TELEVISION STUDIO—At the controls are Armin
Reese (left) and Merrill Stevenson.
[Photo by Don Weaver]
Sacramento video ministry
serves small churches
SACRAMENTO, California—“That night Paul had a vision. He saw a man from Macedonia in northern Greece, pleading with him, ‘Come over here and help us’ ” (Acts 16:9).
“Little did I know in June 1998 how similar my circumstances would be to the apostle Paul’s,” said Pastor Mike Swagerty. “At the time I was serving as the district superintendent over part of the Western United States, which included Craig, Colorado. I was visiting the small church there, pastored by Carter Chadwick.
“As I was about to leave to head home, I asked Chadwick: “Is there any way I can be of further help to you?” He told me he would soon be undergoing a two-year procedure to correct his eyesight, as he was going blind. This condition would make it impossible to put together a sermon each week. Could I send his congregation a video of my sermons in Sacramento to help them out? I told him I would find a way.
“Upon returning to Sacramento, we located a small home video camera, mounted it on a tripod in the back of the hall, and proceeded to tape the service each week and mail it to him.
“From there we have built a small television studio behind the stage of the church we rent, and we now produce a fully edited version of our worship music and the sermon I give. We have the capabilities to send out videos in VHS or DVD format.”
The songs are subscripted so that groups can sing along without having the words to the music. All the scriptures used in the sermon are also included with the videos. Currently we mail about 40 videos three times a month to groups scattered all over the United States.
One recipient responded: “The church members who are home bound are using the tapes. They feel that they are attending a church service.”
“If you are part of a small church that could use a supplement to your music or sermon ministry, please let us know, and we will send you a sample in either VHS or DVD,” Swagerty said. You can e-mail him at mike_swagerty@ wcg.org.
TELEVISION STUDIO—At
the controls are Armin
Reese (left) and Merrill Stevenson.
[Photo by Don Weaver]
Commissioned leader
shares
faith in Myanmar
NORTHERN MYANMAR—Naing Key Har, our commissioned leader in the northern part of Myanmar, sent the following report to Wong Mein Kong, Malaysian pastor.
“On March 25, I paid a visit to a village where some of my relatives dwell. I had to stay there for a week, and during my stay I called the village-dwellers every night for Bible study and worship. They were happy to come to the meeting place, and to hear the word of God concerning the new covenant. Seven families of about 45 people are likely to become members of the WCG.
“It is hard to make a journey on foot there because of great distance from the nearest provincial town. I returned on April 2 and had to rest for two days because of pain and aches all over my body. I began to suffer from malarial fever starting April 5, and I nearly died of it. Therefore, I had to take a long medical cure together with prayer.
“I was healed of my serious ailment starting from the first day of May. I know that God did not allow me to die early because his work is merely started now.”
Bermuda congregation has
annual women’s day service
HAMILTON, Bermuda—Carmen Fleming, wife of Charles Fleming, Caribbean mission developer, was guest speaker at the annual women’s day service in Bermuda, July 4.
The church is pastored by Cecil Pulley and his wife, Senior.
“The church is doing well,” Fleming said. “They seem ready to go out on mission and are looking for ways to be Jesus’ hands, feet and voice to others.”
They moved their Sunday morning service to 4 p.m. so they could invite people from other churches to their woman’s day service.
Mrs. Fleming’s message was “The Priesthood of All Believers.” She gave practical examples of how to be on mission with and for God.
Texans kick up heels at
Hawaiian Hoedown
DALLAS, Texas—The Dallas North congregation was host to a Hawaiian Hoedown dinner and dance with a Hawaiian and Texan theme July 10 at the Doubletree Hotel in Dallas.
About 60 guests, many wearing tropical and Western wear, enjoyed a six-station buffet dinner that included a smoothie bar, various appetizer and food islands, and a variety of desserts.
Teresa Graham of Crossroads Bible Church said: “My family will always remember that special evening together. We truly had a blast.”
Liana Scott of the Dallas North congregation and Amy Wendland of the Austin, Texas, congregation coordinated the event, which originally was to be an Imperial Schools reunion. Later, it was decided to open the dinner-dance to others. Angeline Chichaya.
HOEDOWN—From
left: Val Thomas, Vera
Gibbs and Dana Ripley [Photo by Sheila Graham]
Fort Worth members
go on
mission trip to Mexico
FORT WORTH, Texas—The Fort Worth church was invited to go on a mission July 16 to 23 by Pastor Mike Helton of Vision Ministries. “We accepted that invitation,” said Tom Pickett, WCG pastor, “and had eight volunteers sign up, of whom six were adults and two were teens.”
It took 14 hours to get from Fort Worth to Saltillo, Codhuila, Mexico. When we arrived we were assigned to help with the Vacation Bible School at the Iglesia Pentecostes Lanaje Escogido church.
The first night we were there we presented Pastor Luis Llanas a gift from the Fort Worth church. The next day the children were organized into a parade, and we went through the neighborhood carrying the Mexican flag, singing, making noise with a tambourine, and handing out balloons. This brought some of the children into the parade, and some more went to the church for the Vacation Bible School.
Each day after the Vacation Bible School lessons were complete, we would then teach the children English as a second language.
At night we would have a revival, and Pastor Tom would give the sermons and have an altar call after each sermon.
After the last lesson of Vacation Bible School, 22 children gave their lives to Jesus. Jerry Wait.
MEXICAN MISSION—From
left: Doris Johnson,
Antoinette Kruger, Jerry Wait, Pastor Luis and
Lucilla
Llanas and granddaughter, Pastor
Tom Pickett, Mollie Weatherman, Lance
Tyree,
Cody Perez and Johnny Weatherman.
Pacific Northwest men:
Meeting the Challenge
AUBURN, Washington—Seventeen men from churches around the Pacific Northwest met June 11 to 13 at Camp Berachah, a Christian retreat center in Auburn, for a men’s retreat.
The theme was “Meeting the Challenge.” The men discussed sexual purity and godly confidence.
Presenters were Pastor Dee Bulante, pastor of the Olympia and Port Orchard, Washington, churches; Bill Miller, pastor of the Bellevue and Everett, Washington, churches; Bart Baril, an elder in the Port Orchard church; and Mike Limanni.
The goal was to present an atmosphere of challenge, growth and fun for the men. It was a time for the men to strategize on how we can meet the challenge of being Christian men in today’s society and also have a little fun at the same time. Bart Baril.
MEN’S RETREAT—Seventeen
men from churches
around the Pacific Northwest met June 11 to 13 at
Camp Berachah, a Christian retreat center in Auburn,
Washington, for a men’s
retreat.
JULYJAM
youth outreach
takes place in Pikeville
PIKEVILLE, Kentucky—Jesus Unconditionally Loves You. Just Ask Me. (JULY JAM) was the theme of a youth outreach that took place in Pikeville during the month of July.
The attendance, averaged over five Fridays, exceeded 200 people each evening. Seven teens dedicated their lives to the Lord because of the services.
The Pikeville WCG congregation was the thrust behind and the organizer of this outreach. Throughout the month, a variety of Christian rock bands played, youths performed dramas and speakers from four different denominations addressed the group.
When the planning began, we did not have enough money to cover expenses, but by the end of the month, all expenses were paid with a surplus of $350. God provided abundantly above and beyond all that was needed. To God be the glory for the success of JULY JAM. Debby Bailey.
PIKEVILLE BAND—Pulse,
a youth band
from the WCG congregation in Pikeville,
plays during JULY JAM. From
left: Hoyt
Dingus, Shane Duncan, Natasha Hamilton,
Clinton Bailey, Kenny Worrix
and Matthew
Worrix [Photo by Debby Bailey]
Pasadena teens repair
homes
on Navajo reservation
PASADENA—Nine teens and two adult sponsors, primarily from NewLife Fellowship in Pasadena, participated in a weeklong work camp on the Navajo Indian reservation in southeastern Utah, July 25-31. They joined about 300 participants from many other states and denominations who worked on 48 houses selected by a local government agency.
All participants camped in the classrooms of a high school. Each of our participants was assigned to a different six-person work crew. The work involved roofing, siding, drywall, painting, floors, porches and wheelchair ramps.
Several weeks before the trip, the teens participated in basic skills training and a series of devotionals provided by the organizer, Group Workcamps. Each day of the camp, there were devotions at each worksite, an evening praise and worship session, a message encouraging spiritual growth, and an evening devotional time with the youth group.
The teens also had interesting experiences with the Navajo people and saw some of the scenic attractions in the area. They enjoyed helping the residents and gained new appreciation for their own homes. Most of the teens thought it was a worthwhile experience and expressed interest in doing something similar again. Michael Morrison.
Crew 13, including Melinda
Morrison
(front left), on their half-built porch.
NAVAJO MISSION—Participants
at the
entrance to the Navajo reservation: Janet
Morrison, Aaron Walton, Abel Dizon, Steven
Rogers, Anthony Walton, Melinda Morrison,
Stephanie Golden, Carmel Dizon, Steven
Morrison and Deanna O’Bryan
[Photo by Michael Morrison].
Making the love of God
visible in Columbus, Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Columbus congregation, pastored by John Karlson, is making the love of God visible in our community.
The first step was to develop a survey to identify which members were currently volunteering, where we needed additional help, who would like to help and which segments of society we should target.
We began with a food drive for a food pantry. The congregation was generous in its donations, and members participated in the weekly sorting and stocking of the pantry shelves.
Our second project, headed by Liz Mertes, was adopting a nursing home. The Christmas and Spring parties featured a piano solo by Brandon Bapst, a violin solo by Nicki Bapst and a children’s church performance under the direction of Lisa Bapst, Judy Hoban and Fian Kunesh. Steve Meade delivered a message, and Tad Lamb, Ron Pollard, Dave Tyler and Larry Titus hosted a sing-along. Food was provided by the Women’s Fellowship.
The third project, led by Katie Yoder and Lisa Bapst, involves individual phone calls to each member of the congregation every three months to see if everything is OK or if there is some way that our group can assist them. Prayer requests are forwarded to those identified by our survey as having a desire to be part of the prayer team.
Our fourth project involves books. The Mission of Mercy is starting a library for the nursing home residents and to date we have collected almost 200 books. The Women’s Fellowship, under Cristy Meade’s leadership, is also collecting books for the children’s hospital.
Ann Miller initiated a meal preparation program that we’ve adopted to assist the grieving in their time of need. Members of our group also house-sit for the family during calling hours and services so their homes will not be left unattended. Catherine P. Lamb.
New Hope conducts
Vacation
Bible School
EAGLE ROCK, California—New Hope Christian Fellowship, an Eagle Rock congregation of the Worldwide Church of God, hosted its second Vacation Bible School Aug. 8 to 10. In attendance were 54 children, 20 of whom were friends invited by the New Hope children.
The VBS used Son Games 2004 produced by Gospel Light Ministries. Using an Olympic setting and games, the children learned how important it is to be on God’s winning team.
Son Games was presented on three consecutive nights with a different theme each night: Join in, Get Strong and Celebrate! The children had a mission project to raise donations to support the Bengali Evangelical Association (BEA), and collected $400, which a Massachusetts company matched, making the total donation $800.
The following Sunday, Aug. 15, was VBS day at New Hope Christian Fellowship. The children presented the VBS songs, the youth drama team did a skit and each participant received a certificate of achievement.
At the end of the worship service, Pastor Dennis Pelley gave an invitation, and six children came forward to accept Jesus as their Savior, along with several adults. Son Games 2004 reminded us that the church is a team where the members spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24). Nina Perez.
Praise and worship
NEW HOPE VACATION
BIBLE SCHOOL—
[Photos by Christine and Daniel Leon]
Kennesaw teens
participate in
weeklong missions trip
KENNESAW, Georgia—Fourteen teens and youth workers from Northwest Christian Fellowship joined more than 400 Christian teens and youth workers from around the country at a Group Workcamp (www.groupworkcamps.com) in Brighton, Tennessee, July 11 to 17.
A primary purpose of the work camp is to share the love of Jesus through construction work that is desperately needed on homes of needy families. Construction projects were completed on 64 homes in the community by the end of the week. Projects included building porches, interior and exterior painting, roof repair and construction, building wheelchair ramps and repairing drywall.
Every project would stop construction at midday to share a spiritual devotional and prayer with the resident. Each evening, the nondenominational Group Ministry staff would lead praise and worship, devotionals, drama and discipleship booths.
Many of the teens said they were amazed at how God showed up in unexpected ways, how God gave them a greater appreciation of their own spiritual and physical blessings and how they want to go deeper in their own personal ministry to others.
The residents being served also appreciated the work being done. Resident Patricia Alexander said: “This means a great deal to me. I was first told that I did not qualify for the program and then on Monday morning I had a surprise—six crew members coming to work on the house. I am well blessed. These kids are great.” Anthony Mullins.
Haley Zimmerman (closest to
camera)
and friends apply a fresh coat of paint.
Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2004