LEERSUM, Netherlands—The church in the Netherlands celebrated its 35th anniversary Dec. 28 with a combined worship service.

Miek Wilms, who was present when the church started, gave an overview of happenings during those years. Pastor Jesse Korver gave a sermon on faith, drawing a parallel with the faith of Abraham, who was called the friend of God, and our journey in faith in Christ.

A few women from the Zwolle congregation sang "Joy to the Heart," which has a Dutch title "True Friendship." Members enjoyed dinner after the worship service. Jesse Korver.

EULESS, Texas—New Hope Christian Fellowship, the WCG congregation that meets in Euless, conducted an ambitious outreach project Sept. 21 conceived by youth pastor Mike Shipman.

Concerned that apparently unsupervised young people were often running around his apartment complex late at night, he believed that the best way to introduce them to the gospel was to invite them—and anyone else in the complex who wished to attend—to a free cookout sponsored by the church.

The cookout was advertised for a couple of weeks with flyers posted around the complex. Thirty-two visitors attended. Each left not only with a full stomach and an evening of fun, but a packet containing information about the church and a ticket to a children’s program sponsored by the Billy Graham Crusade Oct. 19 at Texas Stadium.

Pastor Tom Pickett looks back on the event as "a wonderful expression of what Jesus would want us to do in sharing his gospel with our congregational community."

While the membership rolls of New Hope have not increased dramatically, three members of the New Hope youth group were baptized Nov. 23, including Elaine Rosene, whose first exposure to the congregation was her attendance at the cookout. Craig Miller.

OUTREACH ACTION—At the Oak Park Outreach,
church members and apartment residents enjoy
playing football.

MOUNT GILEAD, Ohio—Pat Tobin, pastor of the Marion, Ohio, church and his wife, Pat, moved worship services to Mount Gilead, Jan. 5. Twenty people, including three guests, attended the first service.

The Tobins ran a newspaper ad that included the following: "Pastor Pat and Barb Tobin invite you to fellowship and worship with us at New Beginning Christian Fellowship.
  Pat & Barb Tobin

"The mission of New Beginning Christian Fellowship is to make disciples who through their Christian living style will increase disciple-making followers of Jesus.

"When: Sunday mornings at 10:30 a.m. Fellowship time 9:45 a.m., coffee and snacks. Dress: Wear what you are comfortable in. Sermons: Bible-based in helping us deal with day to day life."

FORT SMITH, Arkansas—Dean Frantz, pastor of the Church of the Risen Lord, the WCG congregation in Fort Smith, has led his church to discover their core values and develop a mission statement. They have formulated goals and strategies for proactively and intentionally reaching the community around their meeting place.

Mr. Frantz noted the progress the congregation made toward the goals established earlier last year.

The first goal was to establish a Christian-oriented, community youth group that would lead young people to Christ. This goal was met through a Christian martial arts program. Twenty-five to 30 community youths are currently participating. They are divided into two groups.

While one group learns the martial arts program under the direction of Scott Courtney, a second degree black belt, certified teacher-trainer and a Christian, the second group attends a Bible oriented study group led by Mr. Frantz. Classes take place Mondays and Thursdays.

"It has been quite a challenge working with these children," Mr. Frantz said. "Most have been traumatized by dysfunctional family relationships. All are needy of the character building, self-discipline and Christian teaching that Scott and I are building into the program."

The second goal was to encourage members to reach out to people in the community. This goal is being accomplished by conducting community celebrations at the church. These involve games followed by grilled hot dogs and cold drinks. A total of 65 Thanksgiving meals were served to the community during the holiday. At one event, members sang Christmas carols and served hot chocolate and cookies. All these activities allow members and the community to interact and build relationships.

"As a rule we try to conduct an activity involving the community every other Tuesday," Mr. Frantz said.

The third goal was to integrate the church and the community. This process involved seeking out community leaders and integrating them into responsible leadership roles.

In this matter we have truly been blessed with Scott and Paula Courtney," Mr. Frantz said. "Both are Christians and members of another church, but they feel called to help us. They received a blessing from their home church to assist our ministry. Through their contribution and fellowship we now look on impossible tasks with enthusiasm. James Hicks is also proving to be a great asset in working with the youths.

"With the Lord’s intervention we have done in six months what I thought would take two to three years. Yes, we have some fine-tuning to do. But what once seemed a heavy yoke has now become pleasure. As members see and experience the positive outcome, their enthusiasm and support builds. What an almighty God we serve."

NEW YORK CITY—John McKenna, doctrinal advisor, attended the annual conference of the National Church Advisory Council conducted Dec. 2 to 4 by the American Bible Society. The theme was "Serving the Present Age: Reaching Youths With the Word."

"Generally, the idea was that our society was experiencing a generation gap between the old and the young and that we needed to learn how to build bridges across this gap and create relationships where presently none exist, or where at least faulty ones exist," Dr. McKenna said. "Breakout sessions concentrated on urban youths. Inclusion in worship and leadership was the point. Understanding our young was the challenge."

Dr. McKenna said this "meant an older generation needed to experience some great transformations of its ideas if it was going to embrace the new generation with its faith."

Dr. McKenna noted: "Sept. 11 changed everything. Nothing is the same, not the world, not the nation, not New York nor the Lady of Liberty in the city’s harbor, not the American Bible Society beside her, not the WCG, and not me. Everyone seems to be seeking afresh, since the murderous attack, the meaning of our way of life and why we stand the way we do here."

Dr. McKenna skipped one of the sessions to take the A-Train to Chambers Street and Ground Zero. "Ground Zero is now a great hole, the ruins all removed, waiting for an anointed architect to fill it with our salute to those who died and our resolve with our way of life. New Yorkers may have returned to normal, but still in the back of their minds remains the memory and the hope that what we build there will say what we need to say to the world. Old prejudices and concerns were lost now upon their new hopes."

The keynote address was given by Professor Leonard Sweet of Drew University, whose president, Tom Kean, was appointed to head the congressional committee charged with the investigation of 9-11. The learned professor turned learner in Christ challenged the Society to face the real world, and the real world was experiencing a crisis in intelligence and profound and rapid changes in the way our brains were being wired. The new generation would not seek for its truth the way that the old sought for it.

Eugene Habecker, president of the Society, told Dr. McKenna that the Bible had to be taken seriously in its witness to Christ, the Living Word.

LEXINGTON, Kentucky—The Lexington children’s church has been collecting coins every week in their outreach to the Bengali Evangelical Association’s (BEA) missionary work in Bangladesh. Each week, the children and their parents save pennies to bring to church and add to the goat jar.

Money is sent to BEA and designated for purchasing goats. About $40 buys a goat for a family and essentially takes that family from poverty to middle class. The goat provides milk for that family and extra that can be sold for much-needed money.

To date, the program has raised more than $280, enough for seven goats. This outreach is something the children identify with and take to heart. Adults donate money, too, because they identify with such a relatively small amount of money making a difference for an entire family.

We also ask that they let us know the names of the families who receive a goat, so we can have the children pray for the family and for the goat. Bob Jones.

GOAT PROJECT—Front row from left:
Reanne McGee, Brianna Stanley, Kyle Jones,
Quint McGee and Amy Lemaster. Back row:
Britney Combs, Tiffany Jones and Joshua Baxter.
[Photo by Jerry Jeffers]

CYRILDENE, South Africa—Sunday, Sept. 8, 31 members of the Cyrildene congregation had a four-hour workshop designed to begin a rejuvenation of the congregation. The workshop was based on ideas expressed in several books including The Purpose Driven Church, by Rick Warren; Natural Church Development, by Christian Schwarz; and Building Missionary Congregations, by Robert Warren. The workshop set out to raise awareness in the congregation of nine health factors that contribute to a vibrant and growing church.

The nine health factors covered were:

• A focus that is Christ-centered.

• Members who are led by the Holy Spirit.

• Members who express love to others.

• Members who fellowship together.

• Worship services that are inspiring.

• Members who become disciples of Christ through sound teaching.

• Members who use their gifts and talents to serve one another.

• Members who are active in evangelism—fulfilling the Great Commission.

• Members filled with desire to fulfill God’s purposes for them.

The workshop ended with a question and answer session with pastors Jimmy Nicolau, Ron Roy and Timothy Maguire.

REJUVENATING WORKSHOP—A group reviews
discussion questions during the Sharing your
Faith workshop at Cyrildene.

A follow-up workshop took place Dec. 7. The theme was Sharing Your Faith. About 80 members from the Cyrildene and Johannesburg South congregations participated.

Anna and Kirsten Marsh presented a drama portraying a number of the principles. Members then went into breakout groups where they discussed aspects of sharing one’s faith in personal evangelism. Much of the material for the workshop was drawn from a book titled Becoming a Contagious Christian, by Bill Hybels and Mark Mittelberg, and from Pastor General Joseph Tkach’s "Sharing the Gospel" article on personal evangelism in the November WN.

The workshop covered six steps to sharing one’s faith, namely, to pray for the opportunities, words and courage needed, to be intentional, to be an authentic Christian, to nudge conversations in the direction of spiritual topics, to be able to communicate the gospel message clearly, and to understand six styles of personal evangelism. These styles are Dorcas’ service approach, the blind man’s testimonial approach, the Matthew party, the "come and see" example of the woman of Samaria, Peter’s confrontational approach and Paul’s reasoning approach. John and Heather Holder.

Hattiesburg church
celebrates 30th anniversary

ATTIESBURG, Mississippi—The Hattiesburg congregation, pastored by John Novick, celebrated its 30th anniversary June 15. Anyone who had ever been a part of the Hattiesburg congregation was invited to attend.

John & Cathy Novick

Services took place in the morning, and a potluck meal was served in the afternoon. Paul Kurts, pastor in 1983 and 1984, was the guest speaker. Also visiting was former pastor L. David Stone and family and Steven Glover and family. Mr. Stone was pastor from 1984 to 1997 and Mr. Glover was associate pastor from 1988 to 1992.

After the meal, Leon McSwain, a longtime member, gave a historical overview of the places the congregation had met, the different pastors, and various stories of fond memories.

On display were dozens of photographs borrowed from members of activities dating back to the earliest years of the congregation.

 

Prince George congregation supports Habitat for Humanity

PRINCE GEORGE, British Columbia, Canada—The Prince George congregation has supported the area Habitat for Humanity chapter since its inception several years ago.

Habitat for Humanity is a worldwide Christian organization that builds houses in partnership with low-income wage earners. Members have been busy building the first house, arranging meals for the builders and raised funds through Christmas craft and bake sales, a quilt raffle and a celebrity sock monkey auction.

The latest fund-raiser was the Polar Bear Dip, which took place at 2 p.m. on New Year’s Day. The congregation’s representative was Pastor Larry Badowski, thickly greased with Vaseline, who bravely faced the winds and icy waters of Ness Lake (despite not knowing how to swim) to collect the $465 in pledges from members, family, friends and co-workers.

Volunteers cut a small rectangle in the eight-inch ice to enable the 20 plus hardy souls to take the plunge for Habitat or Ness Lake Bible Camp. Lister Chen.

FILM STARS—From left: Mary
Tyler Moore, Holli and Charlie Robinson.
[Photo by Holli's mother]

PASADENA—Holli, a member of Pasadena NewLife Fellowship, played the lead role in "Miss Lettie and Me," a cable television movie that aired on TNT in December. Mary Tyler Moore played Miss Lettie, Charlie Robinson played Isaiah Griffin, who worked for Miss Lettie, and Burt Reynolds played Samuel Madison, the love of Miss Lettie’s youth. The movie was filmed in Griffin, Georgia, an hour south of Atlanta.

Holli and her dad and mom brought home Baa-Baa and Boo-Boo, two of the three lambs that appeared in the movie. They live in their backyard, where they keep the grass mowed. "It’s been amazing to have lambs," the dad said. "When you see how desperate they are to be with and follow someone, we get a picture of what God wants of us. When someone goes inside, they try to follow them, and then they lay down plastered against the door and wait patiently and expectantly until the person comes out again, even if it’s the next morning. Talk about devotion! No wonder God uses lambs as his example of what he desires of us."

PASADENA—As a part of our continuing program to reduce operating expenses in Pasadena, five employees of the Facilities Department were terminated in January, according to Vance Gilless, Facilities director.

Al Baroody, Roxene Brazil, David Bradford and Dexter Rowe from the Telecommunications area, and Debbie Arguien from Security are no longer employed by the church. "They have all been dedicated in their jobs and faithful in their service," Mr. Gilless said.

"We are grateful for their hard work and service over the years. Please remember them as they begin their hunt for employment in a difficult job market."

ORLANDO, Florida—The Orlando congregation is planning to conduct a youth talent showcase, March 29.

The showcase will be open to participants from the Southeastern states, and will include vocal, instrumental, dance and drama performances. Participants will be divided into two age groups: 11 and under, and 12 and over.

Talent coaches in each church area will assist by encouraging the youths to participate, helping them select a song or act, giving them tips to fine-tune their act, and providing moral support on the day of the performance.

The talent showcase will coincide with a visit from Ross Jutsum of State of the Heart Ministries. During the day, Dr. Jutsum will conduct a church service dedicated to worship. That evening, he will be one of the guest judges for the talent showcase. For more details about the showcase or church services with Dr. Jutsum, please contact Lesz Banham at lrbanham@ juno.com or 1-407-446-5153.

The date of the Lexington, Kentucky, regional conference has been changed to May 30, 31 and June 1, according to Bob Taylor, Mid South district superintendent.

AZUSA, California—Michael Alaniz, from Covina, California, and Michele Flynn, from Sanger, California, graduated from Azusa Pacific University Dec. 13. Michael’s degree is in communications/marketing, and Michele’s degree is in business marketing.

  
Michael Alaniz          Michele Flynn

 

Helena church grand opening

HELENA, Montana—Living Hope Fellowship Church and Community Service Center had a grand opening in a new location Sunday, Oct. 13. The new building is the former home of Faith Kids, which merged with East Valley Foursquare earlier in the year.

"The Lord had given us the vision to move, but he hadn’t confirmed the timing," said Pastor Tobe Johnson. "After months of seeking the Lord for direction, we had come to a place of decision and our leadership team began to petition him regarding his timing. The next day we received notification from the people who managed our existing facility that it would no longer be available for us."

In a town in which it is often hard to find commercial space, within a month, we were in our new location.

"Our desire is to serve the needs of people and our community in real practical ways," Mr. Johnson said. "That’s where the community service center comes into play. People matter. Relationships matter. Buildings and programs and possessions, while they have their place, aren’t of primary importance. People matter, and God has a divine purpose for them."

 

 

Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2003