May 2003 Contents

This is our May cover.

In this Issue

Pastor General

Someone once asked Jesus which command was the most important. He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." But who is able to keep this commandment completely? asks Pastor General Joseph Tkach. Page 6.

Mormons

Paul Trask, a former minister in the Reorganized Latter Day Saints church (RLDS), met with J. Michael Feazell and Michael Morrison, March 10. Mr. Trask has a ministry to help free RLDS Mormons from Mormonism. Page 8.

Conference

Church Administration conducted its first regional conference of 2003 for ministers and members from the Southwest district April 3 to 6 at the Embassy Suites hotel in Covina, writes editor Tom Hanson. Page 12.

Hispanic churches

This is a costly but wonderful story of how a splinter cultish-organization was able to make the journey from heresy to orthodoxy, writes Lorenzo Arroyo, Hispanic district superintendent. Page 13.

Youth Ministry

The great joy of those who minister to children, teens and college-age young adults is seeing them in fellowship with God and with the community of Christ’s body, the church, writes Ted Johnston, co-director of the national youth ministry development team. Page 16.

Discipleship

If we are going to live with God forever, we will also be living with each other forever. We were designed not for eternal isolation, but for living together and interacting with one another, writes Michael Morrison. Life’s greatest joys come in our relationships with other people. Page 24.

Christianity and Science

David Wilkinson is one of a rare breed—an ordained minister and an astrophysicist. Our British magazine talked with Dr. Wilkinson about the challenge of reconciling science and faith. He talked about making the truth of the Christian faith relevant to the concerns and interests of people today. Page 26.

Financial Report

After two months of contribution increases, regular mail donations took a bit of a drop in March, writes controller Ronald Kelly. Donations in March were just under $1.5 million, while last year, March donations were right at $1.9 million. Page 29.

Property Sale

Pasadena city planning staff presented the Ambassador campus predevelopment plan to the city council March 2, writes Mathew Morgan. The meeting was designed to keep the council informed of larger developments beginning the entitlement process. Page 31.

Dean Blackwell:
1931 to 2003

LONGVIEW, Texas—The Worldwide Church of God lost a treasure when longtime minister Dean Blackwell, 71, went home to be with the Lord, his late wife, Maxine, and oldest daughter Gina, at 8 a.m., Monday, April 14. Maxine died Dec. 13 (February WN).

Mr. Blackwell suffered a series of strokes and was hospitalized beginning March 14. He was taken home for hospice care April 9.

A memorial service for Mr. Blackwell is scheduled for May 4 at 2 p.m. at the New Beginnings Christian Fellowship Church in Big Sandy. Carn Catherwood, district superintendent, will perform the service.

Dean Blackwell was born Oct. 12, 1931, in Longview, Texas. He grew up in East Texas and attended Kilgore High School, and 3¹/2 years at Texas A&M, which he left early to fulfill God’s calling for him at Ambassador College.

He enrolled in Ambassador College in Pasadena in 1952. He and Maxine were married June 16, 1953, in the first wedding conducted in the meeting facility on the church property in Big Sandy. Dean graduated from Ambassador College in 1954.

Mr. Blackwell worked for the WCG for 50 years, and moved 24 times during that time. He retired in 1996 and he and Maxine returned to their native Texas. He took a part-time job at Dillards department store in Longview, mainly to help support the denomination financially.

Mr. Blackwell raised up and pastored the Big Sandy church in the summer of 1953. After he graduated from Ambassador College, he pastored the Eugene and Portland, Oregon, churches, 120 miles apart, in 1954 and 1955. Salem, Oregon, was added in 1955-56, and Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell went to all three churches every weekend, a 340-mile circuit.

Mr. Blackwell pastored the Chicago, Illinois, and St. Louis, Missouri, churches, 300 miles apart, in 1956-57. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was added in 1957-58, and they handled all three churches every weekend, an 850-mile circuit.

As district superintendent for the northern Midwest district, he supervised about 25 churches, including Denver, Colorado, the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana and Michigan. As pastor of the easternmost church at that time, he handled funerals, weddings, counseling and problems in places including Canada, New York, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Kansas City became his district center in 1966, and he pastored two churches there and added St. Joseph, Missouri, and Topeka, Kansas, to the more than 22 churches in the district.

He began teaching at Ambassador College in Big Sandy in 1972 and stayed there for five years, pastoring the Big Sandy church as well.

A three-church circuit awaited the Blackwells in 1978-79—Midland-Odessa, Abilene and San Angelo, Texas—a 310-mile circuit each weekend.

The Blackwells moved to Pasadena in 1979, and Mr. Blackwell taught at Ambassador College, seniors at Imperial Schools, a Bible class for members and pastored the Pasadena congregation.

In 1985 the Blackwells moved to the Philippines so he could teach the ministers there.

In 1986 they returned to Pasadena, and Mr. Blackwell visited pastors in various areas. He was on the road 224 days, 198 days, 170 days and 212 days during the next four years. Mr. Blackwell earned a master of arts degree in religion in 1997. He was to teach at Ambassador University, but it was closed.

After retiring and moving to Texas, Mr. Blackwell taught a weekly discipleship class in the Longview church, gave a Bible study in Big Sandy each month for 20 to 25 senior citizens, preached regularly in Longview, Tyler and Texarkana, Texas, attended regional conferences in Dallas, served on the WCG board of directors, the Advisory Council of Elders, and a few other boards of the church.

He made visits to churches in Kansas City by bus, and Peoria and Chicago, Illinois, Appleton and Wausau, Wisconsin, and northern Indiana by train.

Mr. Blackwell is survived by daughters Rhonda Massey and her husband, Preston; Bonnie Hackman and her husband, Neil; a son, Jeff and his wife, Pat; grandsons Brent and Brian Hackman; and Jordan Martz; a granddaughter, Michelle Massey; three brothers and their wives, Lowell and Margaret Blackwell, Tom Blackwell, and Mike and Carol Blackwell; one sister, Bonnie Hughes; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine, and a daughter, Gina Martz.

Among my fondest recollections of Dean Blackwell are the monthly trips to Blackhawks hockey and Bulls basketball games that he used to take kids in the Chicago, Illinois, church to when I was about 9 years old.

The car trips to and from the games were always filled with great conversations about kids’ interests and the big questions of life. Dean’s devoted interest in building confidence and faith in young people were part of what forged a friendship between us that lasted from then on.

It wasn’t a surprise when I was dating Tammy to discover that she was baptized by Dean. He showed the same interest in young people wherever he served. Much of my life, I referred to him as Uncle Dean, because he and Maxine became close friends of our family.

He once said it was a blessing to his ears and heart to hear me call him Uncle Dean. One of the impressive features of Dean’s life was how Jesus worked in him. Dean never felt as though he was too old to learn. While he was in his late 60s, he went back to college to earn an accredited master of arts in theology degree at Azusa Pacific University.

Over the years, he also helped countless members come out of the errors of Armstrongism. I praise God for this example.

Joseph Tkach
Pastor General

My big brother Dean Blackwell was one of the most loving and kind people I’ve ever known. With only two years between us, he treated me like his twin who had died at birth. We did so many fun things together, including answering God’s call to serve in his ministry. Even in that, he led the way!

Dean was like a shining star in that regard. He had a special gift of warming and encouraging everyone he met. God used him mightily to call and help thousands come to know Christ and to give their lives to him.

In the past month we’ve had dozens of people tell us how much he and Maxine helped them. God bless the two of them! I know they are joyously in his wonderful presence.

Lowell Blackwell
Nixa, Missouri

Dean Blackwell was 14 years older than me. By the time I was school age he was already at Texas A&M.

I used to go to Chicago each summer to spend time with Dean and Maxine. I remember the long St. Louis to Chicago to Milwaukee church circuit he used to make every week. We would leave Chicago early Friday morning to go to St. Louis. In St. Louis we would generally go to a park where he would finish his sermon for Friday evening (the hall was across the street from the old St. Louis Cardinals stadium).

After services and visiting (about 11 p.m.) we would leave for Chicago, sometimes stopping en route for a few hours, sometimes going all the way back (this was pre-interstate highway days).

Then it was off to the service in Chicago on Saturday morning, and with a lunch packed by some of the women in the church, on to Milwaukee for the service that afternoon.

Saturday night was Spokesman Club in Milwaukee, then a trip back to Chicago, a quick night’s sleep and Spokesman Club in Chicago on Sunday. He made this circuit for several years (while at the same time serving as district superintendent).

Dean told me once that of all the areas in which he had served, the most beneficial was probably the years he taught at Ambassador, teaching the upperclassmen service to God.

He was an example of this service whether it was at Ambassador College, in the ministry in the United States, serving at Pasadena, or teaching ministers in the Philippines, Tonga and Fiji. He and Maxine made friends everywhere they went, all over the world. His service and dedication will be sorely missed by many people around the world, including those of us in his family!

Mike Blackwell
Springfield, Missouri

When Dean was young he was quite the outdoorsman. He was an Eagle scout and played football in high school. In 1949 he entered Texas A&M. After his junior year he felt God wanted him as one of his servants, so he left A&M and went to Ambassador College. Our dad was chagrined at first, but later was pleased with Dean’s devotion to a higher calling.

Dean remained faithful to that devotion all his life and was a strong influence on many others to live a life of integrity. He had a way with words and was always encouraging. He could see the bright side of almost any situation. I always felt better after talking to Dean. I shall miss him a lot.

Tom Blackwell
Harrison, Arkansas

Dean Blackwell was my uncle. I have great memories of his love, kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity, and most of all his love for God and his people.

When visiting Uncle Dean and Aunt Maxine as a child, I remember the big "Texas" bear hugs we got from him. And then he’d always squeeze my cheeks and call me Susie.

When I moved to Pasadena to start Ambassador College as a part-time student, they asked me to stay with them, and treated me just like their daughter. When I became full-time at Ambassador, I not only popped over to visit them all the time, but Uncle Dean loved it when I brought friends with me.

They were soon asked to call him Uncle Dean. I think all my friends and roommates called him Uncle Dean after that. And he always gave them Texas bear hugs—big teddy bear hugs where you feel safe and loved. Uncle Dean always amazed me at how he could remember all the students’ names, even if he’d only met them once. He sure had a great love for people.

Any time I brought new friends over to meet Uncle Dean and Aunt Maxine, they always got a tour of their house and then his library. Uncle Dean had so many books, and I think he had them catalogued or memorized, because he knew where they were. And if he thought of one that might be of help to someone, he would find it and write a note on the inside cover, sign it and give it to them. Aunt Maxine told me that he would find old bookstores and be there all day and come back with an armful to add to his growing collection. He loved to read.

And, boy, did he know his Bible! Most of us remember how well when it came to his sermons. We would tease him all the time about his marathon sermons. He would laugh with us, too. He was so full of good information on the Bible, and was so excited to share it, he would forget about the time. If I needed to know where something was in the Bible, I just asked Uncle Dean, and he found it in just a few minutes at most. He had such a love for God’s Word.

Uncle Dean was definitely a family man. After his daughter Bonnie got married and moved away, he and Aunt Maxine were a little lost. But they just "adopted" our family along with quite a few others, and became grandpa to all our kids. My kids even got to where they would call him grandpa Dean when they were little. He and my dad, Lowell, looked quite similar.

The last day I saw Uncle Dean and Aunt Maxine was the day we moved from California to Tennessee for my husband Gary’s new pastorship. The movers had come and gone, we were loaded up and ready to head out, and Uncle Dean and Aunt Maxine showed up with lunch.

One of his favorite spots was In-and-Out Burger, and he knew we loved it, too. We sat on the floor of the living room with them and ate our lunch while Uncle Dean pulled out of a bag some neat little toys and gifts he had gotten from China Town, which the kids loved. (They were always getting little gifts for all the kids. They both had hearts of gold!)

And then we left California with more Texas bear hugs. I will miss them both, but I look forward to seeing them again when Christ returns, and I’m going to get a bunch of those Texas bear hugs from Uncle Dean.

Susan Blackwell Endres
Kingsport, Tennessee

Mr. Blackwell had a wonderful practice of giving people a book on special occasions in their lives.

One of the special treasures that my wife, Victoria, and I cherish is a small book of poems by Edgar Best in which Mr. Blackwell wrote a thoughtful note on the occasion of the birth of our first child, Jeff.

Mr. Blackwell touched many lives in beautiful ways and will be much missed and remembered.

Mike Feazell
National Publications director

My wife, Karen, and I will always remember Dean Blackwell as a warm and positive man. I had the privilege of working with him on the Ambassador College faculty, and know that many former students have fond memories of him. One pastor recently told me that the only reason he is still in the ministry is because of Dean Blackwell’s encouragement. Dean Blackwell will be missed, leaving a wonderful legacy of service and ministry.

G. R. AIbrecht

More tributes will be printed in the next issue.

The Greatest Commandment

Someone once asked Jesus which command was the most important. He answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:36-38). Our relationship with God ought to be characterized by complete devotion.

But who is able to keep this commandment completely? We all fall short. Yet in his grace, God not only forgives our failure, but also transforms us and works in us to make us righteous in Christ.

The fact that we fall short leads us to appreciate God’s mercy and grace all the more. Without grace, we could not hope for a victorious life in Christ, for on our own, we are helpless to live in the love of God. But grace gives us hope and meaning in our walk with Christ. Grace encourages us to live in Christ, because it teaches us that righteousness is God’s gift to us in his Son (Titus 2:11-14).

Even while we were enemies, God sent his Son to die and be raised for us. God’s indescribable generosity toward us gives us reason and motivation to love him.

We gratefully give our lives in willing service to God, not out of the demands of law, but out of his love in us. Demands never produce love. Love produces love. God gave himself for us because he loves us, and our response is rooted in his love, not in his law, which could never save us (Romans 3:20-26).

Through no goodness of our own, we have been rescued from death and given eternal life. The more we realize how much God loves us, even though we deserve death, the more we are thankful for his grace, and the more glad we are to live for him. The more we know God, the more we love him, because he lives in us. "We love because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19).

There is no limit to the love God has for us, who gave us his own Son in whom we have died to sin and now live in righteousness. "If you love me," Jesus said, "you will obey what I command" (John 14:15). If we know Christ, we obey his commands (1 John 2:3-4).

Jesus did not say, "If you obey me, then you will love me." It never works that way. Obedience does not lead to love. But love does lead to obedience. The more we know Christ and rest in his love, the more we freely obey him. But striving to obey God without first knowing him and trusting in him for love and grace produces guilt, frustration and a judgmental heart.

Obedience is the fruit of knowing God for who he really is—the one who loves us unconditionally and who places his love in us through Christ.

John wrote: "This is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love" (2 John 6). Obedience to God springs from love. That’s why love is the greatest commandment.

Obedience grows in the garden of God’s love. Knowing God and trusting him to love us despite our sins, as he has already proven in Christ (Romans 5:10), motivates us to obey him.

The greatest commandment tells us that love should motivate everything we do. And yet we fall short in our motives. Sometimes we do right for the wrong reason. Perhaps we are afraid of what the neighbors might think, or what other Christians might think, or what the pastor might think. We want others to think well of us, so we do right, but our motive is essentially self-centered.

Sometimes we do right because we think God will punish us if we don’t. That may be true (he chastens every child he loves), but it is a substandard motive for obeying our Creator. This is like the obedience a slave gives.

Other people do the right thing because they think they’ll be blessed for it—they obey because they think God is paying them to do it. Their relationship with God is like that of a servant instead of a member of the family. It’s better than not obeying at all, but it is less than the love relationship, the intimate fellowship with him, that God wants for us.

If we are in Christ, if our faith is in him, then we are acceptable to God. "There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).

God’s grace is sufficient. We may fall 490 times, and yet God forgives (and he doesn’t keep count). Sometimes we don’t even know what we are doing, and we don’t realize we need to quit, but God forgives our ignorance.

Is God too merciful? Maybe it seems that way sometimes. The Pharisees thought that Jesus was too merciful. And yet Jesus demanded more than they did. He told his disciples to take up a cross and follow him, to forsake everything and be willing to die for him.

Jesus walked to the cross by himself, forsaken by all his disciples, to die for us. What a precious gift! Though we deny Christ at times, as Peter did, God restores us, as he did Peter.

We are witnesses of Christ, as Peter was, and we sometimes get caught in hypocrisy, as Peter did. But in the end, we have God’s assurance that he is faithful in his undying love for us and that he promises us eternal life in Christ, as he did Peter.

The greatest commandment helps us see the gospel. It tells us that we have an unlimited obligation to the one who is unlimited in his love and grace for us. Our life is a gift of God. The more we know God the more we love him, and the more we love him the more it is our pleasure to serve him and do his will. And his will, of course, is that we love him, that we trust him, that we have faith in him, and that we have eternal fellowship with him in his Son.

Joseph Tkach

Copyright © 1994, 2003 

Former RLDS minister
helps free others from
heresy of Mormonism

Paul Trask, a former minister in the
Reorganized Latter Day Saints church (RLDS),
met with J. Michael Feazell and Michael Morrison,
March 10. Following is a WN interview with Mr. Trask.

Paul Trask: I joined the RLDS church shortly after my wife, Leslie, and I were married in 1970. We were both 19 at the time. Before that I was a Baptist.

Michael Morrison (left) and Paul Track

I joined the RLDS church in relative ignorance of its real theology. I had not yet read the Book of Mormon. I later became active in the church after we had been married about three years. This happened after I was forgiven by the Lord for living a sinful life during my final college years.

After six months of high activity I was "called" to the RLDS Aaronic priesthood as a priest. A year after that I was called to be an elder in their Melchesidek priesthood and asked to be the pastor of their San Francisco, California, congregation.

After my tenure as pastor I was asked to be a counselor to the bishop of the San Francisco Bay Stake. I resigned this position, however, when I realized that most of my formal activity was not very spiritually oriented.

My wife and I went on to be active in RLDS congregations in Michigan and Texas before we moved to Independence, Missouri, where the RLDS church is headquartered.

Shortly after our arrival in Independence, the church experienced a major split over liberal vs. fundamental issues. Our family joined a large number of other fundamental RLDS members by meeting independently, outside the auspices of RLDS leadership.

I went on to be the pastor of the largest of these independent groups in Independence. It was while I was pastor of this independent group that my wife and I finished some of our most troubling research and soul-searching. In anguish, I resigned my position as pastor, and our family left the RLDS church in January 1989, never to return.

Paul Trask: Our family left the RLDS church as we lost faith in Joseph Smith as a prophet of God and in the reliability of his scriptures and doctrines. These are the foundations upon which our faith in the RLDS church was built. Without these fundamental pillars in place, the whole idea of the RLDS church became completely untenable.

I became gravely concerned that we had not only been deceived ourselves, but as a priesthood member and pastor, I had taught countless other people the same deceptions that I had fallen for. I deeply feared that I was seriously misrepresenting the God I loved and thought I was serving so diligently. I felt we were in a house that was on fire; we escaped as quickly as possible.

Paul Trask: In 1983 we became aware that one of Joseph Smith’s books of scripture, the Doctrine & Covenants, had been substantially altered from its original form. I studied this problem carefully and actually conformed my personal copy of this book to the original documents. My goal at this time was to be more "pure" in my personal belief and practice.

I shared my discovery with others as well, with the thought of ultimately reforming the RLDS church back to these original pronouncements. But as I studied the altered documents over the years, it became apparent that we would never really be able to "put Humpty Dumpty back together again"; the damage was too extensive.

Current church structure and practice had been based on the altered documents since 1835. Plus, I encountered major resistance among church members to the whole idea of the Doctrine & Covenants having been altered. Many members simply could not entertain the notion. It was far too much of a stretch for them.

And then in the spring of 1988 I lent some material to a friend of ours written by one of the early church leaders. It exposed and explained some of the mistakes that had been made early in the church’s history, including the alteration of the Doctrine & Covenants.

Our friend had been questioning the church himself, even before reading this material. After he read it, he and his family left the church. I was shocked and flabbergasted. My friend then began giving me things to read, but I told him I was having a hard time being a pastor and reading all of those things!

Soon after this, however, my wife and I for the first time began a critical examination of the Book of Mormon. I expected it to hold up under scrutiny much better than it did. Before long we had discovered a number of major problems for which there did not seem to be any rational answer, except for one: that the Book of Mormon was a fraud.

Paul Trask: The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was originally comprised of Mormons who elected not to follow Brigham Young from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Utah in 1846. They refused to follow Brigham Young for two primary reasons. First, they rejected polygamy, which Brigham Young was still promoting. And second, they strongly believed that Joseph Smith had designated his son, Joseph Smith III, to be his lawful successor as president of the church.

Many of these people stayed behind, and became scattered throughout the Midwest. In the early 1850s a group of these independent congregations came together as a loose "Reorganization." Although initially reticent, Joseph Smith III finally accepted the invitation of this group (which claimed to be a reorganization of his father’s original church) and became their president in 1860.

His mother joined this Reorganization with him. The RLDS church rejected not only polygamy as an unacceptable doctrine, but also a number of other doctrines and practices introduced during the Nauvoo era, such as baptism for the dead, eternal progression and secret temple ceremonies.

Notable factors that set the RLDS church apart from Utah Mormonism are (1) they have continuously had a direct descendant of Joseph Smith as their president (until 1996), (2) Joseph Smith’s widow, Emma Bidamon, joined with them, (3) they own and publish Joseph Smith’s revision of the Bible, the Inspired Version, (4) they were awarded the Kirtland Temple, where a court declared them the legal continuation of Joseph Smith’s original church and (5) they are headquartered in Joseph Smith’s city of Zion—Independence, Missouri—where they completed building their own temple in 1994.

For the past 40 years, however, RLDS leaders have endeavored to move the church gradually away from Latter Day Saint doctrine and identity, while secretively endeavoring to gain acceptance by mainstream Christian leaders. They are doing this while still claiming a belief in Joseph Smith’s spurious scriptures and un-Christian priesthood structure.

In contrast, the genuine gospel of Jesus Christ is still neither understood nor promoted. Beginning in 1984 a number of fundamentalist groups broke away from the RLDS church over these doctrinal issues, most of which have now incorporated as independent churches.

Unshackled by this fundamentalist movement, the surviving RLDS church has become increasingly liberal. Whereas Joseph Smith claimed for his church exclusive truth and authority, today’s RLDS church now openly promotes religious pluralism.

Pluralism wrongly teaches that God authored and is at work in all of the world’s religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam, and that salvation can be found in them all. Pluralism also promotes dialogue among the world’s religions in order to create a high level of tolerance and respect for each others’ religious heritage.

It is in this sense that today’s RLDS leadership continues to identify with the religious heritage left them by Joseph Smith. They no longer claim this heritage as authoritative—as Joseph Smith did. Rather, they claim it as their own unique contribution to the religious fabric of the world, of which they so desperately want to be a part.

This is in stark contrast with their own history, and with Utah Mormonism, which still maintains a firm belief in Joseph Smith and his founding doctrines, including the exclusive authority to represent God on earth.

Paul Trask: When I first left the RLDS church, I just wanted to get it behind me. Yet I still had a love for God, and felt he had called me to ministry. I knew that I had been deceived, and wanted to know the truth about God. So I enrolled in Fuller Seminary in Pasadena. Our family moved to Pasadena, feeling that we would never return to Missouri.

The program at Fuller was so intense that I did not have much time to look back at Joseph Smith, which was just fine with me. After I graduated from Fuller, I was seeking the Lord’s will for myself, and direction for our family.

During this time, my son, Nathaniel, felt that one Sunday sermon was directed at me, that I should use my talents to address the RLDS issue. I was surprised at his response, but continued to ponder if he was right.

Around this time, during my morning devotions, I came across the following passage in Hebrews 7:11: "If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come, one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?"

This passage started a flood of thoughts about Joseph Smith’s priesthood system, and was the genesis for a book I ultimately wrote titled Part Way to Utah: the Forgotten Mormons. A number of other things also began falling into line, and our family decided to return to Independence, Missouri.

While I had entertained the idea of writing a book about the RLDS church, I felt I needed some definite confirmation from the Lord before taking on such a large undertaking. My wife and I prayed one morning for such confirmation.

Later that same day the confirmation came in a most unexpected way. I discussed this confirmation with my wife, and we agreed that I needed to start on the book. I really had no idea how my book would be received, so I started small by printing only 250 copies when it was completed.

These copies were either sold or spoken for before they were ready to be picked up. So I then decided to print a much larger run. Shortly thereafter, the Independence newspaper, the Independence Examiner, ran a story about my book and me. I also did a book signing and got a few bookstores to carry my book. My book was now off and running.

I also taught six chapters of my book on the RLDS priesthood system at a Baptist church, which is supportive of my ministry. To my delight, my book was beginning to have an impact. People were leaving the RLDS church in favor of genuine Christianity. I continue to be thrilled each and every time I get word of someone leaving the deception of Joseph Smith and coming to the Lord by reading my book.

In early 2000 I felt the Lord prompting me to start a website to minister to the RLDS. My brother-in-law and I made some movement in that direction, but it was not ultimately successful. In early 2001 I had some downtime from my consulting work. During this time the Lord impressed upon me again, in the middle of the night, the need to start a website. His prompting was gentle, but firm.

The next day I went out and bought the necessary software. I spent the next two days going through the tutorial to learn how to use it. I then started constructing a website. Within a few weeks I had a website up and running. You can access it at www.help4rlds.com

In the past two years I have seen traffic steadily increase on the website, and I continue to answer numerous e-mails from people who visit the site and have questions or just want to vent their anger at me! I continue to get feedback that the website has filled a void in ministry to the RLDS.

Ministry to the RLDS is not something I ever aspired to. My book came first, and then the website. I sometimes have to pinch myself and acknowledge that I indeed have a ministry going on here. I am gratified as I see people being set free from Joseph Smith.

I know that the Lord is reaching people through the work he has led me to do. And if he wants to bear fruit for himself through my efforts, then I am thrilled to be a part of it.

I am privileged to use the knowledge and information the Lord has provided me to benefit others who are still ensnared in Joseph Smith. I have to be honest, that I was quite an unwilling messenger at first. But the Lord has inspired me to keep with it as I see souls being liberated.

Paul Trask: A while back I picked up a copy of Mike Feazell’s book, The Liberation of the Worldwide Church of God, at a Christian bookstore. As I began reading it, I couldn’t resist underlining certain passages that were reminiscent of my own mindset while I was in the RLDS, and of my awakening process as I began discovering how wrong it was.

I finally had to stop underlining, because I got to the point where I was practically underlining whole pages. I was amazed that this kind of transformation could happen among numerous leaders of the same denomination at roughly the same time.

I was even more amazed that these leaders were able to courageously lead their entire denomination away from deeply entrenched —but wrong—teaching and into genuine Christian doctrine and practice.

It is my deepest desire for this same process to happen to the RLDS church. I still have family and friends in the RLDS church, and I would like nothing more than to see the Lord liberate them from Joseph Smith, as he did my family and me. Most people I have shared this dream with feel I am being hopelessly optimistic, and unrealistic. But I feel that if God was both willing and able to do this for the Worldwide Church of God, then he can do it for the RLDS. And so the WCG journey gives me hope and inspiration.

Summerfest 2003
set for Atlanta, Georgia

ATLANTA, Georgia—The theme of Summerfest 2003, which will take place July 16 to 20, will again be "Life in the Son," with an emphasis on living and sharing the life of Christ. Come and hear powerful messages about Jesus living his life in us! Come and see how we can share his life with others. Come and bring a relative, friend or neighbor.

We are planning an exciting five-day festival, packed with exciting worship and inspirational activities for the whole family. We are planning special activities for children and teens, as well as for singles and adults.

We will begin Summerfest with a family fun day at Stone Mountain Park on Wednesday, July 16. Visit the Stone Mountain Park website, www.stonemountainpark.com, for park attractions

Our four-day worship service will begin on Thursday, July 17, at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center in Jonesboro, Georgia, 10 miles south of Atlanta’s Hartsfield Airport. Featured speakers this year will include Joe and Tammy Tkach, Dan Rogers, Tim Brassell and others.

Please check the WCG website www.wcg.org (click on "Events") for additional information about Summerfest, and for hotel and registration details.

Church conducts first
regional conference 
of 2003 in California

By Thomas C. Hanson

      
SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE—Ministers and members gather in Covina, California, April 3 to 6, to hear presentations from Pastor General Joseph Tkach (left) and Dan Rogers (right), superintendent of U.S. ministers and others. [Photos by Ron Grove and Thomas C. Hanson]

  
Mel Dahlgren (left) and Tom Melear.

Zora Houston (left) and Annette Nettles.

From left: Joyce and Carn Catherwood and
Arnold and Trish Clauson.

James and Karla Diehl

Mark and Anne Stapleton

David Fiedler (left) and Richard Frankel

COVINA, California—Church Administration conducted its first regional conference of 2003 for about 220 ministers and members from the Southwest district April 3 to 6 at the Embassy Suites hotel in Covina.

The main event at the conference was when seven Hispanic pastors received ordination certificates and church charters April 4. The pastors and their congregations were formerly part of the Church of God (Seventh Day). See article page 13.

Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers, gave the following presentations: 1) Growing a Healthy Church; 2) Being a Pastor; and 3) The Great Commandment. Pastor General Joseph Tkach spoke on "What’s Love Got to Do With It?" Ted Johnston, a member of the WCG national youth ministry development team, spoke on "Building Disciplemaking Youth Ministries."

The pastors and their wives watched a video presentation on "Stresses of Pastoral Ministry," by Archibald Hart of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena.

The event concluded with a worship service Sunday morning, April 6, that included communion. Dr. Tkach gave the sermon.

The following breakout sessions took place Sunday morning: "The Pastor’s Role in Conflict Resolution," and "Equipping Senior Citizens for Ministry," by Carn Catherwood, South Central district superintendent; a session for Spanish-speaking pastors, by Raul Ramos, pastor of the Pasadena Spanish church; and a session on youth ministry by Dennis Pelley, California Summer Educational Program camp director, and Bermie Dizon, district youth ministry coordinator.

The district superintendents remained for a conference April 7 and 8.

My Journey with the
Evangelical Church of God 
from heresy to orthodoxy

By Lorenzo Arroyo
District Superintendent

 
CALIFORNIA HISPANIC PASTORS COMMISSIONED—From left: Lorenzo Arroyo, district superintendent for the WCG Hispanic district; Pastor General Joseph Tkach with Pastor Gildardo De La Rosa (Santa Ana).  Back row: Benjamin Escalante (Santa Fe Springs); Jesus Acosta (Riverside); Carlos Ortiz (Westminster); Jose Luis Escalante, associate pastor (Santa Fe Springs). Right photos from left: Manuel Ochoa (Hawthorne) and Heber Ticas (San Fernando).[Photos by Thomas C. Hanson]

ANTIOCH, California—This is a costly but wonderful story of how a splinter cultish-organization was able to make the journey from heresy to orthodoxy.

I was not always able to see how or why certain events took place in my personal journey with the Lord. But now, looking back, I can see clearly as if I am standing on the top of a great summit overlooking my journey’s landscape.

Somewhere along the beginning of my journey, while my wife, Rita, and I were still vulnerable, we fell prey to a heretical sect. And, it has taken my family and me years to find our way back to the center of the gospel message. In this sense my story is not unique, but one many can identify with and others can avert.

However, it is most unlikely for a cult-organization to make this journey and complete it. The only organization that I have heard of doing so is the Worldwide Church of God. Well, what follows is one more that can be added to that unlikely list by the grace of God.

In 1976, Rita, then my wife to be, and I became fascinated with the Bible. We really did not know much about it, but a co-worker had given me a paperback copy of the New Testament and off we went reading it at every opportunity. We also delighted in watching Billy Graham telecasts every chance we got.

After we were married the following year, we began to look for a church in Northern California that we could call home. I remember visiting at least a dozen churches. Now, I realize that some were evangelical. Unfortunately for us, they had left the back door wide open. We were brand new believers looking for a home, but no one seemed to notice. Eventually, we found a heretical sect that was more than glad to have us! They gave us emotional support, Bible studies, literature centered on the seventh-day Sabbath, and a place to belong.

In 1978, we became members of the General Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day). Some of the cultish teachings we received from our pastor and local church are as follows: We are the only true church and all Sunday-keeping churches are lost; our church’s Sabbath-keeping lineage could be traced back to the time of Christ and the apostles; only those who keep the true seventh-day Sabbath and the Ten Commandments will be saved; eating unclean foods such as pork products will condemn you; one could not be sure of his or her salvation because salvation is something earned; the Son is not co-essential with the Father, and the Holy Spirit is only a force; the doctrine of the Trinity is pagan in origin.

Of course, the parent organization will deny most of the above, except for the fact that they are non-Trinitarian. But the above continues internationally to this day to be the main diet for most of their members, regardless of the more moderated views of the parent cult-organization.

In 1982, I became a licensed pastor and moved up the ministerial ranks of the organization. I pastored a couple of churches, served as a missionary seminary teacher in Mexico, and finally I served as a seminary instructor at the organization’s ministerial school in the Denver, Colorado, area. Also, I served on various committees, including the board of directors.

Further, I wrote several articles for their Bible Advocate magazine, and was featured in the questions and answers section of that magazine. However, I also was heavily involved, along with other colleagues, in the Hispanic work of the organization.

Through the efforts of key Hispanic leaders and after years of toil, we finally convinced the board of directors in 1991 to allow the creation of a Hispanic agency to help coordinate the Hispanic work within the United States. We felt that the agency’s existence was vital to assure fair treatment of our growing Hispanic community.

In 1996, a substantial number (relative to their small organization) of churches broke away from the parent organization. The major reason for the split was decisions made by the board of directors in February of that year.

Not all Hispanic church leaders felt the same way, in fact, most to this day don’t even know what happened, because the board of directors never published those decisions. But several Hispanic leaders and myself felt that those decisions were politically motivated and discriminatory against the Hispanic community. Those decisions included the discontinuance of the Hispanic agency.

After it became apparent to us that the board of directors had no intention of reconsidering its decisions, seven pastors from Denver and Southern California agreed to leave the General Conference. At first, we wanted to create a new conference that would be evangelical. I was fortunate to have attended classes at Denver Seminary for three years until the split with the Seventh-Day cultish organization.

By this time, I was an evangelical but I still carried a lot of baggage. The General Conference made some inroads toward evangelical doctrines but always stopped short and finally relapsed. Denver Seminary helped me to shed more of my heretical baggage and prepared me for what lay ahead.

Unfortunately, because of new developments, our plans for an evangelical conference were placed on hold. We were only anticipating seven pastors and five churches in our new movement (one church from Denver and four from Southern California), when we began to get calls from other Hispanic leaders who also were eager to leave the General Conference.

However, their reasons for leaving were not doctrinal, but based on alleged racial discrimination coupled with years of neglect by the church hierarchy. The latter reason was also the primary reason why we had left, but in our minds doctrinal change was inevitable. Also, if we had not been forced out of that cultish organization, we may have never arrived at the point of shedding our heretical baggage to come to a full-orbed understanding of the gospel. Sooner or later we would have had to leave that organization.

On May 17 and 18, 1996, the North American Conference of the Church of God (Seventh Day) was born, and I was elected as its first president. To my surprise, 27 churches were represented at our first ministerial council, which took place in El Paso, Texas. Twenty-five churches left the General Conference and two independent churches joined us as well.

Thereafter, we conducted several ministerial council meetings and a couple of national convocations. Also, we emphasized church planting in our vision and mission statements. In the first few years of our semi-cultish- organization we were successful in nearly doubling the number of congregations that we started with, including those in Mexico and Canada.

By this time we began to feel a doctrinal rift escalating with each passing year. Most of the congregations that had joined us were not evangelically oriented. They wanted to preserve their traditional doctrinal error but belong to a separate administration other than the General Conference. This was not the vision of the key leaders who were most instrumental in founding the new conference.

Joseph Tkach, president and pastor general of the Worldwide Church of God, published his book Transformed By Truth in 1997. I first met Dr. Tkach in 1994 at the offices of the General Conference in Denver, while I was still employed there. He documents the morning meeting that took place there with the leadership of the General Conference on page 47 of his book.

Others and I joined the meeting in the afternoon. The whole thing turned out to be a big disappointment. Our leadership was weak and unable to capitalize on the great opportunity of partnering with the WCG, a vastly more resourceful organization than our own.

However, Dr. Tkach had left a good impression as well as conveying that his father wanted to move his organization in an evangelical direction. After reading his book, I contacted him by mail and not long after he called me on the phone.

We continued to meet periodically over the following years. He kindly accepted our invitation to be our featured speaker at our 1999 national convocation in Anaheim, California, where close to a thousand of our members gathered to hear him speak. We even discussed the possibility of working together.

However, my organization had a lot of work to do doctrinally before we could take that step. By this time, I was fully convinced that Sabbath-keeping in any form held no place in a grace-based gospel. My closest colleagues and key respected pastors were all instrumental in helping forge the way in making essential doctrinal changes.

In May 2000, we conducted our fourth ministerial council and formally adopted the evangelical position of the Deity and personhood of the Holy Spirit. Our position on the full Deity of the Son was consistently sustained in our publications, although we encountered resistance because of it.

Therefore, at the council meeting we acknowledged accepting the historical evangelical doctrine of the Trinity by default. The backlash was severe. We lost a third of our pastors almost immediately and more than half our churches over time.

May 24 to 26, 2002, we conducted our fifth ministerial council in Hawthorne, California, with the following results: (1) We officially changed our name to North American Conference of the Evangelical Church of God (ECG); (2) We jettisoned our old heretical Statement of Faith that we inherited from the parent cultish-organization we left; and, (3) We adopted a fully evangelical Statement of Faith emphasizing the full inspiration and inerrancy of the Bible, the Trinity of historical Christianity, justification by faith alone, and our Sabbath rest being fulfilled in Christ alone and not in any particular day.

These decisions were also costly. Although we did not lose any more churches because of our now official evangelical position, practically all the churches lost members and entire families.

On Sept. 27, 2002, our executive board accepted an offer from Dr. Tkach to merge with the Worldwide Church of God. I was hired in November 2002, as a superintendent for a newly created district that encompasses congregations from the Evangelical Church of God (ECG).

As of March, the first wave of pastors and congregations from California have made the journey and merged with the WCG, and others will shortly follow.

Aside from our current doctrinal similarities, another important factor that led us to the merger is the WCG’s outspoken interest in a variety of ethnic communities living in the United States. The WCG has conveyed its vision to reach the Hispanic community by proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Spanish language and planting new Hispanic congregations. My prayer is that the Lord will use the ECG as a tool in the Master’s hand for that purpose.

It has been one long journey in comprehending the fuller implication of the gospel. We have all paid the price in moving from the shadows of the old covenant law into the marvelous light of his new covenant grace. The good news is that there is no room for boasting other than in Jesus. As the old hymn Amazing Grace goes, "I was blind, but now I see!"

The Worldwide Church of God also originated from the same Church of God (Seventh Day) historical roots as the ECG, and this accounts for our mutual empathy in that our doctrinal errors and journeys were so similar.

It is impossible for me to think that somehow both our organizations, which were steeped in heresy, could make such a wondrous journey on parallel courses, and yet, it all be an accident. I firmly believe the Holy Spirit guided both our organizations out of the error of legalism to meet at this crossroads. It is only fitting to complete the journey together in Christ’s service. May God, in Christ, bless our new journey together in "living and sharing the gospel."

In closing this concise story of my journey with the Evangelical Church of God, I would like to add that this story would not be possible without the courage and resolve of all the pastors who made the journey with me. They and their families had to cross and endure many points of crisis for the gospel’s sake. The Lord knows their untold stories, tears and perseverance.

I am also indebted to the congregations, both in the United States and in Mexico, who have all suffered and counted the cost of discipleship for the unmerited grace of the knowledge of our all-sufficient Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Finally, I am thankful to the Lord for my encounter with Dr. Tkach and the friendship that has developed over the years. The Worldwide Church of God is now our home, and they have received us with open arms. Glory to God the Father in Christ and through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Youth Ministry:

Building Young Believers

By Ted Johnston

Co-director
National Youth Ministry Development Team

CANTON, Ohio—The great joy of those who minister to children, teens and college-age young adults is seeing them in fellowship with God and with the community of Christ’s body, the church (1 John 1:3-4).

This fellowship is theirs through Jesus Christ, manifested in the love God extends to them through caring peers and adult mentors and teachers who reach out to young people in Jesus’ name. These adults include the parents and youth ministry leaders and workers who are so important to the birth and development of young followers of Jesus.

What a joy it is for me to serve alongside many adults and teens who are active in youth ministry within our fellowship, the Worldwide Church of God. I want to express my deep appreciation for their sacrificial service to the young people that God so deeply loves.

Our calling in youth ministry is to glorify our Heavenly Father by participating with Jesus, through the Spirit, in his work to multiply young disciplemaking followers of Jesus. In advancing this work, we seek after lost youths with the intention of introducing them to Jesus.

We then work to build young believers by helping them share in Christ’s love for God and for people. Then, as they grow, we work to equip them to participate with Christ in his work within the church, in the youths’ homes and friendships and in the world at large.

This seek-build-equip work is patterned after Jesus’ own disciplemaking lifestyle that he pursued during his three and a half year ministry on earth. Now ascended to the Father, he sends the Holy Spirit to indwell us so that he may now live that lifestyle in our world, through us. What a blessing and privilege! How rewarding to participate with God as he ministers to young people.

In this column over the next several issues, we’ll be exploring ways Jesus’ disciplemaking lifestyle relates to ministry to and through children, teens and college-age young adults.

We’ll address the aforementioned three aspects of Jesus’ ministry patterns in the following order: 1) building believers, 2) equipping workers, 3) and seeking the lost. Then we’ll add a fourth aspect: multiplying and sending shepherd-leaders. This article focuses on the first: building young believers.

Once a young person turns to Christ in faith, they are saved—safe in the acceptance of a loving and just God who, in Christ, has taken upon himself the penalty for their sin, granted them full forgiveness and credited to them Jesus’ own righteous standing with his Father. In Christ, they are newborn children of God, adopted by the Father and given membership in the spiritual family of God where they have an awesome inheritance awaiting them in eternity.

Having been born from above, they are now invited and enabled by the Holy Spirit to grow in Christ—built up as believers toward the fullness of the maturity of Christ. It is our goal in youth ministry to partner with the Holy Spirit in building young believers. But how are we to do this?

Once a lost youth has accepted Christ and become a believer, their immediate need is to be built up in their emerging love for Christ and for their spiritual family, the church. Youth ministers seek to assist in this building process by doing what Christ did with his group of followers.

For the first year and a half of Jesus’ ministry, it seems that his primary focus was on building relationships—helping the disciples know and love him more and helping them know and love one another more. Jesus advanced this strategy by providing environments in which such loving relationships would grow and thrive.

In following Jesus’ disciplemaking patterns, we advocate the use of four associated tools useful for building environments in which God works to grow love-filled, Christ-centered relationships. We summarize these tools in the acronym C.A.N.S., which stands for community, adoration, nurture and serving.

Community (reaching in). Jesus took a diverse group of followers and built them up by bringing them into a close-knit community where his disciples spent time with Jesus and together found fulfillment of three great needs: love, significance and belonging.

Young believers today find the same fulfillment in Christian community, where people worship, love and work together focused on Christ. Within a community of Jesus’ followers, they find that the aloneness that sin has produced in their lives begins to be replaced by the oneness that Jesus offers in his community of faith, the church.

Youth ministry seeks to be and thus provide a loving, close community where young believers find a place to belong.

In a future article, we’ll discuss some of the details concerning how to build loving community within a youth group. We’ll also discuss what makes a congregation youth-friendly—a place where youths feel part of the community.

Adoration (reaching up). In the presence of his disciples, Jesus openly and unapologetically worshiped the Father. In doing so, he modeled a life of adoration, openly expressing wonder, gratitude and trust toward God. When Jesus was fully revealed to the disciples as divine, they came to adore and worship him and, in turn, taught this adoration of Christ to others.

We seek to follow their pattern in our youth ministries. We seek to show young believers more of the majesty, beauty and holiness of God their Savior and model to them a lifestyle where God is so regarded and worshiped that he is glorified by our thoughts and actions.

The worship of God is the heart of youth ministry and in a future article, we’ll present detailed ideas for advancing passionate worship in our youth groups.

Nurture (reaching down). Through his incarnation, God came down to us and dwelt in the flesh, among us. Jesus was God in our midst as one who served. As a servant, he ministered to his followers. Through this personal presence, he offered direction and guidance for living and loving.

In youth ministry, we seek to minister to young followers the personal presence of Jesus. We do so by helping them follow the Holy Spirit, who brings Jesus, the living Word, into their lives in accordance with Holy Scriptures, the written Word.

Such nurture yields an abundant life in step with the Spirit. In a future article, we’ll discuss how parents, youth leaders and workers may cooperate with the Spirit in ministering God’s nurturing care to young followers of Jesus.

Serving (reaching out). Jesus also built up his believers by helping them serve others in his name—expressing love through personal contact and support of those outside the immediate group. In youth ministry, serving beyond the youth group is an essential part of helping young believers grow in their love for God and for people.

Such growth is seen as young believers begin to value others so much that they adjust their own lifestyle to express care for and meet the needs of others. In a future article, we’ll offer suggestions for teaching youths the value of such service.

It is thus our goal in youth ministry to build young believers in their love for God and for people by using the tools of community, adoration, nurture and serving. I also encourage parents of youths to capitalize on these four tools in working with their children and teens.

Together we are participating with Christ as he advances the kingdom—one person reaching out to another; one generation reaching out to the next. There is no higher calling.

New Albany, Indiana,
teens attend Acquire the Fire

NEW ALBANY, Indiana—Five teens from New Life Fellowship in New Albany attended the Acquire the Fire conference in Louisville, Kentucky, Feb. 21 and 22. The teens are Anthony Mullins, Kayla Shallenberger, Kyle Shallenberger, Amie Shipman and Andrew Shipman.

The teens came home on fire for mission work. Inspired by the lessons presented at Acquire the Fire, and especially motivated by the session presented by recording artist T-Bone, four of the teens were baptized Sunday, March 2. Anthony was baptized just a few weeks earlier by his grandfather, Merle Mullins.

To add to the emotion of the moment, Kayla and Kyle were baptized by their father, Pastor Rick Shallenberger, and Amie and Andrew Shipman asked their dad, Tim, to baptize them. All of the newly committed Christians are excited about their new relationship in Christ. Jarrel Burgess.

GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER—
Teens from several congregations socialize
before the Dallas Central worship service
Feb. 2. [Photo by Mike Shipman]

WORSHIP SERVICE—Lynn Hebert, pastor
of the Dallas Central church, addresses
members Feb. 2. [Photo by Jean Grunheid]

CHURCH BAND—Unified, the Oklahoma City
church band, provides worship music at the
Euless, Texas, church service Feb. 1.
[Photo by Mike Shipman]

SKIT TEAM—Oklahoma City church skit team
performs at the Euless, Texas, church Feb. 1.
[Photo by Mike Shipman]

DALLAS, Texas—About 150 people, including 105 teens from nine congregations, attended a teen weekend Feb. 1 and 2 in which Grace Family Church (the Dallas Central congregation) was host.

The weekend began with a worship service with the Euless, Texas, church, Feb. 1.

Later that day, the group traveled to the Foursquare Gospel Church in Garland, Texas, for an all-night lock in. Lynn Hebert, pastor of the Dallas Central church, is a friend and prayer partner of Frank Chavez, pastor of the Foursquare church.

Activities included a dinner, praise and worship by Grace Family Church’s "First Sunday Praise Band" and a dance. Several Dallas Central teens performed a skit written by Michael Lewandowski and directed by Daniel Fischelli. The skit depicted teens making sure everyone had a good time at a dance, including those who were shy or self-conscious.

After the praise and worship, 15 youths came to the altar, some to accept Christ and others to re-dedicate their lives to him.

The Dallas Central church was host for church services in Richardson, Feb. 2, with the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, church band, Unified, providing worship music.

Several band members took turns praying between songs and testifying about how some of the songs described their desire to walk with the Lord.

Joey Brannen of the Oklahoma City skit team recited John 3:16, followed by several others taking turns speaking Bible verses that elaborated on the meaning of John 3:16.

Mike Rasmussen, Oklahoma City pastor, gave the sermon, urging the young people in particular to resist the temptations put forth by society.

Cathy Miller, a preteen, was commended for having her long hair cut shorter, then donating the hair to Locks of Love, a group that collects human hair that is made into wigs for children who have cancer.

It was also noted that Mandy Fischelli has been named to Who’s Who Among American High School Students.

The turnout was triple that of the previous district weekend in November.

Steve Kramer, youth leader, noted: "A wide range of age groups came to help plan and support the weekend. We had some of our spiritual grandmas, moms, dads, uncles and aunts, helping to ensure that everything was running smoothly."

Many people contributed to the success of the weekend, including Dallas Central members Margarita Arias, Wylie Bass, Helen Day, Emmanuel and Jamie Geoffoy, Jean Grunheid, Mr. Kramer, Ken and Jamar Madrid, David, Cheryl and Lanice Miller, Mickey and Johanna Moya, Nancy Newkirk, Joe Shipman, Emily Thomas, Dale Wilson and Tom Young. Frank Lewandowski.

YouthBuilders conferences
help congregations build
youth ministries

TIPP CITY, Ohio—Jeb Egbert and Ted Johnson of the national youth ministry development team conducted a YouthBuilders conference in Tipp City, March 29, for about 70 pastors, youth ministry leaders and youth ministry workers from the Great Lakes and Mid-South districts.

Dr. Egbert and Mr. Johnston are conducting YouthBuilders conferences around the United States, inviting people who want to be equipped for disciple-making youth ministries in and through WCG congregations.

"I continue to find that these conferences are of great value in helping youth ministry teams from congregations learn how to think strategically, understanding more clearly what God has called them to do as teams in their local context," Mr. Johnston said. "The conferences are great places for such teams to do some dreaming together as well as some formulating of next steps in the development of youth ministries."

Mr. Johnston said he is always inspired when he hears in these conferences how God is moving in WCG congregational leaders to give birth to meaningful youth ministries.

"At this last conference, for example, Jim and Gwen Deshong, who pastor the Richmond, Indiana, congregation, reported how their congregation of about 14 regular attendees has gone from no young people to about five over the last few months," Mr. Johnston said. "That significant and joyful change occurred as they began to reach out intentionally to youths in existing relationships with members (such as their grandchildren) and to some who were previously unknown to our members."

They also received these new, young visitors with open, loving arms and immediately gave them a place in the life of the congregation. They have a worship service that ministers to the youths every week, just as they minister to all adults.

They involve the youths actively in that service as well as providing weekly classes for them outside of the worship service. Those youngsters now attend that congregation, not to be part of a huge throng of teens, but to be with adults they know love them and care about them in ways they receive and value.

"I want to encourage our folks to attend these YouthBuilders conferences as they come to their areas," Mr. Johnston said, "and also the regional conferences that have a significant youth ministry track this year."

Skit portrays problems
faced by high school students

WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania—Joel Clevenger and Don Davis of the Fountain of Life Church led a group of teens from the Washington area Sunday March, 9, in a skit about the problems faced by today’s high school students.

The skit covered alcoholism, abuse, drugs and treating everyone with respect. They showed that by using prayer and turning to God they could work through their problems. They performed the skit in place of the sermon.

After the service, Travis and Grant Prodan were baptized. Shirley Collins.

Daniel Worley
wins art competition

WICHITA, Kansas—Daniel Worley, 18, of Wichita won a university scholarship in the Scholastic Art Awards of 2003. He competed with seventh through 12th graders in several Kansas counties.

Daniel’s drawing titled "Light, a Dark Room" won him a $3,000 scholarship to Newman University in Wichita. He also won two Silver Key awards with a self-portrait and an art portfolio. He received his awards at a Feb. 1 ceremony at the Wichita Center for the Arts.

Daniel is a senior at Northwest High School in Wichita. He attends the Wichita congregation with his parents, Randy and Valerie Worley, and his brother, Casey.

The Scholastic Art Awards were established in 1923 and are the largest and longest running recognition program for young people in the United States, according to the awards program.

Postscript: Daniel was not accepted to Newman University, but his success in the competition has encouraged him to enter other art contests and continue developing his talent. Terri Hamilton.

Learning to Be Like Christ, Part 2

The Family of God

If we are going to live with God forever, we will also be living with each other forever. We were designed not for eternal isolation, but for living together and interacting with one another. Life’s greatest joys come in our relationships with other people.

Life’s greatest hurts come from other people, too. So if eternal life is going to be happy, we need to learn to get along with people without hurting them. The essential ingredient we need here is love. The most important commandment, Jesus said, is to love God, and the second-most-important command is, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31).

If we are going to be like Jesus, we need to love people—even people who are hard to love. Jesus set the example for us, coming to die even for the people who hated him. As good parents know, love means a willingness to be inconvenienced, a willingness to set aside our own concerns to attend to the needs of someone else. Love is a lot more than good feelings—it must also include good actions.

God is good not because he is powerful, but because he is good. He always uses his power to help other people, not to serve himself. We praise people who risk their lives to save others; we do not praise people who had the power but refused to use it. We admire self-sacrifice, not selfishness.

Jesus came to serve, not to lord it over people (Matthew 20:28). He told his disciples they should not be like power-hungry rulers, but should set an example by helping people. "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" (verse 26). Jesus shows us what the Father is like (John 14:9)—not just what he was like 2,000 years ago, but what he is like all the time.

True greatness is not in power, but in service. God sets the example; as does Jesus. The meaning of life is not in having authority over others, but in helping people. That is the only way that eternal life is going to be enjoyable for everyone.

Jesus set many examples of service. A special one happened the evening before his crucifixion. He got down and washed the 12 disciples’ feet as a lesson in humility and service. "I have set you an example," he said, "that you should do as I have done for you" (John 13:15). Don’t consider yourself too important to kneel down and help somebody. Leaders in the church should be servants.

Paul said we should "serve one another in love" (Galatians 5:13). "Carry each other’s burdens," he wrote, "and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2). "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves" (Philippians 2:3).

If we are selfish, we will never be satisfied, but if we serve, we will find it self-rewarding. We are more satisfied when we help than when we take. Jesus told us this because it is so unlike the assumptions that most people make.

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another" (1 John 4:10-11). If we want to be like Jesus, if we want to have a meaningful life, then we need to serve others.

One way that we serve others is by being active participants in a community of believers—a church. No church is perfect, just like no person is perfect, but the church is something that God designed to help us on our journey with Jesus. The church teaches us about Jesus, reminds us of his grace and promises, and gives us opportunities to worship together. The church helps us keep our purpose in focus.

The church also gives us opportunities to exercise patience and forgiveness. We may not like these "opportunities," but they still help us learn to be more like Jesus. Paul reminds us of the example we follow: "Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13). "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).

Educators know that we learn by listening, but we learn much more when we participate. Jesus taught his disciples not just in words, and not just in his example, but also by giving them work to do. "He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick" (Luke 9:2). After his resurrection, he again assigned them work: "You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). And they learned as they went.

If you want to be like Jesus, get involved in his work. He left it to us, not because we could do a better job than anyone else, but because it is for our good. We will learn more, and be changed more, by getting involved.

Have you ever noticed that different people have different strengths? Believing in Jesus does not eliminate our differences. Being like Christ does not mean that we all have to look alike, dress alike and act alike. In fact, God purposely gives different strengths to different people (1 Corinthians 12:11). We are not to brag about our abilities, nor to wish we had someone else’s (verses 14-26). Rather, we are to use our skills "for the common good" (verse 7).

Some people are very talented, but no one has all the talents that society needs. God makes sure that everybody is lacking something, so that we learn to work together. "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10). The church is a great place to learn to be like Jesus by serving other people.

We are to serve people’s physical needs, and also their spiritual needs. One of the biggest spiritual needs that this world has is the message of salvation in Jesus Christ. The church is called to take this message to the world; each believer has a message that can encourage and help many others, and we will become more like Jesus if we become less self-conscious and more willing to share the message.

Why do we share the gospel? It is not a means of getting brownie points with God. It is not a way for us to brag about how good we are. Rather, it is a way to serve others, to help them with one of their most serious needs in life.

People need to know that God loves them, that their lives have meaning and purpose, that there really is hope even when physical life seems pointless. God has good news for them, and we share it because people need it.

Of course, it is deeply satisfying to be used by God to help someone else. Sharing the gospel gives us a tremendous sense of significance, because we are taking part in a work of eternal worth, sharing in the work of God himself. That’s part of what it means to be like God, to be like Jesus. God made us in such a way that we would find our deepest satisfactions in doing the work that he himself does. We were made for this!

We are saved by grace, not by our works. God sent Jesus to die for us, and he forgives us, not on the basis of our works, but because of his mercy. Now, if God is like that, and we were born to be like God, what does this say about our relationships with one another? It totally transforms them!

If we follow Jesus, grace needs to fill our families, our friendships and our workplaces. Being like Jesus means that we are not always demanding to get our own way. We are not bragging about ourselves or insulting others. Paul describes the results of God at work in our lives: "The fruit of [God’s] Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23).

"Honor one another above yourselves," Paul writes (Romans 12:10). "Live in harmony with one another" (verse 16). "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:2).

"Encourage one another and build each other up.... Always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else" (1 Thessalonians 5:11, 15).

Husbands, how would it make a difference in the way you treat your wife? (See Ephesians 5:25.) Wives, how would it affect you? (See verse 22.) Those who are employed, how would it affect your work? (See Ephesians 6:5-8.)

We all start out unlike Jesus. We start as sinners, as enemies of God, as selfish, self-seeking people. And yet that is precisely what we need to be saved from, to be rescued from. So there’s a lot of changing that needs to happen.

If we are to be like Jesus, our relationships may have to change a lot. It won’t be easy, and it won’t happen overnight. It takes time, so we need patience with the process, both in ourselves and in others. We need faith that God will finish the work he has started in us.

God has the most fulfilled, most satisfying life possible—and he wants us to enjoy eternal life, too. He wants us to be like he is. God is "compassionate and gracious ... slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin" (Exodus 34:6-7).

To part 3 of this series

Michael Morrison

Copyright © 2003

Astrophysics and Apologetics

The following article originally appeared in the August-September 1999 British PT. John Halford conducted the interview.

David Wilkinson is one of a rare breed—an ordained minister and an astrophysicist. He is chaplain at Liverpool University, but has accepted the appointment of Fellow of Christian Apologetics at St John’s College, Durham. We talked with Dr. Wilkinson about the challenge of reconciling science and faith.

DW: Don’t confuse apologetics with apologies. It means explaining and defending the Christian position by logical argument. I think apologetics today is twofold: one is a traditional understanding of apologetics, which is answering questions like "Why is there suffering in the world if there’s a good God?" or "How can we reconcile science with Christianity?" But I think apologetics is far more than that. Apologetics is making the truth of the Christian faith relevant to the concerns and interests of people today.

DW: Many people have this image of science being against the concept of Creation, but I don’t think that’s valid. One of the fascinating things over the last 20 to 30 years is that scientists have become more and more interested in questions about God. Maybe not questions about the Christian faith, but they are interested in the big questions. For instance, in my field of astrophysics, many of my colleagues would be fascinated by questions of purpose and why are we here? Science itself doesn’t give answers to that. What science does show us are things like the extravagance of God.

DW: Well, we know that our sun is one star in a galaxy of a hundred billion stars, and our galaxy is one of one hundred billion galaxies in the universe. Then when you read in the first chapter of Genesis, almost by the way of a side comment, "He made the stars also," you begin to see something of the greatness of God.

I think science has helped my faith, because it has given me an appreciation for things like the importance of evidence within the Christian faith. But my faith has also helped my science. Albert Einstein said that "science is thinking God’s thoughts after him." Science has expanded my vision at just how good and elegant and beautiful and majestic the creation is.

DW: I think a lot of that comes from what we might call the conflict hypothesis. That is that science and faith are somehow opposed and mutually exclusive. You can trace that back historically to the turn of the last century where people like G.H. Huxley tried to free science from the control of the church. Up to that point the great scientists were Christian believers.

But I think the reality now is that most professional scientists would be far more open to religious questions than perhaps they would 30 to 40 years ago. There is a genuineness of interest and searching for spiritual answers as well as scientific ones.

DW: Yes, I think that’s right. For instance if you look at the work of someone like Paul Davies, an eminent cosmologist and popularizer of science, you see someone who is not afraid to explore questions that go beyond science. Questions about the purpose of the universe, questions about why the universe seems so finely balanced to make possible life. Questions about the intelligibility of the universe. Why is it that scientists can even do science?

DW: I think you’ve got to be careful. The media particularly will hype up any discovery, and scientists today will even hype up discoveries in order to get funding. We need to be cautious about some of the claims that are made. These new discoveries in cosmology shouldn’t worry us. They are exciting. We begin to see certain things that resonate with the Christian faith.

DW: One of the things of interest at the moment in cosmology is not the beginning of the universe but the end. Is the universe going to expand forever or will it reach a point when it reaches its limit and collapses?

There are competing claims about this at the moment. But one of the interesting things for me as a Christian is what does that say about creation? If the universe expands forever it dies what is called heat death. Everything cools down.

If the universe starts to collapse after expanding, everything is destroyed in a big crunch. Now at that point what I find interesting is that the Bible talks not just about the continuation of this earth, it talks about a new heaven and a new earth, because God’s purposes are beyond this present universe.

Then there is what we’ve discovered about the fine balance within the universe that makes life possible. It’s called the anthropic balance.

In order to make structure possible within the universe the gravitational force that pulls everything together, and the expansion force of the big bang, which causes the universe to expand, needed to have been balanced at a certain point in the universe’s history. Very finely balanced too, with a precision of 10⁶⁰—that’s 10 followed by 59 zeros. We really can’t cope with numbers like that, but it’s as if you’re blindfolded and must hit a target one centimeter square on the other side of the universe.

Now, discoveries like this are not proofs for God, but they raise questions that the Christian faith has natural answers to.

DW: There’s a whole number of problems with trying to prove God through design. In terms of modern science you cannot prove God either through the argument of design, because there are always alternative theories. For example, lets go back to anthropic balances.

The Christian may look at the way the universe is so finely tuned and say, "That proves there is a God." An atheist can quite validly come along, "Perhaps there’s an infinite number of universes, all with different conditions in them and ours just happens to be balanced and we’re here because of that. In fact there are billions and billions of other universes that don’t have life. Therefore it is just chance."

Well, scientifically you can say that, but you’ve got to be careful. When we introduce the phrase "in other universes," we go beyond science. That’s actually a metaphysical explanation, even a theological explanation. The person who believes in many, many universes can’t prove that they exist because there’s no information that’s passed between these various universes. But the Christian can say, "My metaphysical explanation in terms of God actually does have some basis because of the Christian claim that God has come into our universe in the person of Jesus." So there is the possibility of knowing what’s beyond this physical universe.

That’s not the classic argument from design. It recognizes that the insights into design and balances need to be put beside the Christian claim that God can only be known because he reveals himself in a way that we can understand.

The Creation can help us to understand his nature, but it doesn’t give the complete picture. Take for example the question—and it is a valid one—is God a loving God? For every beautiful sunset I could show you a child dying of leukemia.

The question then is how do you establish whether God is loving or not. For me its simply that I see revealed in the man Jesus Christ, the God of compassion, the God of mercy, the God of justice. Within that framework I can then look at the universe and look at the beautiful sunset to see that this God’s love and compassion is expressed within artistic beauty, creativity. And at the same time I can see a God who cares for the child suffering with leukemia.

For every "good" bit of the universe there’s also a "bad" bit. Creation confronts us with the problem of suffering, and few Christians would be arrogant enough to say that they had a full answer to that.

DW: I think then that we’re evaluating God and we’re also probably straying into areas where the personal and the theological become in tension. You and I could have an interesting intellectual discussion about a child dying of leukemia. But you do not go to the bedside of a child and have an intellectual discussion with the parents. What you hope to do is to bring the love of God into that situation through the giving of support and the concern.

DW: Very important. I remember a conversation I had at a breakfast table with a student who’d just arrived at the university where I was a postgraduate. He was a first year physicist, and he sat down and said, "I gather you’re a Christian?" I said, "Yes I am." He asked, "How can you be a scientist and a Christian?"

It was early in the morning and I was a little brusque with him and said, "Tell me, have you ever looked at the evidence for the historicity of Jesus?" To which he said, "No, but I saw a program on Channel 4 that said he didn’t exist." I said, "Have you ever looked at the evidence of his teaching or his death on the cross?" He said, "Well we did all of that a long time ago and I don’t really remember it."

I said, "Have you ever looked seriously at the historical evidence of the resurrection of Jesus and the appearance to the disciples of the empty tomb that grew up with the Christian church?" He said, "No, but even if I did, it wouldn’t change my mind because I know dead people can’t rise." At which point I wanted to say to him, "You’re going to have to learn a lot before you become a scientist, because to a scientist, evidence is key."

As a scientist, I approach the man Jesus Christ, not with any a priori belief that the Bible is infallible or that this man is exactly what he says he is. I come as someone first and foremost who wants to assess the evidence. I look at the evidence of the history within the New Testament. I look at the evidence contained within the growth of the Christian church. I look at the evidence of men and women, boys and girls, who claim to experience Jesus Christ and see if this evidence stands up.

Now that’s a very scientific way of doing it. Now of course I need at the same time to say, although that evidence is there, there is a point that then goes beyond science. Because the Christian claim is that Jesus Christ is personal, and when we come to persons rather than scientific theories, we’re on different ground.

As a scientist, you might ask me, "How do I know that my wife loves me?" Well, I’ve got scientific evidence for that: does she buy me a Valentine’s card? Does she scream and run out of the room every time I walk in? That would tell me something, but ultimately I only know her love for me if I am prepared to commit myself into a relationship. That’s the only way that I know it for sure. And the Christian faith is somewhat like that.

DW: Absolutely, and again that’s the fallacy of the argument of saying, "Once I’ve got a scientific description of something, that’s all I need." That is plainly not the case.

If we ask the question, why is the kettle boiling? Well, you might say because the heat energy is being transferred to the water molecules, which are increasing in their velocity, eventually bubbles are formed and that’s why the kettle is boiling. At the same time there is an answer that goes, because you and I want a cup of tea together. One’s about the science, one’s about the purpose. If I’m going to understand why that kettle’s boiling, I need to know both.

Those who follow the conflict hypothesis are only giving one aspect to what is a multi-faceted reality.

DW: There are a number. I’ve talked about the end of the universe, and that’s linked to the so-called dark matter question. Stars and planets are only a small percentage, maybe not more than 10 percent of the mass of the total universe. There’s a lot of mass in the universe that we know is there because we can see its effect on the gravity. But we don’t know what it’s made of. That’s a reminder about just how little we know, but its also one of those great fascinating questions of science.

There are many speculations. Some say we have just got our mass wrong. But the main candidates are either what we might call brown dwarfs, which are effectively large planets that never made it to become stars. Like Jupiter. Jupiter is a large planet that never became a star. But I think its unlikely myself. I think the best candidate is some form of exotic particle that as yet we’ve not discovered. There are searches at the moment for such particles.

Theoretically we can say they exist, but we need to find one. That is difficult because although they exert mass on a large scale, it seems that they don’t interact through electrical charge or some other way that we can measure.

Another question that intrigues me is the question of extra-terrestrial intelligence.

DW: Yes it is. The search for extra-terrestrial intelligence has been an honest scientific pursuit for many years now. Unfortunately, it has got a bad name because of some enthusiastic but totally unscientific claims.

All we can say for certain at the moment is that the only intelligent life in the galaxy is us. We can’t go beyond that until we have had some kind of contact.

DW: It wouldn’t be catastrophic to my faith. It would be yet more demonstration of the extravagance and greatness of God. I would welcome it. That wouldn’t mean there wouldn’t be difficult questions to work out.

I come back to one of my comments that there’s an extravagance to what God does. Why so many stars? Why so many galaxies? Surely if God was just interested in us, one star, one planet, would be enough? But the billions of stars are a reflection of the nature of God.

And the more we discover of that which can be seen, everything seems to be useful. Everything has a place.

DW: No, there’s no conflict.

That’s not to say there aren’t unanswered questions. But in the end someone said to me very early when I became a Christian, if you proclaim Jesus as Lord, then he’s got to be Lord of your mind as well as Lord of heart.

You cannot live some kind of Jeckyl and Hyde existence between church on Sunday and the real world during work. The same Jesus who’s Lord of the worship is also Lord of the workplace. Part of my attempt at Christian discipleship has been to show integrity. I don’t think churches are good at helping scientists. Often the language, the illustrations and the concepts we use in worship are more based in the arts world. Scientists often find themselves quite alienated by the church.

I’ve been fortunate to be a part of churches where science has been valued. It was always made clear to me that to be a scientist was as much of a Christian calling as it was to be a full-time worker for the church, and I try and encourage students to see science as a calling. God has created a universe where science is possible. Jesus is the one that, as Paul said in Colossians, holds the whole universe together. We’re only able to do science because of Jesus, and it should be for his glory.

Update from Finance & Planning

March donations down
from last year

By Ronald Kelly

PASADENA—After two months of contribution increases, regular mail donations took a bit of a drop in March.

Donations in March were just under $1.5 million, while last year, March donations were right at $1.9 million. It is interesting that March 2002 was the second highest donation month of that year, topped only by December. So statistically we were up against a high month.

However, because of the litigation settlement with the Philadelphia Church of God and with the cash inflow from sales of a couple of peripheral pieces of property that were not part of the proposed development, our cash position is better than it has been for a while. The drop in March income brought the year-to-date contributions and other sources of income (excluding property sales and litigation settlement) for the first quarter of this year down six percent compared to 2002.

Also, for the first three months of the year, our expenses have been almost $5 million less than the cash inflow, thus allowing us to anticipate maintaining a positive cash flow and actually see an increase in our cash reserves.

As always, our principle source of funding comes from the generous tithes and offerings of our members. We project member donation income to average about $1.6 million per month.

We then forecast a variety of other sources of income such as estate donations, surplus property, equipment and furnishing sales, rental income and co-worker donations. That forms the basis of determining an annual budget.

This year, with all of our combined sources of income, we anticipate that we will maintain a small increase in our cash reserves by the time the year closes. Obviously that is dependent on our projections being accurate and realistic—and it assumes no significant increase in expenses.

With the decrease in March donation income, our Small-Step program to return cash to the local congregations did not have the numbers we had for January and February. You may remember from last month’s WN article, we returned cash to 60 percent of our local congregations. For March, 35 percent of our local church congregations will receive funds back.

I encourage each pastor and congregation to prayerfully discuss how to benefit from this beginning step toward our new financial model. Proactive planning can result in having funds for local outreach and evangelism or for other congregational programs.

Because we combined income statistics for January and February, a number asked how that occurred. Internal Revenue Service regulations require us to credit all donations to the year in which the donations are posted. The only month this creates special handling is December. So long as a donation is postmarked in December, no matter when we receive and process it, it must be credited to December.

So, for example, if a member writes a check and puts it in the mail Dec. 29, we might receive it Jan. 5. Our staff may not post it on our books until Jan. 10 or later. However, it must be credited to December, not January.

As we process December donations, we usually fall behind processing January contributions, and it might take us into February to catch up. That is why we combined January and February to determine our Small-Step fund returns.

For the rest of the year, we credit donations when they are processed without regard to the date on the check or the postmark.

I want to remind everyone that the contributions you make to the local church are always credited to that local congregation. Pastors and church treasurers are working with computer and budget programs that will be in place when we move to our new financial model. They are gaining experience that will greatly benefit our future transition to local financial management.

For most of you, what month a donation is credited will make little difference. But I have received enough questions that I thought a more detailed explanation would be helpful.

We’ll be back again next month with our financial update.

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 5005, Glendora, CA 91740.

 

Update on Sale of Campus

City council hears
Ambassador plan

By Mathew Morgan

PASADENA—Pasadena city planning staff presented the Ambassador campus predevelopment plan to the city council March 2.

The information-only meeting, a mandatory step in the entitlement process, is designed to keep the council informed of larger developments that are beginning the entitlement process. This is the first time the council, as a group, has been presented the Ambassador plan. As part of a separate agenda item at the meeting, the council selected Environmental Planning Associates as the environmental consultant who will study the impacts of the development.

The church mailed several thousand pamphlets titled "Pasadena Spoke to Us" to citizens of Pasadena in March informing them how the church responded to their design suggestions. Many cards of support have already been received. You can view the pamphlet and other information about the project at the website mentioned below.

The master application, a formal submittal outlining the church’s plans for the Ambassador campus, was submitted to the City of Pasadena, March 31. The master application is an important step in the entitlement process. Once reviewed and deemed complete by city staff, the environmental studies required under California law commence. To learn more about the Ambassador campus plan visit the website at www.ambassador campus.info.

WASILLA, Alaska—"We have a ‘month of Sundays’ behind us, and so far things have been going very well," said Al Tunseth, pastor of the Wasilla congregation, on their move to Sunday worship Feb. 2.

"This process started two and a half years ago, with some families wanting to move to Sunday then," Mr. Tunseth said. "They are still with us, and it looks like we will keep all of our members through the change."

From the start, the congregation had two reasons for moving to Sunday: 1) It would benefit several families who had children involved in Saturday activities, and 2) They would be better able to serve the community and reach out to the unchurched.

Members heard a number of sermons on "Christ Is Our Sabbath." Mr. Tunseth gave a sermon on "Sunday Is the Day of Choice," in which he made the point that untold numbers of Christians have been choosing Sunday for 2,000 years.

"Our attendance numbers are up a bit," Mr. Tunseth said. "We have had four new people attend since we have moved to Sunday."

TALKING PROPHECY—Mike Feazell (left), National Publications director, was interviewed on Cable 55 television in Duarte, California, March 26, by Neil Earle, pastor of the Glendora, California, church. Mr. Earle, on his program, A Second Look, asked Dr. Feazell about prophecy since it can be a hot topic during times of war. The program can be viewed on the WCG website at www.wcg.org [Photo by Ron Grove]

VANCOUVER, Washington—"I wasn’t expecting to receive anything. I was just trying to apply my Christian beliefs to my work," said Craig Cameron, an elder in the Vancouver congregation, about an award he received March 8.

As a sales representative for Georgia-Pacific’s Lumber Division, Mr. Cameron was one of seven recipients of the Eagle Award for distinguished achievement through commitment and willingness to go the extra mile.

He was cited for "turning a claim and potential lawsuit into a positive situation for the company. Thanks to his outstanding customer service and prompt handling of the issue, the customer was satisfied, our key customer was happy and the company was saved considerable expense."

Mr. Cameron said: "When I got involved, the situation was quite heated, and I prayed for guidance. I simply applied Christian principles of showing the customer that I cared about them and their problem and that I would treat them fairly. God then opened the door to a solution."

Mr. Cameron, his wife, Joyce, and other recipients were treated to a weekend getaway at the Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi, Mississippi, where they received their awards. Dan Fricke.

RICHARDSON, Texas—Chris Rummel, a member of Grace Family Church in Richardson, participated in a mission trip to Costa Rica, March 9 to 15. Mr. Rummel was on spring break from his master’s degree studies at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

He was part of a group of 17 people, primarily Methodists, who went on the trip sponsored by SMU’s Campus Ministry. The mission group helped build a church and provided crafts and Bible stories for children.

Mr. Rummel said the Costa Rican pastor and several members publicly spoke of their gratitude toward the missionaries because the new church building was badly needed. In addition, the Costa Rican members were impressed with the dedication of their American helpers, who prayed every day at the work site, asking God’s blessing on the members and the construction project. Frank Lewandowski.

COMMERCE, Texas—For many American college students, spring break means wild partying in exotic locations. But for 25 to 30 teen and young adult Christians who converged on Commerce the week of March 16, spring break meant worshiping the Lord, serving the needy and fellowshipping.

Joe Shipman, Mike Smith and Steve Kramer started the spring break tradition last year as a week of praise and worship. Mr. Shipman and Mr. Kramer are members of Grace Family Church, a WCG congregation in Richardson. This year, Mr. Kramer and co-organizer Sabrina Abney of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, added several service projects.

Participants came from various parts of Texas and a number of other states: Ohio, North and South Carolina, Illinois, Arkansas, Wisconsin, California, Massachusetts, Oregon and Colorado. Many were in town for the March 15 wedding of Mr. Shipman and Emily Thomas, then stayed for the week of praise.

Activities began with a worship service March 14, with music by Grace Family’s teen band. The band also performed for the church’s regular service on March 16. Worship leaders were Cynthia Chizen and Tammy Ford. Also assisting with the band were musicians Peter and Andrew Gordon. That afternoon, teens Ryan Dusek and Michael James were baptized.

The rest of the week included daily worship and Bible studies, volleyball, paintball, a dance and a lake barbecue.

The group visited Oak Manor Nursing Home in Commerce several times, talking with the residents and playing worship songs. The young adults also made cards of encouragement, volunteered at the Boys and Girls clubs, provided babysitting for a parents’ date night and painted a church.

"This year was more uplifting than last year because of the addition of service projects," Mr. Kramer said. "We not only built up the Body of Christ with Bible study, and prayer, but we also helped build up the community." Frank Lewandowski.

LAKE ST. LOUIS, Missouri—The Lake St. Louis congregation, pastored by Gary Dry, was part of an ecumenical worship service Jan. 25 during the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Attendance was about 125.

Nineteen members of the congregation attended a service where members of eight area congregations came together in a show of Christian unity. Denominations represented included the United Church of Christ, United Methodist Church, Episcopal Church, Roman Catholic Church, Presbyterian Church, Worldwide Church of God, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The congregations represented ranged in size from the Lake St. Louis WCG congregation with a membership of 35 to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with about 13,000 members.

Ministers from each participating denomination presided over a portion of the service. Music for the service was provided by the Lake St. Louis worship team, which performed three contemporary selections.

The character of the evening’s music and the inviting personality of the worship team prompted many comments from participants and organizers of the event—even several weeks afterward. The minister of the Episcopal congregation is looking forward to having the worship team perform as a guest musical ensemble at one of their services. Gary Dry.

LAKE ST. LOUIS WORSHIP TEAM—Top row, from left: Kip Hunter, vocals and lead guitar; Eileen Schnelle, vocals; Linda Fentress, piano; and Darren Webb, bass guitar. Bottom row: Kathryn Howell, vocals, mandolin and worship team leader; Mary Warapius, rhythm guitar; and Nanae Hunter, percussion. [Photo by Gary Dry]

EVERETT, Washington—The Everett congregation will celebrate its 25th anniversary June 14 at Evergreen Middle School, 7621 Beverly Lane, in Everett. The worship service will begin at 2:30 followed by a potluck social at 4.

For more information, contact Ken and Cathy Emerson at 1-360-659-1677 or by e-mail at ceewee@juno.com

VANCOUVER, Washington—Sergeant Heather (Miles) Bradshaw of Vancouver, and her husband, Sergeant Mike Bradshaw, were to be deployed to Iraq at the end of April or early May for a tour of duty. Heather and her parents, Ken and Judy Miles, ask for prayers for the protection and safe return of Mike and Heather. The Bradshaws are currently stationed in Germany.

    Heather Bradshaw

COLUMBIA, Missouri—Ross Jutsum of State of the Heart Ministries, led a worship service at the Columbia church Feb. 22. This event was designed to rekindle old friendships as well as cultivate new ones. Dr. Jutsum performed many of his current favorites as well as music from a new CD.

The service concluded with people gathering for prayer and a fellowship meal.

"We had hopes for 60 to 80 to attend," said Pastor Bradley Bruns, "but we were blessed with 103. We want to offer events like this on a regular basis."

COLUMBIA VISIT—Ross Jutsum leads worship.

PORT COQUITLAM, British Columbia, Canada—An Ambassador University alumni reunion will take place June 27 to July 6 at Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies.

This event is open to any Ambassador alumni and faculty who attended or taught there for any length of time, their family and friends.

Everyone is responsible for their own food and accommodations. The most economical option for accommodations is camping (fees range from $12 to $26 per night). For more information on the park check out the website at www.parks canada.gc.ca/jasper

The town of Jasper also has bed and breakfast places as well as hotels, where prices range from $80 to $300 per night. Check out the following web sites to get more information: Jasper Tourism and Commerce: www.jaspercanadian \rockies.com; or Jasper National Park: www.jaspernationalpark.com

For information or a registration form please contact Craig and Debbie Minke, 3460 Shaughnessy St., Port Coquitlam BC V3B 4L7, Canada; telephone 1-604-944-7110; e-mail cminke@shaw.ca The registration fee is $15 per family or party. Participants will be mailed a list of all registrants in mid-June, along with more details.

OPELIKA, Alabama—About two dozen families at Beulah New Fellowship Church near Opelika call Bill Guthrie pastor. Seven grandchildren call him grandpa. But for the meter readers in the Pioneer Electric Cooperative service area, he is the boss.

Mr. Guthrie is the Alabama supervisor for Tru-Check, a company that reads meters in more than a dozen states, including several co-ops in Alabama.

"We’re more than meter readers though," Mr. Guthrie said. "We’re another set of eyes and ears for the co-op and for the members."

Mr. Guthrie says he’ll never forget the day that one of his meter readers came upon a member of Tallapoosa River Electric Cooperative who had apparently suffered a stroke and fell in a yard with no one within shouting distance to help—until Tru-Check came by.

"The meter reader called 911, took off his jacket and wrapped it around him and stayed until the paramedics arrived. "I’m convinced what our meter reader did saved the person’s life," Mr. Guthrie said. Annette Winston.

PASADENA—J. Michael Feazell, National Publications director, was interviewed Feb. 25 on the Bob Dutko Show on WMUZ Detroit Christian radio about his book The Liberation of the Worldwide Church of God.

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana—The New Orleans church will be host for its second Inner City Mission in New Orleans, July 21 to 27.

The cost for the week is $245 per person. Teens (13 and older) and men and women of all ages are welcome. A deposit of $50 per person is due by June 15. After June 15, the deposit is nonrefundable. Final payment is due July 15.

The hands-on mission work will take participants to housing projects, the French Quarter, soup kitchens, the New Orleans Mission, homeless shelters, prayer walking, painting and repair projects, a youth detention center, day camps and perhaps a sports camp.

Each morning begins with chapel for praise and worship. Participants will learn from missionaries the how and why of Jesus’ commandment to go into all the world with the gospel.

Included in the costs are housing for six nights, three meals a day, snacks, daily bottled water, mission coordination, group meeting space, a T-shirt and Bible. Discounts are available for more than one from a congregation.

New Orleans attractions include Six Flags of New Orleans Theme Park, Audubon Zoo, D-day Museum, the Aquarium of the Americas and IMAX Theater, and Mississippi River boat cruises.

"New Orleans is much more like a foreign mission field than a typical city in the deep South of the United States," said Pastor Mike Horchak. "It is one of our own nation’s most strategic mission laboratories. This mission trip is a catalyst for life change." Please contact Mr. Horchak for an information packet. Telephone: 1-985-386-6168; e-mail: michael.horchak@wcg.org

PIKEVILLE, Kentucky—Mike Stewart, a member of the Pikeville pastoral team, will moderate a two-day retreat June 6 and 7 at Pikeville College.

Messages will center on the acronym S.E.R.V.E. Friday evening, June 6, a Southern Baptist pastor will speak on Surrender to God. A Christian and Missionary Alliance pastor will lead participants to Enter God’s Presence. Saturday evening another Southern Baptist pastor will teach us to Re-Order Our Priorities. A Church of God pastor will encourage us to Vow to Endure. The conclusion will be a Full Gospel pastor who will inspire us to Enter the Harvest Field.

The S.E.R.V.E. Retreat is free and open to everyone. For more information call 1-606-639-6102 or send e-mail to mike.stewart@gci.org Debby Bailey.

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines —Dante Abatayo of the Maramag, Philippines, church, who is undergoing training at the Asian Center for Missions (ACM), has been doing prison ministry in Cagayan de Oro City along with his fellow ACM students.

One prisoner had previously inflicted much pain and suffering on his wife. Because of this, she did not visit him for two years. Then, however, the prisoner found relief and joy after getting to know the Lord Jesus through the effort of an ACM student and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.

Dante found the address of the prisoner’s wife and talked to her. Then she visited her husband, and he asked for forgiveness. This time his wife believed him because he had been transformed by Jesus. His sentence was lowered from six years to three years.

SURREY, British Columbia, Canada—Alan Redmond has agreed to serve as district superintendent for Western Canada, according to Gary Moore, regional director. Mr. Redmond pastors the Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Warroad, Minnesota, churches.

"Alan has served in our pastoral ministry both in the west and in the east, and has proven to be an effective pastor," Mr. Moore said.

Mr. Redmond is working on a master’s degree in theology. He is a director on the board of the provincial evangelical ministerial association.

SPOKANE, Washington—Virginia de Leon, a reporter from the Spokesman-Review, and her photographer attended the worship service at Spirit of Grace Fellowship on March 23, the first Sunday after the Iraq war began. She was writing an article about what pastors and congregations were saying about the war.

She interviewed Pastor Glen Weber and many members of the congregation and listened to the entire sermon. Mr. Weber spoke from Matthew 8, where Jesus was asleep in the storm while the disciples were frightened. He assured the church that Jesus remains calm even in the midst of what seems like trying times for us—including a war in Iraq—and that he can give us peace of heart.

Reporter Virginia de Leon (right)
speaks to Rick and Kim McIsaac.
[Photos by Gary Roberto]

Reporter Virginia de Leon (left)
speaks to Pastor Glen Weber right
as member Garry Adams listens in.

ARIMA, Trinidad—About 45 people from 10 Caribbean countries attended a governance conference March 7 to 9.

"This was the first time since 1997 that we have invited leaders from all the Caribbean churches to meet at one conference," said Charles Fleming, regional director.

Over the past few years the Caribbean Office had sub-regional conferences, which made it less expensive for participants to attend by conducting conferences closer to their home country.

"However, with the need to set up a new governance structure for our church, we decided to all get together so Randal Dick (superintendent of missions) could outline the new approach to governance we are adopting."

Mr. Dick outlined the main principles and showed the church leaders how to write policies that can help them set up a formal structure of empowerment and accountability.

"Over the next few months the leaders in each country will be writing some of the basic policies that will govern our national churches," Mr. Fleming said.

Randal Dick preaches at service in Trinidad.
[Photos by Charles Fleming]

Derrick Davis makes a point during the conference.

Attendees serenade the kitchen staff.

BIG SANDY, Texas—New Beginnings Christian Fellowship, the Worldwide Church of God Big Sandy congregation, will celebrate its 50th anniversary July 4 to 6.

On Friday, July 4, you are invited to attend the City of Big Sandy parade, community events and Explosion in the Park fireworks display. After the fireworks we will have a Meet and Greet at the New Beginnings church building.

Saturday’s schedule includes a worship service followed by a Share the Fare potluck. In the evening we will have a "Ya’ll Come Barn Dance."

Sunday activities will include a worship service and an old-fashioned barbecue in the park. We will acknowledge several individuals who have been instrumental in the development of the Big Sandy congregation, throughout the weekend.

All who would like to come and celebrate with us are invited to attend. Feel free to drop in on any or all of the activities. If you plan to attend the barbecue in the park, we are asking for a donation of $5 per person to cover the costs.

NEWARK, New Jersey—The 24-7 Community Church, the Newark WCG congregation, celebrated Black History Month, Feb. 23.

"The spirit of the congregation was upbeat because the great heritage of a people that played a significant role in building a nation was evident," said Pastor Franklin K. Howard.

As you entered the sanctuary you were met with the imposing portraits of Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman. These were official portraits issued by the U.S. Postal Service as part of its Black History series.

"This is truly a nation of diversity," Mr. Howard said, "but Black History is distinct in that it is a story that was hidden and despised because of the once racially biased climate of his nation. The purpose of Black History is not to diminish the history of other groups in this country, however we must recognize those who played a significant part in building this great nation, but who never were significantly recognized in American history."

Rashonda Toliver, a teen, performed an African American praise dance. Her performance set forth the rich elegance and power of a people who came from the shores of Africa to the shores of America.

Then, Mr. Howard gave a sermon titled, "Somebody Paid a Price." A poignant moment of the sermon related to his childhood experiences of racial injustice, which was once prevalent in this country. Mr. Howard also related to the congregation how his father and others were treated as second-class citizens. He said that his father and others paid a price so that he could have a better life, and that Jesus paid the ultimate price so that we might have eternal life.

After the service, Mertice Evans organize a Black History program put on by the youth ministry and a guest praise dancer. A Pursuit of History game showcased many of the achievements of African Americans in this country. Lawrence Evans.

Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2003