TUCSON,
Arizona--KFLT, the Family Life Radio station, broadcast a letter by member Thelma Smith
about Pastor Dee Bulante in October during National Pastor Appreciation Month. TUCSON,
Arizona--KFLT, the Family Life Radio station, broadcast a letter by member Thelma Smith
about Pastor Dee Bulante in October during National Pastor Appreciation Month.
After services Oct. 28, the congregation honored Mr. Bulante with a potluck. Five members read letters aloud for Mr. Bulante and his wife Christine.
Here are some excerpts:
"He and his wife, Christine, are interested in my life and that I have my needs. I love them.--Addie Whelchel
"He brings God's Word with passion and heartfelt prayer."--Kathy Ferguson
"I have learned so much from you. I have come to understand more of what grace means. I'm no longer under the law, but under grace through Christ Jesus."--Zita Mickens
Member Barbara Speer said: "We see through our pastor's passionate and personable example just what it is to live under grace. He illustrates through personal experience, humor and heartfelt sincerity how we all are under grace. We want to thank him for all these things he has done through hard work, study, perseverance, and most of all, through God's grace."
Dee & Christine Bulante
PASADENA--Church Administration announced the following ministerial ordinations:
Mark Russell Anderson, Ramsey, United Kingdom.
Donald Wayne Cline, Ventura, California.
Todd Crouch, Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania.
Jerome Manriquez, Cagayan de Oro, Philippines.
Ronald Price, Dublin, Irish Republic.
John Stettaford, Reading, England.
Michael Lee Ward, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
Dale E. Wickizer, Burke, Virginia.
LUFKIN, Texas--The Lufkin congregation participated in the communitywide Thanksgiving basket program Nov. 18. Members helped with food contribution, packaging and delivering the food. Kenn Allbright.
JACKSONVILLE, North Carolina--The Jacksonville congregation participated in Operation Christmas Child, a project of Franklin Graham's Samaritan's Purse program.
Members of the congregation covered shoe boxes and filled them with appropriate gifts to be sent to children. For $5 per box, a Bible in their language would be included along with the gifts.
Other churches expressed concern about the Jacksonville WCG also serving as a drop-off location for other participating organizations.
However, after Mary Lynne Walton told Operation Christmas Child headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, how the WCG was transformed by grace, the WCG was approved as the drop-off location. Dixie Marino.
TAMPA, Florida--The Tampa congregation received a plaque Oct. 26 in recognition of supporting Sunrise Abuse Center by providing groceries and paper supplies and providing breakfast and dinner on Thanksgiving.
Penny Morrill, chief executive officer, presented the plaque to Pastor Pete Kendall and Roy and Bettie Endres. Bettie Endres.
SUPPORT FOR ABUSE CENTER--
From left: Pete Kendall, Tampa pastor,
Bettie and Roy Endres and Lynn Rowe.
MOUNT STERLING, Kentucky--The Jesus Kids group, with their leaders, William Nesmith, Tracy Sewell and Jan Crouch, honored the eight veterans in the congregation on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The veterans spoke about their military experiences, and each received a certificate. Pastor James P. Humphries was among the veterans honored. A traditional Southern Thanksgiving dinner followed.
On Oct. 14, 40 members enjoyed a Hawaiian luau after the worship service. Hawaiian food, music and dancers, complemented by Hawaiian hats, leis and table decorations, were presented under the direction of Francis Cassity and her crew. Marjorie Hillman.
ANNISTON, Alabama--The Anniston church had a Thanksgiving Homecoming Nov. 5 with 57 in attendance. The church furnished a turkey and dressing meal. A number of members gave testimonials and "What I Am Thankful For" stories. A praise and worship song service took place after the meal. Don Johnson.
PASADENA--Two Facilities Administration employees have accepted new job responsibilities.
Jan Weiner, a 31-year employee who has served in various areas, most recently as events manager, has accepted a position at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. She was honored at a reception in Facilities Administration Nov. 20.
Jan Weiner
Neil Kubon, project manager, accepted a job with Corporate Contractors in September.
Neil Kubon
NORTH HAVEN, Connecticut--Danielle Renee Spearman was the first African-American to be crowned homecoming queen at the University of Connecticut Oct. 27.
Danielle is a junior, an honors student and a member of the Honors Council Academic Committee. She is president of the Minority Advancement Program in Psychology. She also had her research accepted by the Connecticut Psychological Association. She is a member of Psi Chi, the National Honor Society in Psychology.
Danielle and her parents, Melvin and Marlene Spearman, attend the Meriden, Connecticut, congregation. Marlene Spearman.
Danielle Spearman
LAWTON, Oklahoma--Henry Sanders, a deacon in the Lawton church, was named 2000 Taxicab Services Driver of the Year by the International Taxicab and Limousine Association.
According to the Lawton Constitution, Mr. Sanders believes that being a cab driver is more than a job. "It's the idea of helping others," he said. "If I feel that I go and pick up a customer on time and get them where they want to go on time, then I feel good about it."
Mr. Sanders once talked a soldier out of leaving the army and was awarded a certificate by the soldier's battalion.
DAVENPORT, Iowa--For the fourth consecutive year, more than 500 brethren gathered in Davenport to celebrate Jesus Christ in their lives. This year's theme was "Let Him Transform You." Sermons and workshops centered on the transforming actions of Christ.
The daily worship services helped develop an attitude of celebration with lively praise music, a colorful banner procession by church youths, and praise dance; interwoven with prayer and expressions of worship and adoration of our Father and our Savior. Services were cybercast on the Internet, allowing shut-in members to join in from home.
A three-part workshop on Christology helped facilitate a deeper grasp of the nature of our Lord Jesus.
The children's church focused on learning about the love of Christ through music, games and crafts. Daily women's roundtable sessions provided sharing time for discussion of the aspects of our personal relationship with Jesus. Guest speaker Jack Frey helped with ideas for building men's ministry programs in local congregations.
Brethren contributed hundreds of pounds of food and other grocery items for distribution to food banks. In addition, towels, washcloths and toiletry items were collected by the women's ministry program, gift wrapped, and delivered to a women's shelter and a crisis pregnancy center.
"I was impressed with all the outreach ministries that our women are involved with," said Beverly Worden of the Des Moines, Iowa, church. "It shows that there are many areas in which we are able to share the love of Christ."
In addition to the praise and worship evening conducted each year, a special Youth Praise was sponsored. Invitations were sent to area churches, inviting youths to join in this night of contemporary celebration before the Lord. The evening also included presentations by youth leaders and testimonies given by young people in attendance. Mike Urmie.
SHIPSHEWANA, Indiana--Women from the Kalamazoo and Cadillac, Michigan, and Elkhart, Indiana, churches gathered for a retreat Nov. 11 to 12 in Shipshewana. Three guests from another fellowship also attended.
The theme was A Match Made in Heaven, with topics on vision and blessings and a Bible study on how we are showered with gifts. Ilene Harrington is women's ministry coordinator.
The women were encouraged to remember Jesus Christ as their bridegroom. They exchanged gift bags with their prayer partners. The praise and worship service and the many prayers were a reflection of their relationship with Jesus Christ. The retreat ended with communion. Cathy Sturdivant.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma--Two hundred fifty-two members, former members and friends met for a service June 3 to celebrate Oklahoma City's first 40 years as a WCG congregation. Anyone who ever attended church in Oklahoma City was welcome.
After praise and worship, Pastor Mike Rasmussen led the congregation in intercessory prayer. Don Lawson, a former Oklahoma City pastor and now district superintendent, gave a sermon on God's Indescribable Gift. Among those in attendance were Arnold and Trish Clauson. Mr. Clauson was associate pastor in the 1960s and pastor in the 1980s.
After the worship service a meal was served followed by a slide show with pictures taken over the past 40 years. Bill Vice.
GAINESVILLE, Florida--Alissa and Emilie McGee, members of the Buchholz High School Golden Regiment, marched in the Macy's Thanksgiving day parade.
They attend the Gainesville church.
The Golden Regiment is known in statewide marching competitions for its award-winning field show, as much as for the professional examples set by each of its band members. It was selected from more than 300 band applicants to participate in the parade.
The band performed live on the ABC Today Show, Wednesday, Nov. 22. Cindi McGee.
MACY'S PARADE PARTICIPANTS--Emilie (left) and Alissa McGee, who marched in Macy's
Thanksgiving day parade. [Photo by Laurie Naglee]
ORLANDO, Florida--Orlando brethren are planning a family fun weekend Jan. 27 and 28, and all are invited.
The weekend begins Jan. 27 with a praise and worship service led by Ross Jutsum of State of the Heart Ministries. That will be followed the same evening with a costume dance and dinner, which will include live entertainment, door prizes, food and dancing. A youth activity is planned for the following morning.
The only cost will be a $10 charge for those attending the dance, which will need to be paid in advance. Housing may be provided if needed. To reserve a ticket or for more information, please contact Lesz Banham at 1-407-518- 9299 or at lrbanham@juno.com
BOREHAMWOOD, England--Sardinia, one of the largest islands in the Mediterranean, now has a group of Worldwide Church of God members meeting together, according to John Halford, European regional director.
Our Sardinian brothers and sisters conducted their first small group meeting Nov. 13, with nine people in attendance. This meeting is a result of the small lecture meeting that Daniel Bosch, Italian pastor, conducted last summer.
COLUMBUS, Ohio--The Great Lakes District announces a Discovery Weekend near Columbus on President's Day weekend, Feb. 16 to 18. The event is open to middle-school-age preteens, teens and young adults of college age, as well as youth ministry leaders and interested parents.
The weekend, titled Mission Possible, has the theme, Discover Your Mission. Participants will be helped in discovering their God-given mission in life with an emphasis on their unique ministry in Christ's name in and through their home congregation.
Activities will include youth-oriented praise and worship provided by youth bands as well as devotional times, workshops and messages from several young adult youth leaders and from Ted Johnston, district superintendent and Summer Educational Program chaplain. Additional activities will be a dance (instruction provided), movies, gym activities and (as an option) skiing, snowboarding or tubing at a ski resort.
Housing is in heated dorms with bunk beds.
The event begins Friday evening, Feb. 16, and ends after lunch on Sunday.
For an information sheet and registration form send your address to Jim Valekis at jim_valekis@ wcg.org or write to him at 221 Gerber Court, Centerville, Ohio, 45458 or call him at 1-937-432-1892.
The SEP Office announced youth district weekends in the following locations.
Feb. 16 to 18: Estes Park, Colorado, Winter Educational Program; contact, Sarah Samuels at ssamuels @goedu.net
March 16 to 18: New York, New York; speaker, Tim Brassell; contact, Daniel Bierer at daniel_bierer@wcg.org
March 30 to April 1: Little Rock, Arkansas; worship, Griffin family and others; contact, James Griffin at Becfen@hotmail.com
BURLEIGH HEADS, Australia--Doug and Marg Lewis, members of the pastoral team in Mooroolbark, Victoria, Australia, visited brethren in the Solomon Islands in October despite the uncertain political situation that has plagued that country for many months now.
They spent time with the small group in Honiara as well as visiting the island of Ranongga, where we have a larger and growing congregation.
"As is so often the case in such remote areas, we never cease to be surprised by what we find God doing there among the local people," said Rod Matthews, regional director for Australia and Asia.
This year the festival began with some United Methodist people from a neighboring village joining in. A number of them expressed appreciation for the reconciliation that was taking place between the villages. One man told Mr. Lewis that they were afraid to approach the WCG members' village as Christian brothers for fear of rejection.
The next evening about 200 people from the United Methodist village attended what was called an Island Night. They ate together at a table laid out on leaves stretching for about 50 meters.
Derek Jiru, the WCG leader, described a later meeting of the two villages as "history in the making--a scene not witnessed for over 20 years."
Solomon Island members built a thatch-roof church building. Australian members made donations for the roofing material. The United Methodist people helped them with the building work.
MILWAUKEE--Pastor General Joseph Tkach visited about 300 members in Milwaukee Nov. 3 to 5. Several from Chicago also attended.
Pastor Greg Neller invited some of the pastors from other denominations to come to a Friday evening service, Nov. 3, to hear about the WCG's journey. Two of these pastors said they wished their own congregations could experience the renewal that they observed in our fellowship. One pastor commented that God is preparing the WCG for greater things in the future.
Greg Neller
Frank Parsons
VICTORIA, Texas--The WCG has planted another congregation in Victoria in the Hearthstone Assisted Living Center, according to Pastor Frank Parsons.
The WCG provides weekly Sunday services with an average attendance of about 30. "Our members are being given a wonderful opportunity to serve and use their gifts with the residents," Mr. Parsons said. "It is inspiring to see the residents coming to services."
This is the third nursing home or assisted living ministry the church has started. In all three cases, the WCG provides the weekly Sunday service for the homes and a Wednesday night praise and worship service.
EL PASO, Texas--Fourteen members from the Las Cruces, New Mexico, and El Paso churches met Oct. 29 to assemble more than 110 gift boxes filled with personal care items to donate to families in the outlying areas of the city.
The group began by mailing requests for donations to corporations and individuals during the summer. The letters were followed up with phone calls. WalMart gave the group $200 to purchase additional items.
"Although the El Paso congregation is small," said Gloria Soto, wife of Pastor Armando Soto, "we are committed to making a difference in the neighborhood where we meet. What we lack in numbers we more than make up for in enthusiasm, dedication and willingness to serve."
The gift box project challenged members to reach out beyond their church walls. "It shows how God can multiply even the smallest effort and turn it into a great success," Mrs. Soto said. "We believe in promoting Jesus Christ by caring, sharing and doing good for those in need."
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2001