In this issue

Publication

You are holding in your hands or reading on the Internet the 30th anniversary edition of The Worldwide News, writes editor Tom Hanson. The church has produced 629 issues of the paper since 1973, and we celebrate with a change in the cover design. Page 3.

Pastor General

In a unique sacrifice, once for all time, Jesus gave his body and shed his blood for our salvation, writes Pastor General Joseph Tkach. The bread and wine point to his loving involvement in our lives. Page 6.

Black History

Several congregations in the United States celebrated Black History Month with special worship services in February. Curtis May, director of the Office of Reconciliation Ministries, addressed students in assemblies at a high school in Pasadena. Page 8.

John McLean has been named national director of the church in Australia. This appointment formalizes the role Mr. McLean has undertaken for the past several years. The appointment is for a three-year term and is renewable. Page 11.

Window on the World

James Henderson, superintendent of missions for Africa, and his wife, Shirley, visited a WCG church plant at the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya in February. The 70 members include people from Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya and Ethiopia. Page 12.

Youth Ministry

Jeb Egbert, director of the Summer Educational Program (SEP), writes that one reason for having regional camps is to provide support for transformational youth ministries in local congregations. Page 17.

Discipleship

God offers us a relationship so close that he calls us friends, family—and even a bride, writes Mike Morrison. He uses these figures of speech to describe how much he loves us. "I no longer call you servants," Jesus told his disciples. Page 24.

Men's Ministry

About a dozen WCG ministers were among the 9,000 pastors who attended a Promise Keepers event Feb. 18 to 20 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, Arizona. Founder Bill McCartney commented: "The church is facing real difficulty. One percent of churches are growing. Most Christian teens don’t believe the Bible is God’s Word. We have gathered these pastors here to secure the foundations." Page 28.

Financial Report

January and February donations this year are up five percent over the preceding year. Donation income for February totaled almost $1.6 million and the two months combined were right at $2.6 million. Page 29.

Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2003