WASHINGTON, D.C.—Anthony Van Dyck, a member of the Washington West church, carried an Olympic torch Dec. 21 as the torch relay made its way through Washington en route to Salt Lake City, Utah, for the 2002 Winter Olympics.

Mr. Van Dyck was selected to participate by Coca Cola, one of the chief sponsors, which asked for nominations for someone you look up to. He was recommended by his wife, Lee Kathleen.

Just three years ago Mr. Van Dyck lay in a hospital after major brain surgery.

"I feel overwhelmed and deeply grateful," Mr. Van Dyck said about carrying the torch. He and his wife were among a select few torch bearers and guests granted an audience with President George W. Bush at the White House Dec. 22.

Anthony Van Dyck [Photo by Dale Wickizer]

DALLAS, Texas—A multichurch Thanksgiving service organized by the Dallas Central congregation and the Foursquare Gospel Church took place in Garland, Texas, Nov. 16. Members from 20 congregations participated in this year’s event.

This was the third annual service in which Dallas Central has participated. Since arriving in Dallas three years ago, Pastor Lynn Hebert has regularly met and prayed with ministers from other denominations. This year, the City of Garland approached our church about organizing the service. The city paid for the hall rental and offered to handle the printing costs.

The guest speaker was Doug Stringer of Turning Point Ministries. "Doug loves our church," said Mr. Hebert. "He really enjoyed helping us with this community effort and is a true friend of our fellowship."

Mr. Stringer talked about how all Christians are called to be ministers of reconciliation.

"His message was so needed," said Sherry Hebert, who served as worship leader at the service. She added, "We need to be searching for ways we can work together as a community."

Dallas Central members Vince and Jeff Fischelli joined the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard to open the event. They, along with some Cub Scouts from the Dallas Central church and the community, led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Margaret Smith, Dallas Central choir director, played the piano as the audience sang two patriotic songs. The Dallas Central Gospel Chorus and choir backed up the worship service.

In addition to showing thanks and praise toward God, the service also had a patriotic element, perhaps as much inspired by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 as by the history of the Thanksgiving holiday.

At the end of the service, several people renewed their commitment to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Regarding the service, Barry Ford, Gospel Chorus director, said: "It is appropriate for churches to come together during the Thanksgiving holiday, because we are not giving thanks to America or to our family, our homes, comfort or security. We are giving thanks to God for all of these things. I hope I can remember, for today and all time to come, to show my thanks for salvation by helping others come to salvation." Frank Lewandowski.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE—Lynn and Sherry Hebert lead worshipers in singing "God Bless America," while members of a Marine color guard stand at attention. [Photo by Vince Fischelli Jr.]

TEEN HIKE—Sam Wegner (third from right) of the Pasadena congregation led 25 of his fellow teens and their families on a three-mile hike Nov. 17 to Eaton Canyon Falls. Sam has been a leader in his Boy Scout troop for several years. After the hike everyone went to the home of Pastor Dennis Pelley for pizza, sodas, basketball, pool and table tennis. [Photo by Marv Wagner]

JAMES NEWBY

JOLIET, Illinois—Members of the Joliet church participated in the annual Thanksgiving parade Nov. 23 along with staff and clients of Morning Star Mission. Morning Star Mission is a Christian mission that has been providing food, shelter, substance abuse counseling and spiritual guidance to men in the greater Chicago area for more than 90 years.

Pastor James Newby noted that Terri Murphy, volunteer coordinator, invited the WCG congregation after seeing the church’s willingness to serve in other aspects of the mission’s work such as preparation and distribution of gifts and food baskets to hundreds of needy families.

A team of WCG members built a stable on the float, complete with a lighted star announcing Jesus’ first coming and a lighted cross reminding us of his mission. Nicki Davis dressed as an angel; Meghan O’Connor portrayed Mary; and Alex Davis portrayed Joseph on the float. Dave and Tina Davis, along with men in the mission’s recovery program, helped distribute candy canes and tracts explaining a Christian meaning of the candy cane to spectators as the float went by.

Mr. Newby, who has been a volunteer counselor and occasional speaker at the mission for a couple of years, said: "It was inspiring to be involved in a living proclamation of the gospel. The most important birth story of all time is ours to celebrate and share with the world. It brought tears to my eyes as I watched our 21st-century reenactment of the good news."

PASTORS—From left Kevin Paszalek, Jim Payne and Mark Mounts. [Photo by Walter Hawkins]

PEARLAND, Texas—Members from three churches in the Pearland area combined for a Thanksgiving service Nov. 14. The Southway Community Church, pastored by Kevin Paszalek, was host for the event.

Pastor Mark Mounts, Community Christian Fellowship (WCG), gave the main message. Canon Jim Payne of the St. Thomas Reformed Episcopal Church concluded the worship service with prayer and thanks for a community meal. Walter E. Hawkins.

BOB MILLER

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama—The Birmingham church will celebrate its 40th anniversary Feb. 23.

The anniversary service will be conducted at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Hoover, Alabama. The guest speaker will be Richard Rice, who served as pastor from 1966 to 1971.

The Birmingham church was established by Gerald Waterhouse and Carn Catherwood Feb. 24, 1962. The first service took place at the Redmont Hotel in downtown Birmingham. Birmingham was the second WCG congregation established in the southeastern United States.

For more information contact Bob Miller at 1-205-979-7321 or by e-mail at bob_miller@wcg.org

Bill McDowell

KINGWOOD, Texas—Bill McDowell, 66, who served in the WCG ministry from 1960 to 1977, died unexpectedly of a massive heart attack Jan. 5.

Bill was seemingly in very good health, according to Ron Kelly, church controller. "He collapsed on the way to the shower in the morning and death was instantaneous.

"Bill came to Ambassador College in 1956, the same year I did," Mr. Kelly said. "He was my best friend in college and for many years thereafter as he served in the ministry of the WCG."

Mr. Kelly was informed of the death by Linda Lapacka, a niece of Mr. McDowell and wife of former WCG pastor Tom Lapacka.

Mr. McDowell served in the field ministry, was a district superintendent, was an Ambassador College faculty member and served as director of the festival office.

"In the mid to late 1970s, Bill chose to step aside from the ministry and go into private business. He worked around the world as a directional drilling engineer for many years and was teaching that skill in Houston until his death. He had not maintained affiliation with the WCG, but Bill and I kept in contact by phone and e-mail over the many years."

The funeral took place Jan. 8 in the Texas Panhandle town of Jericho. Mr. Lapacka officiated.

LOME, Togo—"The WCG continues to reap the results of our past media ministry," said James Henderson, regional director for Africa. "It is exciting to see people rejoice when they find the WCG, and also to witness their enthusiasm for the new covenant when it is explained to them."

Mr. Henderson said that a few months ago there was news of a possible new church in Togo. Pastor Koffi Gone visited this group and filed the following report.

Our visit to the group in Badou Nov. 23 and 24 went well. I don’t know how to express the joy of these men, women and children who look only for ways to worship God in truth.

Alfred Ablordeppey, Mr. and Mrs. Yovo, Mrs. Gunn and I were members of the delegation. We arrived at nightfall Nov. 23, and a prayer meeting took place that evening with about 40 in attendance.

The next day, we shared a thrilling worship with the group attended by 60 people, including children and a few guests. When the worship ended, we had discussions with Mr. Guinguina, leader of the group.

The group is well disposed toward the WCG so long as we guide them in the new understandings of the church. They are in a hurry to understand and to be convinced of changes in the church since they lost contact. A young man and four women were baptized.

KALENGULE KAOMA

LUSAKA, Zambia—Pastor Wilson Nkhoma; Kalengule Kaoma, regional pastor for Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi; Stephen Silenga and Evaristo Mwakapandula visited Mumbwa West, a new rural congregation in Zambia, Nov. 24.

On Oct. 27 two members of the Zambian pastoral team, Inyambo Nyumbu, and Mr. Nkhoma, visited this new congregation for the first time along with the Lusaka church choir. Fifty-four attended, and 17 people asked for baptism. However, they could not be baptized because there was not enough water.

Almost a month later, on Nov. 24, the group visited again. After further counseling, 18 people were baptized.

For about two years, the Mumbwa West group had been meeting to study God’s Word and worship him. The group used old magazines and other out-of-date church literature in their studies. Their leader, Jonathan Katapya, continued his search for the WCG. Then, he met Maxwell Choongo, a member in Mumbwa Central.

"It took some time before we could reach the group," Mr. Kaoma said. Just before the October festival, Mr. Katapya came to my home office and we had a profitable time. I invited him and his assistant to attend the festival, and, during it, the two leaders were baptized."

Mr. Kaoma asked for prayers that God would raise spiritual leaders for the new congregation.

CONNECTING AND BONDING—The Connecting and Bonding, Inc., board meets Jan. 8. Connecting and Bonding, which conducts ministers’ wives conferences, was founded by Jannice May. The board met to make the Office of Reconciliation Ministries (ORM) an incorporated department. This will allow ORM to receive grants and donations and issue receipts. From left: Susan Dick, Kathleen Hart, Curtis May, Lorraine Pelley and Jannice May. Angela Clark, accountant and board member, and Taylor Hooks, adviser to the board, participated by telephone hookup. [Photo by Ron Grove]

SEAL BEACH, California— Richard Parker, pastor of the Long Beach and Orange County, California, churches, and his wife, Sally, were honored as television producers by the Seal Beach City Council Jan. 14.

Mr. and Mrs. Parker have produced more than 20 of their own television shows titled "Just Another Religious Program" for the Seal Beach public access television channel.

The Parkers have helped other producers to produce their programs ranging in content from sports shows to city government programs. Mr. Parker is a cameraman, and Mrs. Parker works in the control room.

The Parkers were honored along with several other Seal Beach television producers.

Seal Beach TV had seven of its programs recognized for excellence in public access programming in the Western United States last year, and the Parkers’ program was one of them.

As the presentations were coming to an end, Mayor Bill Doane called attention back to the Parkers, thanking them for the volunteer work they have done to help Seal Beach with its television channel.

Then Robin Fort-Lincke, director of Seal Beach TV, commented on how volunteerism is what makes the local channel succeed.

Mr. Parker said: "I feel that Jesus’ comments on Christians being lights to the world is a command for us to be out and about in our communities, schools, work places and families doing works of service."

EVERETT, Washington—Six teens and one adult were baptized into the Body of Christ on Jan. 12.

Tim Barclay, Brenna Cannon, Lynette Olson, Jackie Ricaurte, Kimberlie Rinkler, Chelsie Strong and Shannon Strong all committed their lives to Jesus Christ. Forty people attended the baptism conducted by Pastor Bill Miller and elders Ken Emerson and Wayne Hageman.

After the baptism service, they joined the rest of the Everett congregation for three hours of celebration of Jesus Christ and rejoicing, following the example of Luke 15. A receiving line was formed wherein every member had the opportunity to welcome the new members of the family.

Elizabeth Miller sang special music in honor of the occasion. Cathy Emerson presented gifts to the new members. A smorgasbord was provided by the members. Bill Miller.

MACON, Georgia—The Macon church celebrated its 35th anniversary Nov. 18 at the Howard Community Club, where services are conducted.

Gerald Waterhouse conducted the first service in Macon, Nov. 26, 1966, in the Brick Masons Hall. He was assisted by Kenneth Swisher and James Redus. Mr. Swisher became the first Macon pastor, serving from 1966 to 1970. Stephen Smith was the first ministerial assistant, serving from 1968 to 1970.

The anniversary service began with praise and worship followed by welcoming guests, friends and family. Members and charter members from Montgomery, Alabama; Atlanta, Augusta, Athens, Columbus and Dublin, Georgia; and Summerville, South Carolina, were present.

The Augusta choir provided special music and operated the sound system, freeing Macon members for other areas of service.

After special music, charter members addressed the congregation. Arthur Carlisle, pastor of the Montgomery, Alabama, church; John McDuffie, an elder in the Athens church; and Thomas Bond, a deacon in the Macon church, spoke about experiences then and now.

Mr. Bond said that no matter where we have been, or where we are now, God has always been and always will be there.

Michael Feazell, director of denominational publications, was the guest speaker. In his opening comments, Dr. Feazell said that he could have just continued listening to the charter members speak about their experiences and steadfast faith in God.

Dr. Feazell spoke on the things the prophets spoke concerning Jesus Christ and the importance of receiving him as Lord and developing a personal and intimate relationship with him. Members were reminded to give thanks to the Father who has delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son, in whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, and that we exist moment by moment because God wills it.

After the service, co-pastors Willie Taylor and Frank Stephens presented Dr. Feazell with a basket from the congregation titled, "A Taste of Georgia." A potluck followed. Willie Taylor.

CHARTER MEMBERS—Charter members of the Macon, Georgia, church are pictured with guest speaker Michael Feazell and district superintendent Al Barr and his wife, Edna. [Photo by Elijah Johnson]

PASADENA—Vance Gilless, Facilities manager, received his Facilities Management Administrator (FMA) professional designation from the Building Owners and Managers Institute in September.

The FMA designation indicates that the recipient has completed a program of seven in-depth courses dealing with the integration of people, process and place to ensure an environment within commercial buildings that supports productivity.

The curriculum consists of such courses as Technologies for Facilities Management, Real Estate Investment and Finance, and Environmental Health and Safety Issues.

Mr. Gilless, a 20-year headquarters employee, transferred from Plant Maintenance to Facilities Administration in November 1998 to manage day-to-day issues on the Pasadena campus.

COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho—Over the past few years Pastor Glen Weber has been challenging the congregations in Coeur d’ Alene and Spokane, Washington, to be "ready for anyone to enter our doors" and to make sure we love and reach out to them.

Last summer, the Rainbow Family was expected to gather in the national forest near Coeur d’Alene. The Rainbow Family are a loose-knit group of people who travel the country meeting in National Forests for a week or more. Many Christian ministries travel with the Rainbow Family, serving them meals and the gospel. Here in the Inland Northwest the churches came together to atttempt to minister to every one of the Rainbow Family. The churches took such an active role and were so prepared for the Rainbow Family, that the Rainbow Family moved their gathering from North Idaho to the Boise area to get away from the Christians.

As we prepared for the Rainbow Family to come, Pastor Glen helped organize training sessions for pastors and other ministry leaders. At one such training, one of the speakers was Jimmy Brewer. Jimmy is a born-again pastor’s son, who spends most of his time in the Albany, Oregon area, who has never rebelled against his parents, drank, smoked or used drugs. He was the all-American born-again Christian. However, when he was sixteen, the Lord called him to minister to street kids and hippies. He feels the Lord told him to dress the part and become homeless. Truly, he fits the part -right down to the odor! But he loves the Lord as much as anyone I have ever met. He just looks really strange with all the chains, large construction nail pierced through his ear, green hair, etc! He has been asked to speak in many churches to talk about reaching people who don’t look and smell like most Christians.

Upon meeting Jimmy on Friday evening, Pastor Glen asked him if he would come speak in our services the next day. He was excited at the opportunity and asked if he could bring his friend, Scott. Because of the teaching and love in our congregation, when he walked in the door one of the older men hugged them! Many came to meet them, and during the sharing time the older man introduced them to the congregation with great excitement. At that point I informed the congregation that I had invited them and that they would be speaking to the congregation shortly. I thought they would take about 15 minutes and I would have the sermon to follow (which "happened" to fit the occasion perfectly!), however, Jimmy and Scott took the sermon time and I took 15 minutes at the end. That day we were having a potluck and they stayed to share with us. That evening, Jimmy and Scott also spoke in our Spokane congregation.

Again they were received with open arms. After the two services I asked

them how they had been received. Jimmy responded, "Normally we are well

received after we give our testimony and people find out we are strong

believers, but these are the first congregations who have ever welcomed us

from the moment we walked in the door!" God’s grace is again showing in the

transition our church has experienced! To God be the glory!

Pastor Glen Weber

Photo attached - Jimmy Brewer on left and his friend, Scott

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2002