ELKHART 40TH ANNIVERSARY—The Elkhart,
Indiana, church celebrates its 40th anniversary
Aug. 25 and 26. [Photo by David Harris]

ELKHART, Indiana—The Elkhart church celebrated its 40th anniversary Aug. 25 and 26 with a weekend of special services and festivities.

The activities began Saturday morning, Aug. 25, with a warm greeting from an umbrella brigade that escorted members and guests through the early morning rain to the church building for the worship service. The service took place in the Belmont Mennonite Church building, adjacent to the Elkhart WCG church building, because a greater seating capacity was needed for many guests.

The service began with music provided by the Chicago Southside Choir under the direction of Gerard Matthews. They sang a variety of selections including "I Will Sing Praise Unto You" and "The Blood of Jesus."

Then, Michael Lechlitner, Elkhart music director, introduced the hymn, "Like a Lamb Who Needs the Shepherd," sung by the Elkhart Ladies Ensemble, comprised of Vicki and Danielle Swihart, Ellen Lechlitner and Maryanne and Rachel Karnafel.

Guitar accompaniment was provided for congregational praise and worship songs by the Elkhart Praise Band, comprised of Michael Houghton Sr., Sonja Gilman and Michael Houghton Jr.

Michael Houghton Sr., Elkhart pastor, welcomed everyone and read a greeting from Rod Dean, who previously pastored the congregation. The congregation also received greetings from former pastor Lowell Blackwell and from Ted Johnston, district superintendent .

Pastor General Joseph Tkach, who served as a ministerial trainee in Elkhart in 1973, presented the main message. As a fitting follow-up to the final message Dr. Tkach gave in Elkhart on the subject of prayer as a ministerial trainee, his 40th anniversary message was also on the subject of prayer.

After lunch Mr. Tkach and Mr. Johnston conducted a question and answer session.

Following was a time of fellowship for Elkhart members and guests at the Elkhart WCG building. A presentation of photographs displaying the 40 years of history, ministries and activities of the Elkhart church brought back memories. Punch and cookies were provided in the church basement.

An evening dinner dance was catered at the neighboring Belmont Mennonite Church by their kitchen crew. Dance music was provided by the Chicago Southside Jazz Band.

During the evening, honorary certificates were given to the earliest members of the Elkhart congregation for 40 years of membership. Receiving 40-year certificates were Mary and Lester Matlock, Lynn Rabbit and Henry Bontrager. Certificates for faithful service were presented to Dr. Tkach and Mr. Blackwell.

On Sunday morning, Dr. Tkach joined the members for a pancake breakfast prepared by several members of the Elkhart congregation.

The festivities concluded with a Sunday morning service conducted by Mr. Houghton. Patti Harris.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Missouri—The Cape Girardeau church celebrated its 35th anniversary Aug. 5.

Bob Taylor, district superintendent, and his wife, Jan, as well as former members from Paducah, Kentucky, and Poplar Bluff, Missouri, attended the event.

After a potluck meal, members viewed three photo albums and a 12-page paper covering the history of the congregation. Hal Baird started the Cape Girardeau church Aug. 6, 1966. Haydn Fox.

MIAMI, Florida—The Miami church, pastored by Charles Taylor, began meeting on Sunday, Sept. 2, and attendance increased.

"We expected about 90 people, so we rented space in the Holiday Inn that seats 120," Mr. Taylor said. "To our surprise, it was too small."

Many children had to sit on the floor. About 11 new people attended and many more who had not been attending because of working on Saturdays.

BOGOTA, Colombia—Pastor Hector Barrero and his wife, Paulina, present a radio program on radio station New Continent Monday through Saturday at 6:05 a.m. Mrs. Barrero does the program on Tuesday, with subjects directed to women.

The program was made possible when the WCG was accepted to the Evangelical Council of Churches of Colombia (CEDECOL). The program started in March 2000 at 10 a.m. before switching to the 6:05 timeslot in August. It airs after the program of Brother Pablo, a well-known Puerto Rican evangelist.

Many people who now attend WCG services, especially on Sunday, found out about the church through the program, Mr. Barrero said.

"The radio program allows us to let the Christian world know our testimony, as a church that has been renewed," Mr. Barrero said. "I have spoken with many pastors who once received our literature and who now, through the program, have gladly learned of the doctrinal changes in our denomination. This has helped me make friends among the pastors in the city."

Puerto Rican members committed themselves to pay half of the monthly cost, which doubled with the new timeslot.

"We hope that in a couple of months, as the program is established in the new scheduled time of 6:05 a.m., we will have new and abundant fruit for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ," Mr. Barrero said.

PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania—Pastor Jon Kurnik shared details of how he got his neighborhood involved in making regular contributions to a food bank.

"Having worked with the Great- er Pittsburgh Food Bank for about three years, I knew that this organization supplied some of the needs of many local food pantries," Mr. Kurnik said. "But these local pantries also depend on the donations of the community, so I prayed for a way to get our street involved in this local outreach."

Mr. Kurnik prepared a flyer that gave a history of the food pantry on one side and a list of the most needed food and household items on the other. Then he went door-to-door and explained his goal to have a joint street effort for a monthly food collection and left the flyer with them.

"To my surprise, most of the residents agreed to go for it when I first approached them," Mr. Kurnik said.

Each month, he sends each resident a postcard that they receive on Friday, reminding them that this is the weekend for the monthly collection. Mr. Kurnik picks up the donations on Sunday afternoon. In one year the neighbors have donated more than half a ton of items to the food pantry.

Mr. Kurnik said: "People are usually quite generous to a needy cause if they can be part of an organized effort, and one that especially benefits their own community. I hope this can continue, and further bond our neighbors together in a common cause."

SPOKANE, Washington—Glen Weber, pastor of Spirit of Grace Fellowship, the WCG congregation in Spokane, started a two-year term as president of the Greater Spokane Association of Evangelicals (GSAE) Aug. 16.

Mr. Weber had previously served in other positions on the board, including most recently as interim vice president.

"This will be an exciting time to be president, as during this term Franklin Graham will be conducting a crusade/festival in Spokane," Mr. Weber said.

The GSAE is the ministerial association representing more than 200 evangelical and charismatic/pentecostal congregations in the county.

ODESSA, Texas—The Midland-Odessa church moved to a new location after being in one place for more than 20 years.

The congregation of about 15 people began working on their new facility in Odessa. Carn Catherwood, district superintendent, visited the congregation. Then Pastor Tom Pickett and his wife, Adrienne, visited from Fort Worth, Texas. This was followed by a visit from Dean Strickland, a member from Fort Worth.

The interim lay pastor is Richard Gonzalez and his wife, Emma. Mr. Gonzalez, his mother, Henrietta, and Urbano Herrerra, with the whole congregation behind them, began a neighborhood club called The West Side Kids, which meets every Friday night for fun, fellowship and a caring spirit. Leslie Vaughn.

FRISCO, Texas—Bill Quillen, an elder in the Frisco church, was noted for his volunteer service in an Aug. 19 article in The Frisco Enterprise.

The article noted that while living in Victoria, Texas, Mr. Quillen produced nearly 900 wooden cars and trucks for Toys for Tots, a U.S. Marine project that provides toys for needy children.

Since moving to Frisco three years ago, he has become one of the most active volunteers for Pippa Couvillion, Frisco’s solid waste recycling manager. He constructed six birdhouses that are now at the Outdoor Learning Center at Shawnee Trail Community Park and assists with the city’s composting program. He made a puppet stage that Ms. Couvillion uses to teach preschool-age children about environmental issues.

ERLANGER, Kentucky—The Erlanger congregation rejoiced in the baptisms of 10 young people Sept. 1. The baptisms were performed by Pastor Gene Nouhan and elder Brent Baker during church services.

The following people were baptized: Andrea Poppel, 22; Nathan Fry, 17; Jeanette Koch, 16; Adam Wickey, 16; Robert Lakeberg, 16; Jeff Bennett, 15; Leslie Fry, 13; Serena DiTrapani, 13; Jacqueline Lakeberg, 12; and Steve DiTrapani, 11. Many friends and family members were guests for this occasion. After the service, members and guests celebrated with refreshments and fellowship. Ruth Baker.

COLUMBUS, Ohio—Audiotapes are available from the summer festival that took place in Athens, Ohio, in August.

A set of cassette tapes of all 14 main presentations is available for $45. Cassette tapes of individual presentations are $5 each.

Please send a check or money order made payable to LCAF Columbus to Columbus Worldwide Church of God, Attention Festival Tapes, P.O. Box 685, Grove City, Ohio, 43123-0685. Please allow two to three weeks for delivery.

Following is a list of speakers and topics:

Aug. 15: Joseph Tkach, Why Are We Here?

Aug. 16: Dan Rogers and Joseph Tkach, Questions and Answers.

Aug. 16: Carn Catherwood, Conflict Resolution

Aug. 16: Scott Preissler, Christian Stewardship.

Aug. 16: Dan Rogers, Disciple- Making.

Aug. 16: Joseph Tkach, Do You See What I See?

Aug. 17: Carn Catherwood, Reconciliation.

Aug. 17: Randal Dick, The Grand Design.

Aug. 17: Joseph Tkach, workshop on prayer.

Aug. 18: Dan Rogers, Stewardship.

Aug. 18: Tammy Tkach, Intimacy With God.

Aug. 19: Dan Rogers, Do This in Remembrance of Me.

Aug. 19: Mike Feazell, Spiritual Disciplines.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Missouri—For the past few years the Cape Girardeau church has had a mite bottle into which people drop loose change and dollar bills. The money has been donated to Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) and earmarked for their Haiti office.

The Cape Girardeau church received a letter from Adline Cameus, who heads the CEF work in Haiti. She said that in addition to work with children, the congregation’s contributions helped convert to Christianity two who were scheduled to become voodoo priests. Voodoo, widespread in Haiti, is an ancient African religion where adherents worship ancestors as well as several false gods. Haydn Fox.

EUGENE, Oregon—Raymond C. Cole, 74, died Sept. 25.

Mr. Cole came to Ambassador in 1947 from Albany, Oregon, and became student body president in 1949. Mr. Cole served in the WCG ministry from 1952 to 1974. He is survived by his wife, Myra, and two daughters, Lynn and Jann.

Michael Feazell’s book,
The Liberation of the Worldwide Church of God,
was released by Zondervan in August.
The book is available at Christian
bookstores or through Amazon,
Barnes & Noble, Christian Book
Distributors or alldirect.com

DUARTE ROUTE 66 PARADE—Glendora, California, members distribute copies of Reconcile, the newsletter produced by the church’s Office of Reconciliation Ministries, at the Duarte Route 66 Parade Sept. 24. Pastor Neil Earle was invited to do the parade commentary on cable television. From left: Miles Johnson, Walton Brown and Teri Mendosa. [Photo by Neil Earle]

  
SONLIGHT CLUB—Top: Wayne Lindquist of SonLight Ministries speaks to Pasadena NewLife Fellowship Sept. 2 about SonLight Kids Club. Below and right: SonLight Kids Club members and guests launch red, white and blue balloons Oct. 7. Guest children outnumbered members 47 to 25 as people in the surrounding area were invited. [Photos by Thomas C. Hanson]

GOD AND COUNTRY AWARD—These Harlingen, Texas, boy scouts have been working on their God and Country award for the past several months. They learn about scripture as it applies to their lives. From left: Pastor Dan Flores, his son Shaney, Max Hernandez and his parents, Elma Chapa, Reuben James Salazar, Alma Antonacci, and Reuben’s cousin, A.C. Gonzalez. [Photo by Tony Antonacci]

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2001