s charity. The highlight of the festival was a moonlight baptism in the Kenmare River.

Characteristic of the London festival site was a close supportive family atmosphere, reported Hilary Reeve. Outings included a tour led by Philip Nowland of Pulsar Teaching Ministries to the British Library and British Museum to see Bible manuscripts and artifacts. Some members attended a Sunday service at the American Church, remembering the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

In Paignton, the largest United Kingdom site, Harry Sullivan wrote that some 450 attendees heard messages on rededication. One sermon was given by Derek James of Emmanuel International, an organization committed to helping Christian communities in the developing world.

Perth, Scotland, had two guest speakers for ladies day, reported Hamish Dougall. Activities included a Scottish country dance and an adult dinner.

The European Capitals Tour began in Zurich, Switzerland. Twenty-two members from the United States and Canada visited the churches in Europe, said John Halford. Then they went to Bonndorf, Germany; Milan, Italy, by way of Switzerland; then to Venice, Italy; Paris, France; and, finally, the Netherlands, by way of Belgium. They visited the Anne Frank Museum in Amsterdam.

The festival in Tallinn, Estonia, with 29 present, was smaller this year because of the new Norwegian site, reported Leo Kaagjarv. Sermons focused on gifts of the Spirit and spiritual disciplines.

In Bonndorf, Germany, 10 readers of Nachfolge (Discipleship, a magazine published by the WCG in Germany) attended with several guests of the Lutheran state church. A total of 263 registered, wrote Silvia Mair. The festival next year will move to Bonn.

About 190 participated at the Venice festival at Lido di Jesolo, reported Daniel Bosch. Highlights included a sister-church ceremony between the Middletown, New York, and Montvale, New Jersey, churches and the Italian congregations.

The Sliema, Malta, festival had plenty of outside activities for 65 attendees, noted Dora Stagno. On youth day two spoke about their experiences with God.

In Hoogeveen, Netherlands, 125 people attended, said Henk Buist. On the first evening ex-members were invited to a reunion. A gospel rock evening took place for church and area teens.

Fifty members enjoyed unbroken fellowship at Sundvollen, Norway, according to Carl Frederik Aas. This is the sole annual opportunity for scattered members to gather. A whole day was set aside to be together with God, and another was spent in small groups.

In Sines, Portugal, Jose Ribeiro reported that the 34 people in attendance ate most meals together as a group, providing lots of time together in fellowship.

Majorca, Spain

Gene Hogberg reported that in Majorca, Spain, 136 visitors joined 30 members from the Iberian peninsula. The festival was marked by an unusual sense of togetherness, harmony and brotherly love.

The festival sites in Branville, France; and St. Luce, Martinique, will appear in a future issue.

By Leanne Ashcroft

BURLEIGH HEADS, Australia—Around 2,000 people gathered at 15 sites around the region for "A Celebration of the Good News." Here is a sampling of what took place at some of the sites.

The parable of the Good Samaritan will never be the same after a skit during a service for children in Warnambool, Victoria, Australia. The victim carrying a mobile phone, female shoppers walking by, robbers acting like the three stooges and an out of control donkey made sure no one will forget this parable in a hurry.

Jenny Verheijden, who helped coordinate the service, said: "It was amazing how creative the kids became. We had to pull the plug on some of their suggestions as splattering the victim with tomato sauce may have been too realistic for some of the younger children."

Young people in Caloundra, Queensland, Australia, enjoyed hearing from Wes Jessop, guest speaker and youth pastor, during a youth service. He encouraged young people to get rid of their stereotypical image of Jesus as "weak and boring," and discover who he really is. Members also had a foretaste of some of Pacific College’s classes with sessions on spiritual formation and team communication.

"Open Church 2001" was a major evangelism event planned for two days of the Mandurah, Western Australia festival. The community was invited to join with members as they explored the subject of "Hope for All People." The 15 visitors who attended were also offered a free subscription to a new Christian magazine, Life Today... A Perspective, which is published in Western Australia.

Wellington, New Zealand [Photo by Graeme Richards]

Messages at the festival in Wellington, New Zealand, centered on the theme of "Togetherness Through Christ." These included two addresses by Rod Matthews, regional director, and a guest presentation by John Walton, a regional leader for the New Life Churches in New Zealand, on the importance of grandparenting.

An evening address by Gregory Fortuin, New Zealand’s race relations conciliator, was opened to the public and challenged us to care for the disadvantaged.

In Rory, Vanuatu, the simple thatched church building in a jungle clearing provided a relaxed setting for the festival. The highlight was a reconciliation ceremony with a Rory Protestant Church, which had stopped members from using a church building in 1988. Pastor Wilson Kele and visiting speaker Rex Morgan gave speeches of apology, and then everyone shared a meal together. The two churches plan to help each other in various ways in the future.

Billy Taren, Rory deacon, summed it up: "It was a goodfella festival. They are getting better every year."

In New Delhi, India, members were apprehensive about the military strikes in Afghanistan, as New Delhi is close to the northern border of India. However, the north India festival was special because of the intimate fellowship that was possible with the small group that met.

Papua New Guinea

In Papua New Guinea, 47 Highland people set out on the back of a truck, carrying all their food and bedding for a week in Madang. The adventure really began as they traveled by dinghy to Krangket Island, as most of the women and children had never seen the sea. The later part was celebrated by 20 people in Port Moresby. Two teens asked for a public affirmation of their trust in Jesus to guide them, and two married couples took part in a recommittal service where Jesus was welcomed into their marriage.

By Arlan Aquino

QUEZON CITY, Philippines – Local churches around the country celebrated Christ Sept. 29 to Oct. 6 with the theme "Celebrating Our Hope in Christ." Celebrating Christ 2001 for the members was a time of inspired worship, extended fellowship, loving outreach, joyful gathering and new learning.

Baguio, Philippines

Regional director Bill Sidney spoke to members in Baguio City and Metro Manila. Mr. Sidney stressed that a believer’s hope in Christ will transform his or her relationship with God and fellow humans in their daily living. He focused on how husbands and wives can treat one another better and how families can become more harmonious as Christ becomes the center of their lives.

Highlights in this year’s nationwide celebration included conducting the Condensed World Mission Course in Baguio City. Twenty-four members completed the course. Pyongyon Kim, a South Korean missionary, church planter and seminary teacher at the Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary, spoke to the group in a graduation ceremony.

Another highlight was an evangelistic campaign in Sorsogon. Missionary-pastor Enrico Mercader teamed up with some Christians from the Mangyan tribe for the event. A Mangyan evangelist spoke during the campaign.

A third highlight was outreach activities conducted by members. These were the visit to an orphanage by our Bacolod City members, a prison visit by our Tacloban City members and medical services sponsored by members in Palawan.

A fourth highlight was the set of equipping programs—the worship leading seminar in Cagayan de Oro and the youth evangelism training in Mindoro.

By Charles Fleming

CORAL SPRINGS, Florida—The festival season was a wonderful time to see some of the success our great God is having in his labor of love, building us together to become a building in which he lives by his Spirit.

Here are the reports we have received from Latin America and the Caribbean.

Services were conducted in the evenings because most of the members had daily responsibilities. We rejoiced that our youths are taking seriously their need to have Christ as the center in their lives. Some invited their friends to attend. Members committed to grow in unity and serve each other in a better way, giving priority to the children and the youths. Jose Rodriguez.

On Oct. 6, 27 people had a picnic at Pastor Jose Kasum’s house. The next day we had a children’s party with an attendance of 48 people. Daniel Quintana.

Twenty-nine people from the three congregations in the area got together in Veracruz for a two-day weekend festival. Daniel Vazquez.

Every day we had a morning service dedicated only to prayer and worship and later, at 11 a.m., we had the regular daily service. Those who attended felt a special bond in the Spirit and love for one another. A 7.0 earthquake and several aftershocks occurred during the festival. Salvador Barragan.

A family opened their large home to be the site for the festival, which 24 attended.

The first day we studied what God is expecting from us, what to do and how to share this grace and the calling we have received in a world that is becoming more unsafe. In the afternoon we had a concert of Christian music presented by the Melara family from Austria. Diogenes Alvarez.

On youth day in Arima the young people did special music and put on a skit titled "Are You About Your Father’s Business?" On Sept. 30, we had a thanksgiving and communion service in commemoration of the large number of our young people who have given their lives to Christ.

Members viewed a video on how communities can be transformed through prayer, and one evening was designated prayer night, in which the service was dedicated to praying for international, national and family issues. Laura Sealy.

About 100 members from the Bahamas, Jamaica and the United States celebrated Festival 2001. Pastor Robert W.T. McKinney was coordinator.

Children participated in a Discovery Channel camp at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island early in the festival. The next day members served hot meals to the community through the church’s soup kitchen.

The last three days of the festival were evangelistic in nature. Evening services were conducted outdoors at the church’s property to which the community was invited. Through messages titled "Not Only Is This Your Day of Visitation, but Also Your Hour of Decision," "Victory in Jesus" and "Salvation Full and Free," presented by Patrick Fearon, John Paul Jones and Mr. McKinney, at least 14 people (most of them youths), surrendered their lives to Christ. Twelve of them were baptized on the last evening of the festival. Patrick Fearon.

Praise and worship sessions were particularly enjoyable in Dominica. Different families or church groups played host to each session, with the women’s ministry conducting a praise and worship service for the entire Saturday session. The young people blessed all in attendance with a beachside service of praise and worship on youth day. Other activities included visits to homebound members unable to attend.

Members gave numerous testimonies of Christ manifesting himself both to them and through them. In this festival, Jesus was more than celebrated, he was glorified, magnified and renewed in our lives. Cris Vidal.

On Oct. 4 we were visited by some of the members from the festival cruise that had docked in Ocho Rios for the day.

Charles Fleming, regional director, conducted two Bible studies. He shared in a baptismal ceremony Oct. 7 where two young men were welcomed into the body of Christ.

When we heard the news of the threatening hurricane, Iris, a gospel concert planned for that evening was replaced by a prayer meeting. God intervened by diverting Hurricane Iris to pass to the south of the island. Leroy Joiles.

PASADENA—The WCG will offer two cruises for 2002.

The first will be an Eastern Caribbean cruise. Ports of call will include Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and the private island of Half Moon Cay. This cruise will leave from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and has a different itinerary from the Western Caribbean cruise of 2001.

The second cruise is the Alaska Glacier Bay—Inside Passage cruise, which leaves from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and will include the ports of Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan as well as Glacier Bay National Park.

Both cruises will start on Sunday, Sept. 22, and conclude on Sunday, Sept. 29.

Travel Gallery has negotiated attractive rates with Holland America Cruise Lines. The Alaska cruise is 50 percent below brochure rates with starting rates at $773 per person, plus port charges and taxes. The Caribbean cruise is 65 percent below brochure rates, starting at $579 per person plus port charges and taxes.

Both cruise groups will join in worship services featuring WCG ministers and worship leaders.

The most economical and desirable cabins tend to be reserved early. Many members have found the cruises wonderful times to invite family and friends to enjoy a reunion or just to spend quality time together. Family and friends are always welcome at all our worship services, but they are not obligated to attend. We can offer our WCG special rates to all who would like to join us.

For more information, please contact John Siston at Travel Gallery. He has brochures and pricing information on all levels of cabins and add-on airfares for those who would like Travel Gallery and Holland America to complete cruise arrangements. You can call him at 1-800-858-6999 or send e-mail to him at John@travelgallery.com Ronald Kelly.

By James Henderson

Ghana photo by Isaac Quainoo