MELBOURNE, Australia—Doug and Marg Lewis from Mooroolbark Christian Fellowship in Victoria were honored Dec. 2 as the Boystown Australian Family of the Year.

They were presented with the award by John Landy, governor of Victoria, at a ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The presentation received coverage in the national print, radio and television media.

The Lewises, who serve on the Mooroolbark pastoral team and pastor the Solomon Islands members, were chosen from 1,350 nominees after being nominated by their five children.

Since 1967 the Lewises have cared for more than 60 foster children as well as raising five of their own children, two of whom were adopted. They have also provided support to young women released from prison and have been hosts for aboriginal children during school holidays.

"Families provide food and shelter for each other," said Mr. Landy during the presentation. "They provide comfort and they provide compassion, but most of all they give love and commitment to each family member. Today, we are all here to pay tribute to a particular family that has not only helped its own members, but one that has helped countless others."

Brother Ken Ormerod of BoysTown, a branch of De La Salle Brothers, described the Lewises as an inspiration. "This couple has clearly lived by the motto it is better to give than to receive," he said. "Despite all the challenges that come from raising one’s own family, Doug and Marg have reached out to people from all walks of life in times of need. They are ordinary people with an extraordinary tale to tell."

"It’s just a wonderful honor to receive this award," Mr. Lewis said. "It’s a wonderful honor to have our children honor us in this way."

The Lewises were interviewed by the national media and explained that their fundamental philosophy as "to live is to give."

About 100 family and friends attended the presentation ceremony, which was followed by several days of media commitments. Aub Warren.

MELBOURNE, Victoria, Australia—Over the years Peterpaul Raymakers has shared his singing talents in church services and concerts. Now he has released his first CD, titled Near You, a collection of praise and worship songs designed to encourage and inspire others on their Christian journey.

"The main aim of my CD is to glorify God, his plan in us, the love we can have if we accept Christ," Peterpaul said.

Geoff Miller of Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, wrote many of the songs on the album. "I had written many songs and hymns without really any great words until I met with Geoff," Peter said. "His words are amazing and lyrical. He feels the emotion and mood of my music and can so carefully evoke the right words to suit. Our first work of art together was "Awesome God of Wonders," which appears on the album."

The CD can be purchased through major Christian bookshops in Australia. For more information visit the website www.peterpaul.org The site provides information about the album including song titles, lyrics and song samples. Aub Warren.

BIG BEAR, California—A Disciples of Jesus retreat for marrieds and singles, ages 20 through 40, will take place at the California Summer Educational Program in Big Bear, July 6 to 12.

Those who attend this weeklong retreat will focus on becoming committed disciples of Jesus Christ and receive training in ministry leadership. As well you will be able to enjoy praise and worship, the high ropes challenge course and all the other sports and recreational activities available. The retreat will take place at Cedar Lake Camp, a 270-acre retreat at an elevation of 7,000 feet in Big Bear. It has its own private lake and canoes.

Alabaster Box leads praise and worship at Pasadena NewLife

PRAISE AND WORSHIP—Alabaster Box Christian
worship group from Australia. [Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]

PASADENA—Alabaster Box, one of the top Christian worship groups in Australia, led praise and worship at NewLife Fellowship Feb. 2.

The Australian group was on a U.S. tour that culminated in a recording session in Nashville, Tennessee. As part of their tour, they also led worship at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Christian Assembly in Eagle Rock, and Harvest Rock in Pasadena. For more information, visit their website at www.alabasterbox.com

EVANGELISM EXPLOSION—Class starts for
NewLife members. [Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]

PASADENA—Pasadena’s NewLife Fellowship started another 13 week semester of Evangelism Explosion classes Feb. 1.

Pastor Bermie Dizon and assistant pastor Mervin Walton teach the classes. The first class graduated June 16. Graduates are Linda Laureles, Carmel Dizon, Jayson Ferrer, Raul and Sylvia Ramos, Carolina Thompson, Marianne Maninang, Ronald and Rayminda Sunga and Sheila Rowley.

Mr. Ramos, pastor of the Pasadena Spanish congregation, said: "EE is just a tool, but it gives you a message to lead someone to Christ from beginning to end."

For the Los Angeles class, which graduated Dec. 14, Mr. Dizon and Mr. Walton were assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Ramos, and Ed Green, Los Angeles evangelism director, who had taken the certification training.

Mr. Green said: "EE shaped my life. It has enlightened me to the gospel of Jesus Christ. I have decided to devote the rest of my life to presenting the gospel and making it a way of life."

The Los Angeles class graduates are Lauretha Garbutt, Carmelita Dizon, Clifton Tracy, Ann Macklin, Ron Greene, Mariah Thompson, Felix Johnson, Margaret Churchill, Gladys Woodcox, Mark Bolduc, Micah Royal and Geraldine Nelson. Two members from the Pasadena Spanish congregation also graduated: Steve Ramos and Edgar Robleto.

Mrs. Churchill, who is in her 70s, led two prostitutes to Christ with the knowledge gained from the evangelism training. Melba Johnson, who sat in on the classes, led a 100-year-old female neighbor to Christ. Two weeks later, the new convert died of old age.

"The trainers and trainees evangelized 45 people during the 13 weeks of training, and 25 people received eternal life through their acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord," Mr. Walton said.

JACKSON, Tennessee—Cynthia Frazier White, Virginia Frazier Odom and Daniel Johnson were baptized at the Jackson church, Sunday, Feb. 2.

Afterward, Pastor Wayne Wendt called the three to the front of the room and encouraged the congregation to gather around. He told the three that it is especially gratifying to have those who grew up in the church and had left for a while to return and request baptism. He apologized for the errors of the past.

During the many hugs and good wishes, worship leaders began singing, "Glorify Thy Name," and everyone joined in as they returned to their seats. With much joy and even a "Hallelujah!" the closing prayer was offered by Gladys Anderson. Peggy McIntosh.

JACKSONVILLE, Florida—"We had our first regular Sunday church service in Jacksonville, Jan. 12, and all went well," said Pastor Marty Davey.

Attendance was 108, an increase from the 2002 average of 95. Eighteen visitors attended.

BELOIT, Wisconsin—Pastor John Bailey received the Blackburn Award for his work at the Janet Wattles substance and crisis center in Rockford, Illinois. Mr. Bailey works with the girls in the group home.

The Blackburn Award is given to the employee who "shows dedication to improving solutions through high quality, efficient and effective mental health services and education."

Many say that Mr. Bailey is "a big man with a gentle, direct approach." He’s "warm," and "John laughs often and takes great joy in life, inspiring others to do the same." Mr. Bailey said of himself: "God has blessed me in being able to work with the families. He has allowed me to use godly principles. You never know how God is going to use you to make an impact on a person’s life, and God has enabled me to do so." Sarah Schnoor.

ORLANDO, Florida—More than 330 people attended the Orlando regional conference Dec. 6 to 8. The meetings took place in the Renaissance Orlando Hotel.

Speakers and presentations were Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers, on "Vision" and "The Everyday Commission," Pastor General Joseph Tkach on "Got Leadership?" and "Where Are We Now in Prophecy?" and Carn Catherwood, South Central district superintendent, on "The Importance of Good Worship."

Several breakout sessions covered "Designing a Worship Service," by Gerald Scharrenberger, Rocky Mountain district superintendent; "Be Who You Are in Ministry" (Women in Ministry) by Pat Shaw of Church Administration; "Disciplemaking Principles for Children’s Ministry" by Nancy Akers of Church Administration; "Local Financial Management" by Charles Albrecht, Church Administration budget manager; and "Local Youth Ministry" by Bob Persky, Florida district superintendent, and Marty Davey, Jacksonville, Florida, and Brunswick, Georgia, pastor.

Guest speaker Dan Southerland, author of the book Transitioning, spoke on "Getting in on What God Is Doing." Bob Persky.

BURLESON, Texas—The Ministerial Alliance in Burleson is moving toward unity in the Body of Jesus Christ.

The 2003 president is Gary Rubendall, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Burleson. The pastors of Christian Family Life Church in Fort Worth and Burleson Christian Fellowship, a WCG congregation, agreed to have a special service at Calvary Baptist called "A Celebration of Unity Among God’s People."

The three congregations gathered on Wednesday, Jan. 15, to share their faith and worship together.

Charles Dorsett, pastor of Christian Family Life Church, led the 150 people in attendance in praises to our Lord and Savior, Jesus. They then collected an offering to fund the Food Aid Program at Christian Family Life Church.

Tom Pickett, pastor of Burleson Christian Fellowship, gave the first message on "The Unity of the Christian Body," and then Mr. Rubendall gave a message on "One God, One Jesus, One Spirit, One Family."

The Angels, a girls group from Christian Family Life Church, performed two worshipful and inspiring dances during the service. The service concluded with more worshipful praise music and two baptisms (one from Calvary and one from Christian Family Life).

"The fellowship that followed was especially sweet," Mr. Pickett said. "With two of the congregations being white and one being black, we had a joyous sense of the oneness we have in Christ. By the time the evening was coming to a close, we had come into the oneness of the Spirit, which is in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ."

SAYRE, Oklahoma—In 2002, the Circle of Love Fellowship and the monthly Interdenominational Prayer Group became part of a coupon program.

This program by the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Auxiliary is designed to help military families overseas with their grocery budgets. Clipped coupons that can be used six months past the expiration date are sent to participating commissaries around the world.

In 2002, the Sayre groups sent 7,500 coupons, which included a personal message of appreciation to the families for their sacrifice to our nation. Thank you notes have been received from England, Japan, Germany and Iceland.

"We are happy we can contribute in this small way to these families," said coordinator Shirley West. Ben and Shirley West.

MISSOULA, Montana—The Missoula congregation aids an area gospel mission called Missoula 3:16. The mission provides hot meals, clothing items and grocery packs for those in need, as well as Christian fellowship and a place to warm up during the cold winter months.

The mission’s motto is "Taking Jesus to the Streets." Worldwide Church of God members have provided hot lunches once a month for more than a year, and on Thanksgiving day helped serve a hot breakfast to about 170 people. The event was sponsored by the gospel mission with help from many sources including a number of church groups and civic clubs. Jessica Wallace, a WCG member, provided piano music.

The largest demand faced by Missoula 3:16 is during the holiday season, and this year church members helped provide goods for more than 200 Christmas gift packs. The packs included basic necessities such as gloves, long underwear, toothpaste, washcloths and hand towels. These gifts were distributed during a dinner where 316 people were fed.

Missoula 3:16 is a Christian- based mission that meets the standards of the Association of Gospel Rescue Missions. We are thankful that God has opened this door and that we can assist in spreading the gospel by living the words of Hebrews 13:16 by doing good and sharing with others. Sandra Anattol.

AUSTIN, Texas—Did you know that more Christians are persecuted today for their beliefs than at any other time in history?

On Oct. 26 and 27, Tom Trimble, regional representative for Voice of the Martyrs, spoke to the Waco and Austin, Texas, WCG congregations. Voice of the Martyrs is an interdenominational and international Christian organization dedicated to assisting the persecuted church worldwide.

Mr. Trimble brought an eye-opening and heartrending presentation of the stories and pictures of those worldwide who suffer in faith and joy through heavy trials for the gospel of Jesus Christ. While Christians in some parts of the world are able to worship God in freedom, millions of other Christians live in daily fear of having their livelihoods ruined, their homes invaded or their families assaulted. Many are imprisoned and many are killed—just for being Christians.

Someone has said that Jesus came to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable," and the presentation by Mr. Trimble definitely afflicted our mental state of comfortableness. We were given faces and stories to personalize the daily sacrifices made by our Christian brothers and sisters around the world, and we came to better understand the overwhelming joy and comfort of knowing Jesus Christ above all else.

If you would like to learn more about Voice of the Martyrs or to inquire about a speaker coming to your area, contact Voice of the Martyrs, P.O. Box 443, Bartlesville, Oklahoma, 74005; telephone 1-800-747-0085; www.persecution.com Lee Berger.

WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Canada—The Winnipeg festival site is offering special early registration benefits this year. All the major activities are free (more than $40 value per person), for those members who register by April 30.

The festival will take place Oct. 10 to 18.

For more information visit the Winnipeg church’s website at www.wcg.org/churches/can/winnipeg/, send e-mail to coordinator Alan Redmond at redmond@ mb.sympatico.ca or call him at 1-204-654-3217.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada—The Las Vegas church, pastored by Tom Melear, was host for Green Valley Baptist Church’s concert ministry "In His Service" Nov. 9. Many visitors and other longtime absent members attended.

Hugh Tyner, lead singer and pastor, created mental images depicting the second coming of Christ in the group’s rendition of "The Midnight Cry."

Tenor Bill Dean spoke to the hearts of the living church with the certainty of God’s intervention in our lives. Sopranos Daphne Fielder, Cindy Ivy, Debbie Massenburg, Lois Foree, Lisa Morrison, Dianne Mason and Lori Able sang of the security of God’s ultimate supremacy over this world.

Basses Kyle Massenburg, Deon Dorsey and Chuck Daulton sang of God’s love for this world. Joe Bernard.

CHICAGO, Illinois—The Women’s Fellowship of the Chicago South/ Southeast church sponsored a school supplies drive for Doolittle West Elementary School in Chicago.

Supplies were collected in June, July and August. The congregation donated supplies sufficient to serve 250 students.

The church has adopted Doolittle and provides support in the form of food, clothing, books, toy donations and prayers. Doolittle West serves students in grades pre-K through fourth grade.

Pastor Willard High received numerous touching letters of thanks from the children. He said: "My wife, Brenda, and I believe strongly that any child can achieve more with loving support than without it. Most often the difference between high achieving children and those who do poorly is that achievers have more family structure with fewer distractions and more loving support."

Elder Eugene Dumas, who was also principal of Doolittle at the time of the donation, said: "A high percentage of the students who attend the school are at or below the poverty level. Despite this, the students recently set an all-time record for reading achievement."

Women involved in the steering committee are Charleda Lane, Felicia Davis, Beverly Katovitch, Brenda High, Marion Richard and Melissa Watson. Brenda C. High.

CHICAGO, Illinois—The Chicago Southside Church will celebrate its 40th anniversary Aug. 29 to 31 at the Oak Brook Marriott in Oak Brook, Illinois.

Special guests will include Dean Blackwell, founding pastor, and Helen Jackson, wife of the late Harold Jackson. Activities will include a Friday evening meet and greet to renew old friendships and begin new ones; a Saturday morning worship service preceded by praise and worship; a Saturday evening semiformal dinner and dance featuring dance music by the Cosmopolitan Band; and a Sunday morning breakfast buffet.

Marriott Hotel group rates for the Chicago Southside 40th anniversary are $89 a night for up to four people in a room. Reservations are open until Aug. 8. Call the hotel at 1-800-228-9290.

Packages including meet and greet, dinner dance and breakfast buffet are $75 for adults, $60 ages 13 to 18, $30 children 12 and younger, 3 and younger are free. Activities will be available for youths.

Send payments to Willard High, Chicago 40th Anniversary, P.O. Box 306, Matteson, Illinois, 60443. If you have questions call 1-708-748-3074. Make checks payable to "Chicago South Church." The payment deadline is July 25.

Adults, please specify entree choice of roast cornish hen, grilled rib eye steak or pan roasted pike. The youth plate is chicken fingers or cheeseburger with side orders. Please give us the number of adults, children 12 and younger and 3 and younger in your party. We hope you will join us for this joyous celebration.

Chicago Southside 40th Anniversary Reservation

Name:

Last First

Address:

Street City State Zip

Telephone: ( )

Number of 40th Anniversary Packages* in Your Group

* Includes – Meet & Greet, Dinner & Dance, Breakfast Brunch

 

$75 – Adults (19 & up) [ ] Crn. Hen [ ] Steak [ ] Pike . . Cost: $

$60 – Teens (13-18) [ ] Crn. Hen [ ] Steak [ ] Pike . . Cost: $

$30 – Child (12 under) Chicken Finger Meal . . . . . . . . . Cost: $

Total number of persons in your group . . . . . . . . Total Cost: $

Send payments to Willard High, Box 306, Matteson, Illinois, 60443

Payable to "Chicago South Church" – questions 1-708-748-3074

1-800-228-9290—Oak Brook Marriott Hotel $89/night—7/25/03 Deadline

 

 

Atlanta, Georgia, congregation to celebrate 40th anniversary

ATLANTA, Georgia—The Atlanta congregation will celebrate its 40th anniversary Sunday, May 25, at the Georgia International Convention Center, College Park, Georgia. Everyone is invited to attend. The commemoration will begin with a praise and worship service at 11. The featured speaker will be Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers. The celebration will culminate with a banquet dinner and dance at 6:30.

The cost is $40 per person ($10 per child age 10 and younger). Checks should be made payable to the Local Church Activity Fund—Atlanta and mailed to Pastor Charles Young, P.O. Box 491059, College Park, Georgia, 30349. We apologize, as we are unable to provide on-site registration because we need to have an accurate count for the caterer. The deadline for your response is April 15.

 

Big Sandy observes Black History month

By Donna Jones

BIG SANDY, Texas—New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Big Sandy took advantage of Black History Month to reach out to our black neighbors. Before services on the first Sunday in February, as a symbol of our love and our appreciation for all they are doing, members from our congregation took trays of cookies to the four black churches in our community.

During the month, pastors from two of the churches, Pastor Linzie Bowie and Pastor P.R. Moore and his associate Roger Strickaland were invited to give sermons at New Beginnings.

In our weekly church bulletin, we recognized the contributions blacks have made to our society. The first weekend, we focused on the changing face of black leadership in America. The last three weekends of the month were used to profile three of our area black ministers and community leaders, one of whom also served as mayor of Big Sandy. (He was only the second black mayor to be elected in Texas.)

Each man was interviewed and a brief biography was printed in the bulletin, along with their comments about what motivated them to reach their goals and to serve their community. These pastors are joining with us in preparation for a citywide revival.

We are thankful for the rich heritage our black brethren bring to our community, and to America.

Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2003