January 2003 Contents

In this issue

Big Sandy

In WCG congregations around the world, Big Sandy is a recognizable name. Many of us have fond memories of church beginnings here in the 1950s, annual gatherings in the Piney Woods, and the Ambassador campus, which served as a home for many students.

We are in a small town, and everyone knows about the church, and more than a tenth of the population attends. Page 4.

Pastor General 

When the church in Antioch gathered for worship, the Holy Spirit spoke to them: "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Pastor General Joseph Tkach asks: Does the Holy Spirit speak to us today? Can we hear what he says to us today? Page 6.

Youth ministry

The Worldwide Church of God has formed a national youth ministry development team, announced Dan Rogers. Team members are Jeb Egbert and Ted Johnston. Page 8.

Window on the World

Several WCG members have affiliated themselves with Friends Without Frontiers, a small organization working together to reach people for Christ in the mountains of Mexico, writes Barb Edwards, in a guest column for Window on the World. The organization provides for the medical and spiritual needs of the people it reaches. Page 12.

Reconciliation

The Office of Reconciliation Ministries, directed by Curtis May, concluded 2002 with a whirlwind of activities. Mr. May and his wife, Jannice, did reconciliation work in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Philippines and Japan in September, October and November. Page 14.

Women's ministry

One hundred twenty-six women met Nov. 15 to 17 for the fourth Worldwide Church of God Women’s International Conference, "Women at the Well," sponsored by the women of the Cincinnati, Ohio, church.

Women from nine states and three countries attended. The conference coordinator was Vicki Hart. The weekend touched hearts in special, personal ways. Page 16.

Financial report

After several months of relatively stable donations that had averaged more than $1.7 million a month, November contributions dropped to $1.46 million, writes controller Ronald Kelly.

Total revenues for the year stand at $22.3 million. If December follows recent trends, our income for the year should come close to budgeted projections. Page 24.

Bible Study

Luke reports two events between Jesus’ birth and the beginning of his ministry, writes Michael Morrison in his Bible Study on Luke 2:22-52. These are not reported out of idle curiosity, however—both point to his importance in God’s plan of salvation. Page 25.

Big Sandy:
a tradition continues

Ambassador University closed in Big Sandy in 1997,
but the WCG congregation there maintains an
active presence in the city.

By Sonny Parsons
Big Sandy pastor

BIG SANDY, Texas—In WCG congregations around the world, Big Sandy is a recognizable name. Many of us have fond memories of church beginnings here in the 1950s, annual gatherings in the Piney Woods, and the Ambassador campus, which served as a home for many students.

Big Sandy—Big Helper of Men! is the title of a book about the city of Big Sandy written by WCG member Shirley West. The title is appropriate for the WCG congregation in Big Sandy. The church has over the years helped in many ways to be a good example of a caring Christian body.

Over the years the church has been located in Gladewater, the Ambassador campus, and now in Big Sandy. Many of you remember the only traffic light on Highway 80. Turning south on South Tyler at the light just across the street from the police station, you will find the present home of the church.

By choosing the name New Beginnings Christian Fellowship we want the community to know that we have a new beginning and would like to offer the same to the citizens. We are in a small town, and everyone knows about the church, and more than a tenth of the population attends. One of our mottos is: "We care, we share, we bear." You have to let a person know you care for them before they will let you share Christ with them.

The congregation sets a wonderful example in the community, and the citizens are responding. With our new meeting place we can share with the congregation and community in many ways. Following are the types of activities that the WCG participates in on a weekly basis:

Mondays: Office open for counseling.

Tuesdays: Teen Prodigals’ group practices praise band, drama and singing. Music lessons by William Stenger.

Wednesdays: Evening praise and worship.

Thursdays: Men’s prayer breakfast for community. Silver Ambassadors weekly Bible study and monthly potluck meal. Prayer meeting in evening led by Vernon Rogers.

Fridays: Fifth Quarter teen get- together for food, fun and fellowship after home football games. This is announced at halftime. On one evening more than 50 teens and adults from Big Sandy, Hawkins and Gladewater attended.

Saturday: Morning service and a praise and worship evening service twice a month.

Sunday: Morning service and teen evening program.

The Big Sandy congregation, after a day of prayer and several town hall meetings, chose New Beginnings Christian Fellowship as its local name.

The congregation also voted on a mission statement that we feel is the direction God wants us to follow. We believe the great commandments (Matthew 22:36-37) and the great commission (Matthew 28:19-20) are principles and realities worth living and sacrificing for. Since these are the words of Christ and his final command, we feel that we are on the right track.

God has continued to open doors for us. After the day of prayer, when we had members praying from 6 a.m. till 6 p.m. in 20-minute time slots beseeching God to show us where he would like for us to be, he answered our prayer and opened up a facility in downtown Big Sandy.

Members, using the motto T.E.A.M.—Together Everyone Achieves Much, jumped in and reconstructed the interior of the building and converted it into a wonderful church facility.

Already the community is responding to our name and building. We were hosts for a Sept. 11 service for the city. The other churches in town canceled their Wednesday evening services and joined us. Various pastors participated. Mayor Lynda Childress spoke, and city council members and the fire, sheriff and police departments, along with a sanctuary filled with citizens, joined in memory of the day.

In September we began offering a Sunday service, and already visitors are coming. We are excited about the opportunity that Christ is giving us to witness for him in our town. One of our slogans is "Come and See," and people are.

The annual Christmas parade took place Saturday evening, Dec. 7, with more than 30 floats and bands. New Beginnings entered a float designed by Rick Peterson and built by members picturing Joy to the World! The mayor and city council gave our church the first place award. The city of Winona asked if we would put it in their parade.

As the parade ended in downtown for the lighting of the city tree, the mayor asked if I would lead those gathered in a prayer for the community and the churches. I felt honored to do this. I asked the large group gathered there to join hands, and we prayed.

On Dec. 19 we have scheduled a Christmas Walk among five churches including one of the African-American churches. We will have songs in each participating church and as a group the members of each church will walk to the next church. All will conclude at New Beginnings where we will have songs and provide refreshments. We hope this will start a community tradition to draw the Christian community together and to invite many others who may not be attending a church now.

Sunday, Dec. 15, after church, we honored First Baptist Church and its pastor with a potluck meal to thank them for letting us use their building for several months before we had our own building. We also invited First United Methodist Church since they let us use their building for our Wednesday evening praise and worship services before we moved into our new building.

On the first Tuesday of August we asked the mayor about the city participating in the National Night Out, an annual event conducted across the nation. Citizens come together on their streets to get to know one another better. We arranged for the police, fire department and mayor to visit each location.

At the end of the evening we asked all the groups to gather at city hall as a sign of unity. The mayor agreed and called on me to pray over the city.

On the evening before the first day of school we joined with members of First Baptist Church to go on a prayer walk around the school and pray about the students, teachers, staff and problems they face.

The Prodigals, the teen ministry, has a praise band, singers, drama team and conducts a worship service each month for the congregation.

Gretchen Garey, youth minister, and her husband, Dale, are doing an excellent job in leading the teens to higher spiritual goals. The teens are on fire for serving Jesus Christ. A teen room in our new building is set aside for their weekly meetings. They decorated it, and it looks great. On Sunday evenings they are going through the 12 week Song of Solomon series regarding dating, romance, sex and marriage. The class keeps growing in size as the teens invite others to visit with us.

A teen discipleship class is conducted on Sunday mornings using the David C. Cook "Bible in Life" series. They have prayer times together, and it is encouraging to see and hear 15 to 20 teens praying for the needs of others and also praising God for his blessings.

Our Silver Ambassadors conduct a weekly Sunday service in the Gladewater Nursing Home, which they have been doing for five years.

The congregation submits one article a week to the Big Sandy Journal about what is going on in the church and runs an advertisement for worship services.

Several WCG members serve as Fire Department officers. The building is available to the city for any emergency or disaster needs.

Ten men spent a day, Nov. 9, visiting prisoners in the Tennessee Colony prison unit in Palestine, Texas, as part of the Bill Glass Prison Ministry. They ate with the prisoners, visited them in their cells, spent time with them in "The Yard," and often were just there to lend a listening ear to the lonely prisoners and then offered Christ to the prisoners as the only true way to happiness. Our men were bubbling over with enthusiasm as they saw how the harvest was ready for them.

Big Sandy members served as counselors for the Billy Graham crusade in Irving, Texas, Oct. 17 to 20. Dwayne and Marilyn Canup and David and Lynn Leach drove to Dallas for several weeks to receive intense training for this event.

On Saturday evening, Oct. 19, around 50,000 teens heard from Dr. Graham and the musical talents of dc Talk and Jars of Clay. The Prodigals, the Big Sandy WCG teen group, attended.

PRODIGALS—Teen praise band and
drama team. [Photos by Sonny Parsons]

SILVER AMBASSADORS—Active senior
citizens serve the community.

CHRISTMAS PARADE—Prize-winning float designed
by Rick Peterson and built by New Beginnings members.
[Photo by Danielle Dupree, Big Sandy Journal]

Regional conference
and summer festival
dates confirmed

Church Administration has set the dates for the 2003 U.S. regional conferences and Summer Festival. Locations for this year’s fall festivals are now being confirmed and details will be forthcoming.

The 2003 Summer Festival will once again be in Atlanta, Georgia. The festival will run from July 16 to 20 and will be coordinated by Al Barr, Southeast district superintendent.

The regional conferences are conducted throughout the country and are sponsored by the denomination. If you are unable to make your region’s conference because of previous commitments, members are welcome to attend in other regions.

In addition to inspiring worship, this year’s regional conferences will include presentations on subjects such as growing a healthy church, youth ministry and worship as well as breakout sessions covering a variety of ministry topics. The denominational conferences begin midday on Friday, and run through midday on Sunday.

Following is a list of dates, locations and coordinator. If you have any specific questions regarding the conference, please contact your pastor or the conference coordinator listed below.

April 4 – 6         West Covina, California       curtis_may@wcg.org

April 25 – 27     Portland, Oregon                 HJLageman@msn.com

May 16 – 18      Lexington, Kentucky            ron_dick@wcg.org

June 27 – 29    Denver, Colorado                 tim_snyder@wcg.org

Aug. 1 – 3         Dallas, Texas                       arnold_clauson@wcg.org

Aug. 15 – 17     Chicago, Illinois                   richard_frankel@wcg.org

Nov. 7 – 9          Union, New Jersey             john_adams@wcg.org

Dec. 5 – 7          Orlando, Florida                 robert_persky@wcg.org

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Copyright © 2006 Worldwide Church of God

Youth Ministry

Steps forward in
advancing youth ministry

By Dan Rogers

PASADENA—As a church, our mission is to live and share the gospel. The gospel is the wonderful message that Jesus Christ, God’s Son, reconciles us to the Father. This reconciliation, a loving gift of God’s grace, is ours as we receive it by faith, placing our trust fully in Jesus.

In this relationship of love and trust, we are blessed by the ministry of God the Holy Spirit—a ministry that focuses on leading us in obedience to Jesus’ command to love (the great commandment) and Jesus’ command to make disciples (the great commission). Our desire as a denomination is to walk in step with the Spirit by assisting our members and congregations to grow in their faithful ability to live in harmony with Jesus’ commands. That desire extends to all our members, and a particular concern is our youths (children, teens and college age young adults).

Not long ago, we announced a renewed commitment in the Worldwide Church of God to serve our youths by growing healthy youth ministries. During the last year we’ve been living out that commitment in a number of important ways.

First, we multiplied our summer camps from a single central camp to several regional camps (six in the summer, one in the winter and we hope to add an eighth next summer). The fruit of this migration to a regional camp model has meant not only serving hundreds of children and teens, but also helping to equip dozens of youth workers.

During last year we also provided various regional and district youth ministry events including Discovery Weekends for youths and Builder Conferences for youth workers. We also addressed children’s ministry issues at our 2002 regional conferences. Finally, we provided advanced training for several key youth ministry leaders who will, in turn, train others.

In the year ahead, we’re going to keep moving forward. We’ll continue to build our regional camps, and we will have many Discovery Weekends. Additionally, at the 2003 regional conferences we’ll provide specialized training for our pastors in advocating and facilitating youth ministry in their congregations. We hope many congregational youth ministry leaders will also participate. We’ll then supplement this training with additional Builder Conferences and with articles here in The Worldwide News as well as specialized articles for pastors and youth workers appearing in various places, including our web sites (including www.wcg. org/youth).

The purpose for our national, regional and district initiatives will be to strengthen youth ministry at the primary point of delivery—our congregations. And the overarching mission of our youth ministries will be to multiply young disciples of Jesus Christ who will, themselves, live out Jesus’ commands to love and to make disciples. Our vision is to see the multiplication of young disciples who make disciples.

To help advance this vision, I’m pleased to announce another key step forward. We have formed a national youth ministry development team. Team members are Jeb Egbert, who lives in Frisco, Texas, and Ted Johnston, who lives in Canton, Ohio.

Jeb is an elder and a manager with Electronic Data Systems in the Dallas area. He has served as a leader in youth ministry in the WCG for many years, including directing the Summer Educational Program (SEP) in Orr, Minnesota, and serving on the faculty at Ambassador University in Big Sandy, Texas.

Jeb Egbert

Ted is an elder and the superintendent of the Worldwide Church of God Great Lakes district. He has served in leadership in youth ministry in the church since the early 1970s and has served as camp chaplain at SEP camps for the last several years.

Jeb and Ted work together as a team reporting to me as the director of U.S. Church Administration. Jeb focuses on national and regional programs, including the regional camps. Ted focuses on liaison with district and congregational youth ministry leaders. Jeb may be contacted at jeb_egbert@wcg.org and Ted at ted_johnston@wcg.org.

Ted Johnston

As an extension of Church Administration, the development team’s mission is summarized in the following mission statement:

The mission of the national youth ministry development team is to facilitate the growth of great commandment-great commission healthy youth ministries to multiply young disciplemaking followers of Jesus.

This emphasis on great commandment-great commission health is reflected in the team’s logo, where the heart represents the great commandment of love, the cross represents the great commission to make disciples and the emblem GC² stands for great commandment-great commission.

In order to facilitate youth ministry, the development team uses vision casting, leadership multiplication, resourcing and measurement strategies. The team’s primary emphasis is on identifying, developing, networking and resourcing great GC2 healthy youth ministry leaders in WCG districts and congregations that lead youth ministries to seek the lost, build believers, equip workers and multiply and send additional leaders—all for the purpose of giving birth to a new generation of disciplemaking followers of Jesus.

The development team works in accordance with the following key result area objectives:

Share the vision: Communicate a compelling, biblically faithful vision for growing GC2 healthy youth ministries to seek, build, equip and multiply young disciplemaking followers of Jesus.

Multiply leaders: Facilitate the identification, development, networking and resourcing of GC2 healthy youth ministry leaders including regional camp directors, district youth coordinators and local youth ministry leaders.

Resource ministries: Develop and deploy resources that support GC2 healthy youth ministry growth:

l Identify and network GC2 healthy youth ministries and ministry leaders to serve as models and mentors and for peer-to-peer support.

l Assist pastors in the development of intergenerational, youth-friendly congregations, including identifying, developing, networking and resourcing youth ministry leaders.

l Assist pastors and youth ministry leaders in developing youth ministries in congregations, including identifying, developing and deploying young leaders-in-training.

l Use regional and district youth ministry venues (including SEP camps) to build GC2 healthy young disciples and youth ministry leaders who will advance multigenerational disciplemaking in their congregations.

Measure progress: Monitor youth ministry at all levels for GC2 healthy growth. Publicize progress to model forward movement. Inform district superintendents, pastors and youth ministry leaders of needs for remedial action at the local level.

One final note, please pray for our youths, our youth ministries and for Jeb and Ted, our national youth ministry development team.

Dallas Central host
for district teen weekend

DALLAS, Texas—Fifty-five teens participated in the Dallas Central church’s district weekend, Nov. 2 and 3. In addition to Dallas Central, other congregations represented included Euless, Fort Worth and Big Sandy, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

On Nov. 2, Jeb Egbert, SEP director, conducted a Bible study and spoke with the group on what it means to be a Christian. The day’s activities also included praise and worship, a team building game and discussion.

That evening, the teens enjoyed a dance featuring Christian music with Michael Lewandowski as disc jockey. Other key organizers of the weekend included Steve Kramer, Jesse Hebert, Alexa Wilson, Hannah Orsburn and Nnamdy Ford.

On Nov. 3, the teens attended Dallas Central church services. The congregation’s teen band provided worship music. Worship leader Steve Kramer and several other members acted out a pantomime to a song, "He’s My Son." Mr. Kramer, who scripted the scene, portrayed a distraught father crying out to God to intervene for his severely ill son (Jeremy Wilson).

In the final verse of the song, Brian Holsenbeck came onstage playing God the Father agonizing over the impending death of Jesus (Ryan Coutts). Mr. Coutts stretched out his arms into a crucifixion position while a spotlight cast a shadow suggesting a giant cross.

Shannon Simms sang acapella a worship song that she had composed, titled "I Believe in You."

Dr. Egbert addressed the congregation, challenging them to be agents in changing others’ lives by demonstrating God’s love. "Go, be a life changer," he concluded. "Jesus is the one who changes lives."

Laniece Miller was commended for being named to Who’s Who Among American High Students, an honor offered to the top five percent of U.S. high school students. Laniece is also an advanced placement scholar.

It was also announced that preteens Daniel Hebert, Kara Smith and Jeremy Wilson had given their lives to Christ because of the Dallas area Billy Graham crusade two weeks earlier. Frank Lewandowski.

SEP California--
a mountaintop
experience

By Dennis Pelley

PASADENA—Imagine yourself challenged by a high ropes adventure course 7,000 feet above sea level. Visualize yourself and a close friend gliding your canoe over a smooth, quiet, pristine, private mountain lake in a 270-acre retreat. Picture yourself singing contemporary Christian music with 300 other enthusiastic worshipers at a beautiful new praise and worship center.

No need to imagine—you can experience all this and much more by coming to the Summer Educational Program (SEP) in California next summer!

Our mission for SEP is to "bring Jesus Christ to young people and model his way of life."

Since we filled up last year’s SEP California six weeks early and had to turn away potential campers, we have selected a larger camp for SEP 2003, which will accommodate up to 300 people. This year’s SEP will be at Cedar Lake Camp at beautiful Big Bear Lake, California. The retreat center is large enough for us to run three separate camps simultaneously during the week of July 6 to 12.

We will have a traditional SEP for those ages 12 through 20. We will also have a preteen camp for those ages 8 through 11.

This summer for the first time we will be hosts for a Disciples of Jesus retreat for marrieds and singles, ages 20 through 40. Those who attend this weeklong retreat will focus on becoming committed disciples of Jesus Christ and receive training in ministry leadership. The participants will also be able to enjoy praise and worship, the high ropes challenge course and all the other sports and recreational activities available at Cedar Lake Camp.

Get your applications now for participants and staff from our church website at www.wcg. org/youth/ or contact Dennis Pelley, regional camp director, at dennis_pelley@wcg.org or telephone him at 1-626-836-3199 or our SEP National Office at 1-972- 712-5737.

For more information about Camp Cedar Lake, visit their website at www.campcedarlake.com

Living Hope
Christian Fellowship
has youth day

ATLANTA, Georgia—The children and teens of Living Hope Christian Fellowship (WCG in Atlanta) celebrated their love for the Lord Oct. 27 with a worship service replete with praise and worship, special music and a fellowship meal. The theme was Young People, Kicking It for Christ.

The service began with heartfelt praise and worship led by Brieanna Garrett, followed by special music by the children’s choir, teen choir and Voices of Life. Wendell Cox delivered an inspiring message titled "Be a Light." He reminded each of us of the example set by Daniel to remember who we serve and the importance of being the light of the earth. The day culminated with a fellowship meal. We are so thankful to our Lord for the great things he has done and is doing through his lambs. To God be the glory! Sheila Toppin.

Youth Builders conference
takes place in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS, Missouri—Twenty-five youth leaders and teens from around the Central District met Oct. 14 for a Youth Builders conference.

Jeb Egbert, director of the Summer Educational Program, showed the attendees results from various resources that the fields are ripe for harvest. Speaking from experience, Dr. Egbert often folded humor into the informative section of the conference.

Jeb Egbert

Later the attendees were divided into groups and worked on identifying problems with potential solutions for the area youth ministries. The groups of three and four attendees prayed and committed to each other to continue to try to find resolutions. The conference concluded with a praise and worship service led by Dr. Egbert, and closing comments and communion led by Randy Bloom, Central district superintendent. Kipplan D. Hunter.

Randy Bloom

YOU reunion set for
July in Dayton, Ohio

DAYTON, Ohio—A reunion will take place July 5 in Dayton for members of Youth Opportunities United, the church’s former youth group. The reunion will be for those who were in YOU from Dayton, Cincinnati, Columbus and Chillicothe, Ohio; and Indiana and Kentucky.

Families are invited, as well as coaches, referees and others who were involved in YOU. If you are interested in coming please contact Stacy Daniel-Swain at Reunion2003YOU@aol.com

Six teens baptized
in Kennesaw, Georgia

KENNESAW, Georgia—Sept. 29 was already going to be a special day, but it turned out to be a spectacular day. Cindie and Jessica Nelson, teenagers from Northwest Christian Fellowship in Kennesaw, were scheduled to be baptized during that Sunday’s worship service. Both were anxious to display their faith in Jesus Christ publicly but neither knew what the impact of their proclamation would have on others.

Pastor Tom Mahan began the sacrament by explaining to the congregation how Jesus set the example of water baptism and gave his disciples the call to baptize others. Pastor Mahan then welcomed anyone else who would like to commit their lives to Jesus and be baptized to come forward and take advantage of the opportunity. We were delighted when Cody White, another teen, came forward!

That was just the beginning, however. Three more teens, Michael, Katie and Joshua Nelson all came forward in the presence of their parents and proclaimed Jesus as Lord and Savior of their lives and were baptized! After the service, all the teens and their families joined for communion. Anthony Mullins.

 

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 2002

Youth Builders conference

TIPP CITY, Ohio—The Great Lakes District will be host for a daylong Youth Builders conference on Saturday, Feb. 15, in Tipp City (near Dayton).

The conference provides intensive training for teens and adults who are or who wish to be involved in youth ministry (ministry to children, teens and college-age young adults). The main trainer at the conference will be Jeb Egbert of the WCG national youth ministry development team.

After the conference, an optional dinner dance will take place that evening. For more information visit the www.wcg.org/youth website or send e-mail to Jim Valekis at jim_valekis@wcg.org

Window on the World

From Randal Dick,
superintendent of missions

Remembering the forgotten ones

We would like to feature a ministry involving a number of our members in remote parts of Mexico. I think you will find the article and the pictures inspiring. The report that follows was written by my assistant, Barbara Edwards. The information and photos were provided by Raul Sifuentes and Dan Hart.

By Barbara Edwards

In this month’s column, I would like to open the window on a missionary organization compassionately serving and ministering to the indigenous people of Mexico.

It was once said that Christ is renewing his church one member at a time, and, in turn, they are finding ministry. This is evident in the life of Raul Sifuentes, a WCG member who formerly attended in Glendora, California. Raul and his wife, Paula, now live in Mexico. They, along with Dan and Josefina Hart of Peoria, Illinois, also WCG members, have affiliated themselves with a Christian medical and dental missionary team called Amigos Sin Frontera, (Friends Without Frontiers). It is a small organization doing a great work—a team working together to reach people for Christ.

Antonio Moreno established Friends Without Frontiers in 1995, after being approached by a bus driver and a taxi driver who were aware of the needs and suffering of impoverished people in the mountainous villages. Dr. Moreno decided to investigate, and upon arriving he saw the incredible needs of the people. While there he helped a family whose daughter was suffering from a severe earache. He examined the girl’s ear and extracted a three inch worm.

Amid the suffering he realized the great spiritual vacuum that existed in the Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, Dr. Moreno deeply desired to teach the Word of God. He told this family about the gospel and they accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This was the beginning of Friends Without Frontiers.

The organization provides the physical, medical, dental, optical and spiritual needs to entire towns in the mountains of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Morelos. The team is composed of surgeons, ophthalmologists, gynecologists, pediatricians, stomatologists (a branch of medicine that deals with the mouth and its disorders), nurses, teachers and a considerable number of volunteers. The volunteers include homemakers, people who clean instruments, assistants to the doctors, taxi and bus drivers, and many who pick up and drive the people to and from the makeshift clinic.

They have a full-time gospel team that teaches through performing mime and drama. They also have a team that does paintings and ministers in any way they can to bring the gospel to the people. They are united with one purpose: to bring honor and glory to God by using their skills, knowledge, abilities and many years of personal experience to serve these isolated and desperately poor communities.

What they view as one of their main assets is that they are an interdenominational missionary group, with its main goal to bring as many people to Christ as possible. The main vision of this evangelistic team is through medical services to open the doors for the gospel where there is no gospel.

According to Mexican Senator Diego Cevallos, 10 percent of the 96 million inhabitants of Mexico are undocumented in their own country, and this prevents them from having access to state programs. According to one resident, they have not had medical help for 41 years. A 1998 poll showed that 73 percent of the residents of Mexico City do not know what the term "human rights" means.

In May 2000, journeying with six portable dentist chairs, six portable electrical dental labs and two electric power plants, the team traveled to the villages of El Mamey and Nuevo Allende in Oaxaca. About 800 people received medical treatment, 600 received dental work, and most remarkably, 165 accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Other trips included San Mateo Sindihuis and San Juan Teita, Oaxaca; Tepetlixpa, Mexico; and two journeys to Tlacoapa, Guerrero.

During one arduous 13-hour trip over the mountains, through rugged terrain and creeks and over unpaved roads to Tlacoapa, the team arrived exhausted and somewhat irritated. Later they discovered that people had walked 13 hours to be helped by the team. One man had a bullet removed that was in his hand for 13 years. Another had a tumor excised, which was on his foot for 41 years.

Initially, the municipal president of Tlacoapa was against having Christians in his midst, but he admitted that even the Department of Health had completely forgotten to assist them. He was one of the individuals given medical treatment. In gratitude he gave Dr. Moreno a letter asking him to return every six months. A pastor in Tlacoapa visits the people once a month to preach and teach the gospel. He walks 12 hours to reach them because there is no direct road.

During the last six years Friends Without Frontiers has planted five churches and reached 23 communities for Jesus. They have provided about 25,000 medical consultations and given around 15,000 food rations (rice, beans, sugar, salt, cooking oil) as well as tons of used clothing, shoes and toys. They have distributed Bibles, pamphlets and New Testaments (in their own dialect) and have shown the Jesus video (in Spanish or their dialect) as well as other videos with Christian themes. In every town they visited, the team instituted "Teach to Read and Write" programs to train leaders (young and old), so they in turn can teach others.

Friends Without Frontiers is indebted to the many people who support their work: the professional team, the churches, including the WCG, and the volunteers. Resources are supplied by the members of the various organizations who represent eight to 10 churches. This is accomplished through fund-raisers and assistance from the various churches.

The Word of God is like seed, capable of producing immense harvest. If our view of God is great, the worth of those created in his image will be great. The reverse is also true. Our concern about people reveals what we think about God. Life gains significance only in Jesus.

The dedicated effort of Friends Without Frontiers to reach the forgotten and marginalized of the villages of Mexico should encourage us to think globally. God loves all people! As evidenced by his creation, he loves diversity.

Dr. Moreno was asked what the most valuable reward is that he receives from his ministry. He answered: "The reward is to see a man smile, a child saying ‘thanks,’ to see people with a loving heart for Jesus…. When a child comes to us we say: It’s really worth it. It doesn’t matter how many hours of labor, it’s truly worth it—even if only one person has repented and [becomes] converted."

MISSION FOUNDER—Antonio Moreno.

TLACOAPA—a mission site.

HUSBAND-WIFE TEAM—Silvia Moreno, a dentist,
wife of Antonio Moreno, also a dentist.

PEDIATRIC SURGERY—A cyst was removed
from this girl’s arm.

SHARING GOSPEL—765 people accepted Christ
during this mission trip.

ENTERING ETERNITY—This elderly
man became a Christian, said he was
no longer afraid to die and was found
dead two hours later.

Office of
Reconciliation Ministries: 
from Ireland to the Orient

PASADENA—The year 2002 concluded with a whirl of activities for ORM (Office of Reconciliation Ministries) overseas efforts.

Curtis May, ORM director, and his wife, Jannice, conferred with ministers, lay members and workshop attendees in Northern Ireland and Scotland in September; conducted reconciliation conferences in London, England, and Cork, Ireland, in October; conducted interdenominational meetings in Bacolod, Philippines, in November; and enjoyed a one-day visiting and conferring session with a pastoral family in Tokyo, Japan.

Here are the highlights of this worldwide effort.

Northern Ireland: Mr. May spoke to WCG members in Belfast, Sept. 21. Mr. May left the audience "speechless," according to Jim Herst, ORM chapter leader. His topic? The racial insensitivities that plagued the WCG and other Christian groups. It was an education, some parishioners commented afterward.

Stephen Cave, general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of Northern Ireland, shared his understanding of the need for reconciliation.

ORM met with Paul Redfern, a Church of Ireland priest, and his wife, Betty. Their church is located in Belfast, where the Redferns are trying to work with both Catholics and Protestants in this troubled city.

After viewing ORM’s flagship video, Reconciliation—A Move of God, Betty said: "That was great. I wish that everyone could see it!" Paul gave a powerful message during that service to WCG members, encouraging everyone through Jeremiah 29:11: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

On a tour of the Catholic areas of Belfast, Dr. Herst and Mr. May noticed murals depicting scenes of the U.S. Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Catholics identify with the African-American struggle. They find hope in it. Mr. May, who grew up in segregated Alabama, was pleased to note how the struggle for civil rights in America has cast such a long shadow.

Edinburgh and Perth, Scotland: Mr. May was pleasantly surprised to meet Peter Sheppard, a WCG member whose father was a leader in the British Israel World Federation, a group with theories about the alleged privileged origins of the Anglo-Saxon people. ORM meetings quite often deflect British-Israel teaching, so the experience of bridge-building between two such groups struck a soft note in what could have been a hard-edged exchange.

Peter mentioned that in his father’s experience with British-Israelism, more emphasis was placed on prophecy than race as one would find in America. Even the emphasis on prophecy was flawed.

Another Scotsman Mr. May met related an experience he had when he was around 12 years old. He said he asked a Catholic woman if he could escort her 12-year-old daughter to a school activity. She retorted: "I will not let my daughter go out with a dog! I would slit your throat." He was Protestant. This incident helps illustrate how walls and broken relationships are built and perpetuated.

In Perth, a Canadian woman was greatly moved by the message on how Christian groups subtly perpetuate embedded racist stereotypes. "I had no idea," she told Mr. May through streaming tears.

London, England: Chapter leader Olivier Carion of the North London church organized a workshop where the theme of forgiveness emerged clearly and loudly. "This was the first round two workshop for ORM in any city," Mr. May said, "so the atmosphere was forward-looking with a broader use of the Scriptures on this vital subject." One health care counselor who attended the meeting praised the ORM approach: "We are doing the same type of work as you are—helping people heal."

Cork, Ireland: Mr. May was joined by chapter leader Evelyn O’Callaghan in Cork, where a pleasant small group atmosphere prevailed. "Evelyn gave an outstanding message on forgiveness, which has to be part of any workshop we do in the future," Mr. May said. One Christian woman gave ORM what she felt was a word from the Lord. It was from Isaiah 54:17: "No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you." This was a welcome bit of Irish plain-speaking.

Bacolod, Philippines: After addressing the WCG congregation in Metro Manila, Mr. May traveled to Bacolod accompanied by Pastor George Escara, area superintendent. "The Bacolod group was interdenominational," Mr. May said. "There were Baptists, Pentecostals, Christian Reformed and others." The group viewed three videos on reconciliation issues followed by small group discussions. "The feedback was lively and humorous," Mr. May said, notwithstanding the seriousness of the subject matter.

Following is a sample of the feedback we received:

"It’s really good! Reconciliation is needed and starts with individuals coming to God. Then it will flow to our family and church. We are ambassadors of reconciliation. Very good indeed is the seminar!" (Pastor Rolly Pondia—Sanctuary in the City Church)

"Reconciliation ministry is much needed here in Bacolod with 36 denominations and a history of church splits. The lecture is a challenge for us to implement it. It must be offered to a larger body." (Leah Aguirre—missionary)

"It’s edifying because it builds bonding in our relationships as Christians and understanding of God’s will regarding acceptance of one another regardless of differences.

"One of our friends in another church, upon hearing positive comments about the lecture and workshop, inquired if you’re still in Bacolod so they can invite you to speak in their church." (Pastor Leonor De La Cruz—Mount Olives Ministry Faith)

Tokyo, Japan: At the request of WCG Philippine national leaders, the Mays spent a day with Shunsuke Nakagawa, a pastoral team member, and his wife, Shizuko, and their three children. The WCG congregation in Japan is made up of mostly expatriate Westerners and Mr. Nakagawa is himself a former Lutheran minister now serving the WCG in Japan. This was a small but refreshing reminder of one of ORM’s major themes: interdenominationalism.

All in all, 2002 ended with a wonderful advance for the cause of mending broken relationships in a world that needs all the healing touches it can get.

PERTH, SCOTLAND—From left: Ann Smillie,
Meryl and George Davidson, Jim Herst, Curtis
and Jannice May and Jean Dougall.

Curtis May (left) and George
McGowan of Shenfield, England.

Curtis May and Joan Esom
of North London.

Fourth Women's
International Conference:
Filled to Overflowing 

By Kenda Turner

COLLEGE CORNER, Ohio—One hundred and twenty-six women met at the Well Nov. 15 to 17, and spiritual cups were filled to overflowing.

The fourth WCG Women’s International Conference, "Women at the Well," sponsored by WCG women of Cincinnati, Ohio, took place at Hueston Woods. Women from nine states and three countries, including Ghana in West Africa and Brazil, attended. The conference opened Friday, Nov. 15, with dinner in a rustic dining room, flanked by a fire in the fireplace on one side and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a calm and peaceful lake on the other. The warmth and sense of peace gave only a hint of what the ensuing weekend would bring.

After opening remarks by conference coordinator Vicki Hart, Libby Walker set the stage for the weekend’s theme by singing a stirring rendition of "Drink From This Water." Keynote speaker Naomi Beard, a woman involved in ministries around the world, followed with a message on joy and the use of worship music—with a focus on gospel music—as a way to communicate God’s love.

The first evening concluded with the women gathering in friendship teams, small groups designed for the women to get to know each other better and to provide support, friendship and prayer.

Saturday morning began with worship music led by Sheila Lamb, followed by Murlean Robinson’s interpretive dance to "Mary’s Alabaster Box." Tammy Tkach, WCG Women’s Ministry Support coordinator, then spoke on "Sitting at the Feet of Jesus," in which she asked, "How do you keep your cup full, especially when the ‘suddenlies’ hit (physical cares, worries, stress)?"

She shared a message of the importance of such spiritual disciplines as silence, solitude, meditation and prayer, concluding with a profound experience of a period of contemplative prayer. Though in a room full of women, each was encouraged to participate in a half-hour of silence and prayer, centering their minds on Christ, and letting themselves be held by him and receive what he had to give them.

The next message, by Shari Campa, also had a profound effect as she shared her story of being a prodigal who returned to the loving arms of the Father—a story of God’s amazing grace, his forgiveness and his great power to redeem.

Naomi returned in the afternoon to speak on "The Strength of Being"—standing strong in the face of where God has each one now, and also on making time for God. It was noted how God tied the details of the conference together, as each message and various key scriptures dovetailed into the others, without the speakers consulting one another ahead of time.

Saturday’s activities concluded with hikes and personal time, a bonfire with hot chocolate, smores and camp-fire songs, a fun session of line-dancing and late-night talks.

Sunday, Sheila Graham, also with WCG Women’s Ministry Support, spoke on "Overcoming Fear With Closeness With Jesus," subtitled, "The Love Factor." The key scripture was 1 John 4:18: "Perfect love casts out fear." "Go forward," Sheila said, "in God’s love, release your fears to him."

Before taking communion, Ruth Baker spoke on God’s hand in her life, offering, along with Shari, an invitation to prayer, individually and in groups. Everyone was also asked to write down their personal burdens. Each then symbolically dropped those burdens into the well—a six-foot structure used as part of the stage decorations—on their way to the communion table, where the bread and wine picture forgiveness and new life in Christ.

The weekend touched hearts in special, personal ways. Barb Lainhart commented, "It was just so big—God didn’t leave anyone out." Melissa Ibarra said, "I needed this weekend so badly and didn’t even know it—it was great and truly filled my cup." One woman said: "I am a product of a miracle. I am not angry anymore!" Another said, "I had an intimate reminder of his love—that he fulfills the needs humans cannot."

Jesus extended the invitation to come to the Well, a weekend representative of spiritual cleansing and restoration, renewal and comfort—in him. May people everywhere return over and over again to the Well of Living Water.

FRIENDSHIP TEAM—From left: Levada
Bibbs, Yvonne Fenner, Leanne Wickey,
Paula Gay, Mary Young, Michelle Bosse,
Bonnie Winston and Sheila Lamb.
[Photo by Kenda Turner]

Kansas City retreat:
'In his image'

By Carol Meyer

KANSAS CITY, Missouri —The Kansas City Northland women’s ministry sponsored its fourth annual retreat Nov. 2 and 3, with 54 women in attendance. Our theme was "In His Image."

The focus, Saturday, Nov. 2, was on the life of Jesus, and Sunday we focused on his transforming work in us. As Jesus transforms us, forgiveness and healing take place. We are then free to experience the joy, which comes only from the risen life of Jesus.

We began with a skit titled "Looking for Change in All the Wrong Places," demonstrating the futility of trying to change ourselves. Our worship leader, Lindy Gardner, from the Boise, Idaho, congregation, carefully selected music relating to our theme. She also provided an opportunity for several women to share their musical gifts with us. Throughout the retreat three of our area women brought presentations: Just Like Jesus; Jesus, Man of Sorrow; and Jesus, Man of Joy.

Our special guests, Phil and Pam Morgan, joined us Saturday afternoon. They are known in the Kansas City area for their Southern Gospel music ministry. Their current concert tour is called "Living Proof," because it reflects God’s work in their lives.

A car accident in June 2000 left Pam paralyzed from the shoulders down. She was told she would never walk again, but God had other plans. One year to the day after the accident, Pam walked into the recording studio to begin taping their newest CD!

Their powerful testimony of the love and healing power of our great God was followed by a communion service. For more information about the Morgans, visit their website at www.PhilandPamMorgan.com

Saturday evening we enjoyed biblical charades during our traditional fire-side chat. We also filled 27 boxes for Operation Christmas Child and collected Christian reading materials to be donated to a hospital as a congregational outreach.

Sunday morning brought a panel discussion covering Our True Identity, Avoiding the Root of Bitterness, The Power of Praise, and Walking with the Wounded. The presence of the Holy Spirit was evident; women came to understand things about their lives, which had never made sense before. In closing, our worship leader interjected a time of prayer, inviting us to circle around anyone who was being touched deeply, and lend support while she prayed.

This led to additional prayer, lots of tears and hugs. This was near the end of the retreat, so the women left with radiant faces! We had prayed for months that each woman would receive exactly what she needed. We praise and thank God for his intimate involvement in this retreat!

Carol Meyer serves the Kansas City churches with her husband, Ray. She is adviser to the women’s ministry and is on staff at Gospel Missionary Union’s international headquarters.

Connecting & Bonding
has conference in Philippines

By Bituin Acebron

TAGAYTAY, Philippines—Ministers’ wives and women leaders from congregations all around the Philippines, gathered for the first Connecting & Bonding conference at the Christian Development Center in Tagaytay City, Nov. 1 to 3.

The conference was sponsored by Jannice May, founder of Connecting & Bonding, Inc. The speakers were Naomi Beard, Susie Dick, Jannice May and Daphne Sidney.

On Friday evening, Nov. 1, Lulu Guzon welcomed the guest speakers and participants. Ms. Beard and Mrs. Dick then gave overviews of their topics for each of their sessions. The next day, Naomi Beard stirred up the women to discover and use their God-given gifts for his glory.

Mrs. May shared her inspiring story about how Connecting & Bonding, Inc. was created, and shared tips on how to determine what God wants us to do in our lives. Mrs. Dick led group discussions in the afternoon. After dinner, the women enjoyed a cultural night filled with wit, fun and humor, in which each church area performed a number to welcome and give the guests a taste of the Filipinos’ culture and love for laughter.

At the last day of the conference, Ms. Beard gave important tips and insight that would contribute to a woman’s "Strength of Being," and also about working toward having a more intentional and dynamic worship ministry in our congregations.

The conference ended with a presentation of gifts of appreciation to all the speakers, particularly Mrs. Sidney. Since Mrs. Sidney and her husband, Bill, were scheduled to move to Australia in December, the women, led by Mrs. Guzon, thanked Mrs. Sidney for her labor of love in the Philippines and for seeking to glorify God in everything she does as a minister’s wife.

The participants called the conference a much-needed time for equipping and empowerment. Gina Rosario, from Palawan, remarked: "I really thank God for allowing me to attend the conference. I discovered many things within me that I will treasure as giftings from God, to be used for his work. Before the conference, it was hard for me to think of myself as a gift from God to others."

Six of the women traveled 34 hours to get to the conference.

Blowing away
spiritual cobwebs
Connecting &
Bonding in Britain

By Hilary Reeve

DERBYSHIRE, England—The weekend of Oct. 25 to 27 saw the second ministers’ wives conference for Europe and the United Kingdom, sponsored by Jannice May and Connecting & Bonding ministries.

The venue this year was the Hayes Convention Centre in Derbyshire, central England, and the WCG elders’ wives were just one of several Christian groups using it that weekend. This led to one amusing comment in the dining hall when one table of women was asked if the WCG was made up entirely of women. With much mirth they were quickly able to inform the questioner that this certainly was not the case. Being in an overtly Christian center added to the peaceful and harmonious ambience of the conference.

Forty-two wives attended from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Holland and various Scandinavian countries as well as from the United States.

Our meeting place was the chapel, which was a lovely building of red brick with timbered roof and wooden beams. At the front of the hall hanging from roof to floor was a magnificent colorful tapestry whose center was a cross embroidered in gold.

The theme of this year’s conference was "Being Knit Together in Love," and the guest speaker was Jan Johnson, who gave several helpful sessions on how to be authentic Christians, both with God and with each other.

The "committee member" hats that Jan uses in her talks made the journey across the Atlantic and were a vivid reminder of how we can be tempted into trying to change and control people, when the only person we should be trying to change is ourselves. She encouraged us to connect first with God and surrender ourselves and situations to him. Everything before us becomes a prayer that connects us with God.

Jan’s final session focused on meditation and how we need not fear it if it is centered on Scripture. It is a tool that helps us hear God’s questions, not our own, and lets God speak to us. With a storm raging outside we were given the opportunity to try meditation while Jan read the passage about the woman with an issue of blood who touched Jesus’ garment. We were able to "sit" in the scriptures and live them.

Other speakers included Susie Dick of Church Administration in Pasadena, who introduced two "Let’s Talk" sessions, Shirley Henderson of South Africa, who spoke about her passion for quilting and used the analogy of the church being like a quilt. Helen Jackson, widow of longtime minister Harold Jackson, talked of how God places in each of us a navigational system called GHS (God’s Holy Spirit). Lorraine Pelley, who serves the Pasadena church with her husband, Dennis, was the worship organizer, and Barb Edwards of the Executive Office in Pasadena, presented worship dance.

The elders’ wives felt pampered during the weekend with gifts, excellent meals, conviviality, comfortable and spacious accommodations and a real feeling of God loving us. It was a love-in weekend. The love of Jesus was expressed in Lorraine’s singing, Barb’s dance, Susie’s exhortation, Helen’s determination, Jannice’s dedication and Jan’s leading us to have a deeper relationship with Jesus.

The raging of the storm outside the hall emphasized for me our safety and security in Christ and also pictured the blowing away of some spiritual cobwebs. I felt that this year’s conference, built on the foundation of last year’s, provided a safe environment for wives to be truly themselves.

LUNCH—Margaret Rose, Doreen Mcdonald
and Hilary Reeve. [Photos by Nancy Silcox]

TEA TIME—Gerrie Bayley (left), wife of Chris
Bayley, a pastor in Wales, and Sue Carion,
wife of Olivier Carion, North London pastor.

Update on Sale of Campus

Listening phase continues;
parcels to be sold

By Mathew Morgan

The church signed letters of intent to sell two parcels of land that will not be part of the main residential community planned for the Ambassador campus.

The parcel north of the Hall of Administration, currently serving as the Records Center, and the parking lot east of Imperial Schools are being sold to take advantage of the strong real estate market. We anticipate late January closings for both properties. Many thanks to the facilities staff as they prepare this property for sale.

The church conducted its third open house Dec. 17 to share a more refined plan with Pasadena residents. More than 1,500 people and 30 community groups and opinion leaders have been part of our ongoing listening phase, providing ideas and support for the future of the Ambassador campus and Ambassador Auditorium, and even envisioning themselves as homeowners in this setting. We have received a great deal of input from previous listening meetings, including two large community meetings on Oct. 30 and Nov. 19. To learn more about the entitlement process and plans for the property, please visit www.ambassadorcampus.info

We receive questions from members about the property from time to time. In an effort to keep you, as important stakeholders, informed, following are a few of the questions that we hear regularly and the corresponding answers.

Answer: Previously the church was selling the entire campus directly to Legacy Partners, a large developer. Before this deal closed, Legacy’s role was to secure entitlements (agreements with the city as to what can be built on the property by law) and pay the church for the property.

After entitlements were secure, Legacy planned to sell the entitled property to subdevelopers who would build residential buildings on the property.

The agreement with Legacy expired April 1. Church leaders had always planned for this possibility and, after careful discussion with the board of directors and expert real estate advisers, initiated a plan to work directly with the city and the public to gain the entitlements. When the property is entitled, the church will sell the property directly to developers who will build primarily residential buildings on the site.

We have had to face this question ourselves as we saw the previous buyer falter. Church leaders are aware that the entitlement process for a large campus in an urban setting like Pasadena is complicated and requires specific expertise.

Therefore, we are using experts in the fields of development, design, planning, communication, law, finance, historic preservation, community relations and strategy to advise us. Using good advice, and building on what we learned from Legacy’s successes and failures, we initiated a planning and communication process that we feel will result in approval of our plan. We are being respectful, open and responsive to the citizens of Pasadena so that we end up with a superior plan and avoid unnecessary opposition.

We also find that the church, as the owner of the campus since 1947, is more respected than an "out-of town-developer" as many in the city labeled Legacy. Those who know the church are aware that integrity and quality are part of our normal operating procedures. Church employees have developed relationships and have done business in town for the past half century.

The current church-led entitlement strategy also provides the church with much more flexibility than under the Legacy agreement. If we must change strategy quickly because of unforeseen circumstances or opposition, we can quickly move to secondary plans to best serve the needs of the church.

Under the former agreement, we had contractual obligations with the buyer that limited our control and maneuverability. The church also enjoys, under the current process, a superior psychological and legal position to directly manage its rights and responsibilities as a large property owner and religious institution in Pasadena.

In summary we feel we have the right team, the right process and sufficient flexibility to create a plan that will be embraced by decision makers and will leave behind a fine residential community of which all can be proud.

The entitlement and sale team, led by Bernie Schnippert, director of Finance & Planning, completed an extensive search and interview process ultimately selecting SheaHomes, in early July, as master developer consultant. Working with SheaHomes, the largest private homebuilder in the United States, experts in design and other necessary disciplines were assembled.

A citywide public listening phase was initiated in September to hear concerns and suggestions from city staff, neighbors, political officials, special interest groups and others concerning the development of the property.

Open houses took place Oct. 30 and Nov. 19 to allow Pasadena residents a chance to submit ideas. A preferred design was shared at a Dec. 17 meeting and will be refined again before being presented to the city in January. The city staff will then review the plan, make suggestions and initiate the mandated environmental and political review processes. City Council approval is the final entitlement step. As the entitlement phase nears an end, the church will begin negotiating sales agreements with subdevelopers in order to realize proceeds from land sales shortly thereafter.

Our schedule, which is only an educated estimate, anticipates approval in early 2004. It is possible that plan approval could occur earlier or later depending on variables in the process that are difficult to predict.

Yes. We have planned carefully and made the necessary adjustments to see it through based on current expectations, and we have contingency plans should we need to adjust our plan based on circumstances. The Finance & Planning Department, using outside consultants to provide objective advice, meets on a regular basis with the board of directors to evaluate the entitlement and sale process in light of the church’s overall mission and financial position.

We have studied this issue carefully, and currently, the best outcome is through using the entitlement and sale path. However, should circumstances change during the process, we have retained the flexibility to adjust the plan to best serve the church’s needs.

Update from Finance & Planning

November donations
drop below expectations

By Ronald Kelly

PASADENA—After several months of relatively stable donations that had averaged more than $1.7 million a month, November contributions dropped to $1.46 million. That is a decrease of some $240,000 compared to the monthly average.

Donations for November 2001 were more than $1.7 million and for 2000 just over $2.5 million. So you can see that November 2002 was a considerable decrease from just two years ago, and a 17 percent drop from last year. We hope this is not a trend and that December, traditionally our best financial month of the year, will make up some of the difference.

Total revenues for the year stand at $22.3 million. If December income follows the trend of recent years, our income for the year should come close to budgeted projections.

One of the ways we analyze our donation trends is by watching daily average mail income. The way we process and bank your contributions is based on the number of banking days in a calendar year. For our purposes that is 246 days. At the beginning of each budget cycle, we forecast what we anticipate during the coming year.

For example, regular mail income for 2002 was projected to be $81,301 per banking day. If we meet our target, mail income for the year will be $20 million. However, through November, our daily average beginning Jan. 1 has been $79,339. That is $1,962 less than projected every banking day or almost a half million dollars for the year.

In addition to mail income we have a few other sources of revenues such as co-worker donations, estate donations, rental collections, and personal and real property sales. These other sources of income will amount to about $4.8 million this year. Thus our total projected income for 2002 is $24.8 million.

However, our total operating expenses will be somewhere around $32 million. This will result in withdrawing about $7 million from reserves. I have explained several times that while drawing down reserves is something we would certainly prefer not to do, we realize these expenses are necessary in order to maintain our local church programs and ministries as well as continue our discretionary assistance program for our retired employees and to continue toward completion of the Pasadena property sales.

We are working on a budget plan that should allow us to maintain a reserve level throughout 2003 that will be equal to the reserves we currently have.

Of course the financial stability of our fellowship, more than any other factor, depends on the generous donations of our members. Because we still must maintain our centralized financial structure, the consistent donations you so willingly give make it possible for the WCG to remain financially solid as we work toward our goal of local church financial opportunities.

When we first began to plan for a new financial model, we didn’t dream it would take this long to complete the Pasadena property sale and implement the new model. However, our patience has been tested and we continue to walk in the lead of the Holy Spirit.

Perhaps when we have successfully completed the campus sale and have implemented the new financial model, we will have a greater understanding of the financial whys and wherefores we have been experiencing. In the meantime, we certainly appreciate your loyal and dedicated service to the work of our church.

Wills and trusts

Many members have requested information on how best to make a gift to the Worldwide Church of God, either during their lifetime or upon death through wills, trusts or other means.

If you want to receive information regarding such gifts, the Legal Department of the church is available to aid you in this regard without cost or obligation. Please write to Legal Office, Worldwide Church of God, Box 111, Pasadena, California, 91123.

 

What child is this?
A study of Luke 2:22-52

Luke reports two events between Jesus’ birth and the beginning of his ministry. These are not reported out of idle curiosity, however—both events point forward to his importance in God’s plan of salvation. Remarkable prophecies were spoken when Jesus was presented to the Lord, and Jesus himself alluded to a special role when he was coming of age.

The Law of Moses required every firstborn son to be redeemed and dedicated to God, since God had spared all the firstborn sons of Israel in the 10th plague on Egypt (Ex. 13:11-16). The Law further specified that, for a son, the mother should wait 40 days and then bring a burnt offering and a sin offering to the sanctuary. She was to bring a lamb and a bird, or if she could not afford a lamb, two birds (Lev. 12:1-8).

Luke tells us that Joseph and Mary were obedient to the Law of Moses: "When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took [Jesus] to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord’), and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons’ " (vv. 22-24).

Apparently the family could not afford a lamb. It is also interesting that Luke speaks of "their" purification, although the Law spoke only of the purification of the mother. It is ironic that the Law required redemption for the Redeemer, and a sin-offering to purify a divinely caused conception.

It was at this trip to the temple that some significant prophecies were given:

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts" (vv. 25-27).

This godly man earnestly wanted God to rescue Israel, and the Holy Spirit spoke to him (as he had spoken to the Old Testament prophets) and caused him to come to the temple at the right time.

When Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple courts for the dedication and purification ritual, Simeon intervened: "Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

  ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel’ " (vv. 28-32).

Simeon sees the Messiah before he dies. [From The People’s Bible History, 1895]

The Holy Spirit revealed to Simeon that this child was the answer to his hopes and faith; although the salvation itself had not been completed, it was sure. God had kept his promise to Simeon. His lifelong desire was coming to pass, and he felt his life was complete. He had seen the answer, and he knew that this child would be the salvation not only of Israel but all the Gentiles, too. He was God’s Anointed One, who would be the "light to the Gentiles" (Isa. 42:6).

Joseph and Mary "marveled at what was said about him" (v. 33). Could it be that Joseph and Mary didn’t quite believe that this miraculous child would be the Savior of all peoples? Or more likely, Luke tells us this for our benefit, so that we think more deeply about the significance of what was said. We should also marvel at these auspicious words.

After Simeon had blessed Jesus, he also blessed Joseph and Mary. But the salvation of Israel would not be a bed of roses—Simeon also spoke of troubles to come: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (vv. 34-35).

The Savior of Israel would cause some to rise in God’s favor, but would also cause some to fall, because some people would speak against him. They would not like the salvation that he brought, and their thoughts would be exposed as ungodly. They would reject his brand of salvation, thinking that they did not need it. And Mary herself would suffer as a result. We are not yet told how—Luke keeps us in suspense.

Luke also tells us about Anna, who was known to be a prophetess. He does not quote her words, but nevertheless includes her involvement: 

"There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem" (vv. 36-38).

Anna, an elderly model of piety, was apparently inspired to understand that this baby boy was the Savior who would redeem the people of God, and she spread the good news about him. More and more people were learning that the time of salvation has come.

Luke then wraps up this part of the story with some general comments: "When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him" (vv. 39-40). Luke says nothing about the family’s trip to Egypt (Matt. 2:13-23). He simply brings Jesus to Nazareth, his childhood home. There he grew in wisdom, and God was with him.

Jesus’ parents, as Law-abiding Jews, went to Jerusalem every year for the Passover (v. 41). When Jesus was 12 (13 was considered the age of spiritual maturity), they went as usual to the Passover festival.

"After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it" (v. 43). (They must have had other children to take care of.) They simply assumed he was in the traveling party, which might have included a large number of friends, neighbors and other children.

"Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day." But probably when he did not join the family at night, "they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him" (vv. 44-45).

After a day traveling north, and one traveling south and a day of searching, "they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers" (vv. 46-47). Later, people would not merely be amazed at Jesus—they would be angry. But at this point, Jesus was simply amazing. Even his questions showed an unusual depth of understanding for someone his age.

But when his parents finally found him, "they were astonished. His mother said to him, ‘Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you’ " (v. 48). Mary felt that Jesus had done something wrong. They had trusted him to join the group traveling back to Galilee, but he hadn’t.

Perhaps it was an innocent mix-up. Jesus may have tried to find his parents, too, but eventually had to go back to a location where they could find him, and while waiting, he used his time well. We do not know, but Jesus thought they should have known to look for him in the temple. Where he slept, we do not know.

"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?" (v. 49). It was necessary, Jesus said, that he would be doing the work of God. Jesus was referring to his heavenly Father and his divine mission, "but they did not understand what he was saying to them" (v. 50). They knew their child was the Messiah, that he had a special mission, but they did not know the details of how he would do his work. There was a bit of mystery to this child—but Jesus knew what he had to do.

His time had not yet come, so "he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (vv. 51-52).

Questions for application

• Joseph and Mary set a good example of obedience (vv. 22-24). Although the law they obeyed is obsolete, their attitude is still exemplary. Am I as dedicated to God as they were?

• How well do I respect the spiritual service of elderly saints?

• Have I experienced pain as well as salvation from Jesus Christ? (v. 35)

• Do I have a sense of mission like Jesus did? (v. 49) What am I dedicated to?

• Do I grow in favor with God and with other people? (v. 52) Is it sometimes necessary to have less favor?

Michael Morrison

Copyright © 2002 Worldwide Church of God

GRANDVILLE, Michigan—Sunday, Nov. 24, the New Life in Christ congregations in Muskegon and Grandville, Michigan, pastored by Sam Butler, each conducted cultivating events where they invited friends and family to come for a Thanksgiving worship service and meal.

"At the 2002 regional conferences, we’ve been asking all our congregations to conduct ‘cultivating’ events as congregations or as small groups within congregations," said Ted Johnston, district superintendent.

"In planning for these events they followed the strategy we’ve been teaching that emanates from the Sonlife disciplemaking model," Mr. Johnston said. "They considered the target audience they hoped to reach, established their work goals accordingly and then sought God’s direction and intervention in accordance with their faith goals for the event. Their plan was to reach the spiritually disenfranchised former WCG members and other disconnected, but religiously inclined, people."

The results were dramatic. Attendance in Muskegon swelled from about 17 to 52, and in Grandville from about 50 to 150. They plan to follow up with those not attached to a church, inviting them to a similar Christmas themed "cultivating" event.

"I am deeply grateful for the leadership that Sam and his leaders provide and for the enthusiasm and willing participation of the members," Mr. Johnston said. "Particularly gratifying is their abiding trust in God, their passion for Jesus and his gospel, and their willingness to step out with intentionality in making disciples that make disciples: seeking the lost, building believers, equipping workers and multiplying and sending leaders. They are off and running!"

FORT WORTH PASTOR—Tom Pickett at
Billy Graham mission. [Dallas Morning News
photo by Richard Michael Pruitt]

IRVING, Texas—The Billy Graham Mission, Oct. 17 to 20, reached out to the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex with the simple, but powerful message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The first organizational meeting took place Jan. 24 at Texas Stadium. Fort Worth and Dallas WCG members were present (see December WN). The vision of the Mission was cast to the hundreds of pastors, ministers and staff personnel who were there representing the Christian church throughout the Metroplex. Nine months later that vision became a reality.

Popular music artists headlined the event: CeCe Winans, Caedmon’s Call, Jaci Velasquez, Randy Travis, Kirk Franklin, dc Talk, Michael W. Smith and the Bill Gaither Vocal Band.

Then Billy Graham came on stage to do what he has done for 54 years. He sincerely and powerfully expressed the love of God through the gospel message.

Fort Worth and Dallas members participated in many training seminars, which included the Life and Witnessing Course. WCG members served as counselors to those who responded to Dr. Graham’s call to the gospel, sang in the 5,000 member choir, ushered or responded to office related tasks after each meeting.

On Saturday morning, Oct. 19, a Kidz Gig was directed to the preteens, and on Saturday night attention was directed to the teens and young adults with a Concert for the NeXt Generation.

The vision that was cast in January also included the Body of Jesus Christ coming together as his church to present the gospel in unity and love. That happened with more than 1,120 churches, representing 38 denominations, coming together to advance the kingdom of heaven. Tom Pickett.

The church announced the following ministerial ordinations.

Jean and Bessie Leprohon, Montreal, Quebec, English.

Steve and Nicole Posiak, Montreal, Quebec, English, and Plattsburgh, New York.

Johan van Greunen, Krugersdorp and Klerksdorp, South Africa.

Elmar and Oddette Roberg, Krugersdorp and Klerksdorp, South Africa.

DOUGLASVILLE, Georgia—Christ’s Ambassadors Community Church, the WCG congregation in Douglasville, which meets each Sunday in a community park conference room, found itself in a dilemma a few months ago when the city government raised rent nearly 50 percent for use of park facilities.

"We knew that at this higher rate it would not be the best use of funds for us to continue to meet at this location," said Pastor Donald Madlena.

"After much prayer and consideration, we decided to go to a worship schedule of every other Sunday to save on expenses," Mr. Madlena said. When we went to the park office to reserve the conference room for the next few months, we found that the only dates available and not already reserved by someone else were the exact days we needed to go to the every-other-week schedule."

However, this left the congregation with the decision of where they would worship on the other Sundays. Staying at home was not an option.

"We considered visiting other denominations, but what we really wanted was to worship and fellowship within our WCG family," Mr. Madlena said. "After all, one of the identifying marks of our church through the years has been our love one for another."

This was the answer. As Jesus’ disciples, the members knew they would feel at home with other WCG congregations. After consulting with Allan Barr, district superintendent, they were given the locations of several other small WCG congregations within a reasonable distance of Douglasville.

As they continued to pray and plan for their new worship schedule, they began to see a new vision emerge for their local congregation—a vision to reach out to each other in love and fellowship.

"We have met some wonderful people who share with us the same love for Christ and the new covenant," Mr. Madlena said. Faye Bates.

PORTLAND, Oregon—The Portland West congregation combined with members of their host church (Sunset Covenant) to remember the events of Sept. 11. Pastor Jason Knudeson of Sunset Covenant welcomed the gathering of more than 100 attendees. The area fire station and police force sent representatives to present the flag and to address the assembly. Bruce Starr, an Oregon state representative, also spoke.

Musicians of both congregations performed patriotic music, and the congregation joined in singing "God Bless America." Pastor Dan Fricke gave the reassuring promise that no matter what the future holds, Jesus Christ is our hope.

Speakers emphasized patriotism, camaraderie and devotion to duty. The fireman’s comments took on emphatic meaning when the firemen were called to leave in the midst of the service to answer a fire alarm.

Remembering the events of Sept. 11, 2001 gave us serious pause, but a strong sense of family was the gratifying result. Morgan Tovey.

GHANA—Christianity is evident.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa— I was in Ghana on a business trip July 22 to 26. Though the country has considerable poverty, the countryside is beautiful, lush and tropical. Even more beautiful are the people, who are gentle and friendly toward foreigners, going out of their way to assist where possible. The crime rate is low.

I traveled for about a week through the main city, Accra, and many other small towns. I had a driver so I enjoyed just looking out of the car window at the scenery and the countryside.

What struck me most about Ghana were the names of many of the little shops and businesses. Almost half of them had names such as Jesus Is Lord Elect