Summerfest 2003

Life in the Son

ATLANTA, Georgia—The Worldwide Church of God conducted Summerfest 2003: Life in the Son, July 16 to 20.

“Summerfest 2003 was a grand success, said Allan Barr, coordinator. We give thanks to our Lord for the volunteerism and the participation of everyone who attended the festival.”

The highest attendance was 351 on Sunday, the last day of the festival. About 40 children, ages 4 to 11, attended children’s church and participated in a performance by the children’s choir. About 20 to 25 teens participated in a teen Bible study and other teen activities.

CHILDREN’S CHOIR [Photos by Yvonne Hodges]

On Wednesday, July 16, 35 attendees took part in a WCG family day at Stone Mountain Park.

Festival starts

On Thursday afternoon, festival services started at the Clayton Performing Arts Center, the same facility used last year. Kim Wortz, from Washington, D.C., gave an informative seminar on using CDs to enhance congregational worship services. She explained the legal uses of CD music for churches and the types of software one can use to burn CDs.

Joseph Tkach

That evening, Allan and Edna Barr presented a Bible study titled “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which described the wonderful life we have in Christ. They compared the life of George Bailey in the movie, It’s a Wonderful Life, with the life that Christians have received from our risen Lord.

On Friday, attendees anticipated hearing from Tammy Tkach. Unfortunately, we received news that morning that Tammy’s father, Don Hall, had died (see article page 5), and Mrs. Tkach returned to California.

NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHOIR

Mr. Barr filled in with a message titled, “The God of All Comfort.” He explained that God comforts us in our trials so that we can comfort others. Later that evening, Tim Brassell, pastor of the Portsmouth, Virginia, church, gave a message called “Claim the Spirit-Filled Life in the Son.” He showed how God has reconciled all to himself through Jesus Christ.

YOUTHFUL PRAISE—
Kendra Johnson, 3. Back:
Roberta Jackson (left) and
Deborah Young.

On Saturday morning, a koinonia (fellowship) service took place. It included examples of simplified worship—a cappella singing, no sermon, responsive readings, a mixer to encourage fellowship, and group prayer. Volunteers from the audience were asked to come on stage and harmonize during the a cappella singing. Some songs were sung to a single guitar accompaniment.

Saturday afternoon, Pastor General Joseph Tkach gave a sermon titled, “Livin’ and Forgiven.” He told the story of a child in the grip of an alligator while his mother held onto his arms to keep the gator from carrying her son away to his death.

She held on so desperately that her fingernails cut into the boy’s arms, leaving deep scars. The child was saved when a passing farmer shot and killed the gator. When the boy recovered, the reporters wanted to see the scars on his legs where the alligator bit him, but the boy wanted to show them the scars on his arms where his mother wouldn’t let go. This is analogous to Christ holding on to his saved ones with a won’t-let-go grip—none will perish.

Outstanding music

The three worship leaders were Charles Young, pastor of the Atlanta church; Jim Valekis, pastor of the Dayton and Tipp City, Ohio, church; and Shana Cheeks, a member of the Kennesaw, Georgia, church. The festival music coordinator was Tyrone Jackson, a member of the Atlanta church.

PRAISE AND WORSHIP

“The festival music was outstanding,” said Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers.

A praise concert took place Saturday evening during which Keysha Taylor performed an interpretive dance.

Teens and children

Charles Taylor, pastor of the Miramar, Florida, church, and his wife, Keysha, ministered to the teens. They were assisted by Anthony Mullins, a member in the Kennesaw church, and Phil and Tina Patterson of the Buford, Georgia, church. Howard Shadoan, pastor of the Stone Mountain and Athens, Georgia, churches, his wife, Jacqueline, and their daughter, Lisa Kelly, ministered to the children’s church.

On Sunday morning, the more than 30 children sang several numbers using hand and feet motions and signing. They invited the adults to join in with their movements, but few could keep up.

Dan Rogers

Mr. Rogers gave the final message of the festival Sunday morning, titled “Believing Thomas.” Mr. Rogers showed that once Thomas saw the risen Lord, he was no longer a doubter. He became a true believer.

Summerfest 2003 ended with communion.

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