Update

News of people,
places and events

Grace Family members
help hurricane victims

 DALLAS, Texas—Grace Family members have contributed to the WCG Disaster Relief Fund. They have also given furniture and other items to furnish apartments for five families displaced to the Dallas area by the hurricane.

WCG elder Walt Baudoin (second from left), an unidentified friend of his (far left) and Grace Family Church members from Dallas (from left): Tim Norwood, Carlos Parra, Octavio “Tavi” Nino and Patrick Tuter. The men helped Baudoin clean his house in Slidell, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. [Photo by Lynn Hebert]

Grace Family and a few other area churches have adopted the families, having helped them find apartments. Pastor Lynn Hebert said: “We are willing to help in many ways: food, utilities, auto and rent.”

Hebert and several Grace Family members traveled to Hammond, Louisiana, Sept. 16 and spent the weekend assisting hurricane victims. They moved furniture from three flooded houses and performed other tasks to help the affected residents get back on their feet.

One of the residents they assisted was WCG elder Walt Baudoin, who operated a house church in Slidell, Louisiana.

Contents of Walt Baudoin’s home placed outside for pickup after a day of work. [Photo by Lynn Hebert]

Grace Family members involved in the trip were Octavio “Tavi” Nino, Tim Norwood, Carlos Parra and Patrick Tuter. Mike Read assisted Louisiana residents at another time in September.

At Grace Family’s Oct. 2 service, youth leader Steve Kramer described a two-week mission trip to Louisiana in mid-to-late September. Kramer, who has a masters degree in counseling, was a Red Cross volunteer during the trip. He was in the area when Hurricane Rita hit.

He worked with residents housed in temporary shelters and was involved in comforting the distraught, setting up games for children and calming and working with an autistic man.

Kramer will be leaving the Dallas area to take a job as a regional director of Youth for Christ. Frank Lewandowski.

QUEZON CITY, Philippines—Eugene Guzon, national director, led radio listeners Sept. 16 in praying for the healing and restoration of the Philippines on DZAS, the major Christian radio channel in the country.

Guzon was among the religious leaders invited by Ephraim Tendero, director of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches, to pray for the country, which is suffering from deep disunity and political uncertainty.

In his prayer, Guzon prayed for the political leaders and all other sectors of society.

He also prayed for members of the body of Christ that they may remain hopeful and more passionate about sharing the good news, because despite the many challenges members and the country are facing, we have hope. We are in his hands, and he is in control.

Crossing Borders:
new camp with a mission

AUSTIN, Texas—Are you ready to step into a foreign culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ? If you want to expand your Christian growth in new and challenging ways, read on.

Lee Berger

As part of our Generations Ministry pro-grams, summer 2006 will see the addition of a new camp to our nationwide family of summer camps. This camp will run from Monday, June 19, through Sunday, June 26.

At this point, we have a camp reserved in Laredo, Texas, and plan to do our work in Mexico within 20 miles of the border around Nuevo Laredo.  

Our other summer camps are directed mainly toward preteens and teens, but this new camp—called Crossing Borders—will be open to Christians ages 15 and older.

While maintaining the central focus on growing in Jesus, this new camp will provide hands-on mission outreach to a different culture.

Crossing Borders camp will provide education and training in mission-based evangelism. This camp will help maturing Christians strengthen their hearts for mission, explore methods of outreach and provide application of their gifts in living and sharing the gospel across cultures—reaching into Mexico.

Crossing Borders is looking for Christians who have come to know and accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord and who want to explore how to reach out to others with the good news of salvation.

This camp will work to deepen each attendee’s relationship with God and seek to feed the flame of personal commitment to fulfill the great commission. The camp is open to any interested Christian age 15 and older, so spread the word to your friends, relatives, neighbors, classmates and others. 

Crossing Borders will have some recreational activities for campers to have fun and build teamwork, but be prepared for this to be a working camp. We’ll have chapel messages, praise and worship music, private and group devotionals, small group discussions, giftedness surveys, individual counseling, evangelism teaching sessions and role-playing.

We’ll build the attendee’s awareness of his or her personal testimony and explore drama, speech, music, puppetry, clowning, social service and other means to reach out to nonbelievers with the gospel.

We’ll take what we learn and apply it in hands-on ways across the border in Mexico. We’ll involve ourselves in various service projects, church services, park ministry, music concerts, tract dissemination, one-on-one discussion with the nationals (native Mexicans), and other appropriate outreach activities.

The learning may be uncomfortable, the camp is somewhat rustic, the temperatures will be hot and the days will be long, but it will be worth it. Crossing Borders camp is not designed to be comfortable; it is meant to be transformational.

If you are looking for new challenges to stimulate growth in your Christian walk, if you are ready to reach outside yourself and invest in the lives of others, if you can accept the challenge of operating in a different culture, and if you want to share your heart and testimony with others who need to know Jesus, this camp may be just right for you.

For more information or to apply, send an e-mail to lee.berger@wcg.org or write to Lee Berger, P.O. Box 554, Round Rock, Texas, 78680 or call him at 1-512-930-0503. The cost is $345 per camper.

Arvada mayor speaks to congregation

ARVADA, Colorado—Kenneth Fellman, mayor of Arvada, was a guest speaker at Living Grace Christian Fellowship Oct. 2. The mayor spoke on issues important to the community.

The invitation to the mayor was initiated at a breakfast meeting the previous Wednesday, when the mayor and Vicki Reier, assistant to the city manager, met with Pastor Allen Bullock and Bill Wells, chapter leader for the Office of Reconciliation Ministries (ORM).

Discussion revolved around areas of ministry and service available to our congregation. The ORM video was given to Vicki, since she works in community relations. Ken and Joan Horton.

Tom and Pam Smith

WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania— The Fountain of Life Church had a going away party for Pastor Tom Smith and his family after church June 19.

Tom and his wife, Pam, served the Washington area church for 17 years, and were transferred to  Pittsburgh. The Smiths were given a money tree, made from donations from the congregation, and a memory box that contained mementos from events and functions from their years in the area. Members from the Mount Pleasant church also attended the luncheon. Shirley Collins.

LOS ANGELES—During 45 years as a congregation, the Los Angeles church has met in many places, weathered many changes and served as a training church for many who are now WCG ministers and leaders.

On Aug. 27, the church remembered and celebrated its 45-year history, beginning with opening remarks by Pastor Bermie Dizon, followed by a slide show memorial to the many members who died in the faith while members in the Los Angeles congregation. The slide show included a photo or flowered image for each deceased member, and a reading of excerpts from Hebrews 11.

Bill Quillen, a former Los Angeles pastor, spoke briefly to the congregation. Greetings, congratulations and encouraging notes were read from Joseph Tkach, WCG president; Larry Van Landuyt, pastor in Chico and Redding, California; and Bharat Naker, pastor in Adelaide, Australia. The latter two were trained in Los Angeles.

Curtis May, district superintendent, delivered a sermon titled “What Do You See?”

After the worship service, a catered meal was enjoyed by 170 current and past members and guests, some of whom came from as far away as San Diego and Las Vegas; and one from Hanau, Germany.

Before dinner, recognition and gifts were given to Lucille Bradley, our oldest member; Billy Johnson, the longest baptized member at 46 years; Craig Best, our youngest baptized member; Diego Morales, our newest baptized member; and four members from the original Los Angeles congregation: Mariah Thompson, Felix and Melba Johnson and Jean Campbell.

During dinner, a slide show of youth and church activities was shown.

Then a short message from former pastor Abner Washington was played, followed by several funny stories and a short musical program.

The evening ended with remarks by Curtis May and Bermie Dizon. John Campbell.

INTRA (VERBANIA), Italy—One hundred thirty-six members gathered on the shore of Lake Maggiore for worship services Aug. 27 through Sept. 3.  Simultaneous translations were offered in English and German.

The theme was God’s marvelous grace. Presentations by Open Doors (serving persecuted Christians around the world) and Missione Possibile (Italian-based mission group) showed practical applications of responses to God’s grace. Members gave a generous offering to both of these associations.

Randal Dick, director of missions, and his wife, Susan, were in attendance. Other highlights were a worship evening with Maurizio Secondi, who has a worship ministry in Italy, tours to nearby gardens and islands, lunches together, a communion service, prayer meetings, a dance, various youth activities and the traditional evening of entertainment.

The dates for next year’s event will be Aug. 20 to 27, probably at the same location. Daniel Boesch.

Young people in Italy [Photo by Saro Barracato]

KANSAS CITY, Missouri—The Kansas City congregation and Fishers of Men conducted a public outreach event called “Celebration Urban America” Aug. 13 at Tower Park, near where the congregation meets.

Volunteer members began showing up at the park early that morning to set up the canopies and equipment. The event began at 11 a.m. with 70 people registering for free food and prize drawings every hour. Gospel tracts were handed out, and several altar calls were made.

Christian music was provided by Philo Bro, a group associated with an area Assemblies of God congregation, and also the Reed Family Band and Crystal West of our own WCG congregation.

Rain began at around 2 p.m., cutting the event short. As a new congregation in a new area formed by the merger of the two Kansas City area churches, the event established our presence in the neighborhood. Dick Mann.

How to plant a good church
in a bad section of town

MADISON, Wisconsin—How can our church reach people with the gospel of Jesus in the worst section of Madison when none of our members live there?

Juanita Bushert

Church member Juanita Bush-ert from nearby Fitchburg said, “I began praying every day on my way back and forth to work, asking God to use me as his instrument.”

Juanita’s husband, Jim, owns several apartment buildings in the Allied Drive area of Madison, to which many of the renters have recently moved from Mexico.

Juanita began showing interest in some of the renters. She learned their needs and concerns and began having a Bible study with a family in their apartment. Within a year she was having a Bible study with three Spanish-speaking families. These people became the nucleus for a house church a year and a half ago.

Madison house church [Photo by Carl Cramer]

They gather each Sunday in an apartment to hear a gospel message in Spanish. They are in much need of hope, truth and direction as they face a new life far from home.

Juanita said, “What gives me the most pleasure is seeing one person after another develop a relationship with Christ.”

Attendance varies from 10 to 25. The one-year anniversary drew more than 50 people. Most attendees are in their 20s or 30s, and several have children.

Pastor John L. Bailey and others from the Beloit, Wisconsin, congregation, which serves as the mother church, offer prayers, moral support and visiting speakers. This has proved to be a mutually beneficial relationship, with the small Beloit church being inspired by reaching out, and Juanita receiving much needed help to conduct worship services.

Juanita is working to disciple the new people and desires to equip those with appropriate gifts as ministry leaders. She is confident that “God has put me here to feel the pain of these people and bring them God’s love.” Dave Fiedler.

HOUSTON, Texas—Rod Mat-thews, mission developer for Australia and Asia, spoke to Community Christian Fellowship Sept. 3 about the WCG promoting the gospel of Jesus Christ in certain regions of India, Malaysia and Thailand.

Matthews spoke of ongoing communication with church groups in the far reaches of Sri Lanka, Nepal and Pakistan. These groups request literature and educational material to train pastors to serve in their small congregations. Some of these pastors found us on the Internet. They read our material and determined that our church is biblically sound. They want our help with training materials, and they want to tap into our literature.

These Christian churches are in predominantly Muslim or Hindu nations. Matthews introduced us to brothers and sisters in these nations with pictures that made a personal impression.

The following week, Ross Jut-sum, founder of State of the Heart Ministries, led the worship service and gave a sermon through songs, hymns and spiritual songs.

But first, the church was invited to a pancake breakfast hosted by the social committee. Margaret Ryan and Sherri Bounds cooked pecan and plain pancakes along with three types of breakfast sausage. Sylvester Washington handled the set-up. The Jackson and Jones families from New Orleans were in the area because of the hurricane.

Dr. Jutsum delivered the sermon with music, reminding us that it is good to be in the house of the Lord as we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Services were made extra special June 18 when several young people performed a drama titled We’re Off to See the Wizard.

Margaret Ryan wrote the script. Destiny McClain, 9, and Joseph McClain, 8, along with Amber Niel-son, 8, portrayed children seeking to find the Wizard (Margaret Ryan). Destiny was seeking patience, and along the yellow brick road she met Joseph, who was seeking love. They were joined by Amber, who sought obedience.

Once they found her, the wise wizard explained to the children that the Bible teaches everyone how to live full of patience and love by obedience to God’s Word.

The theme of this drama served as an introduction to the sermon presented by Pastor Mark Mounts titled “Imitators of God” based on Ephesians 5:1. Jesse Soto.

LOME, Togo—Our church mem-bers in Togo have a vision of how they can serve the Lord.

They plan to open a medical and social center to serve the community around their church in the capital, Lome. They have been raising funds for more than a year, and have enough now to begin the project, although much fund-raising still needs to be done. Our church in Germany has generously assisted their Togolese brothers and sisters in this endeavor.

Emmanuel Okai lays foundation stone.

On Aug. 28 Emmanuel Okai, chairman of the ecclesiastical council in neighboring Ghana, laid the foundation stone on behalf of WCG headquarters. Eighteen members from Ghana visited Lome for the ceremony.

Here are excerpts from his report to James Henderson, superintendent of missions for Africa:

“The church service Aug. 28 was a special one as the modern music ministry led in praises, worship, hymns and dancing.

Lome church prays during ceremony.

“Our host, Daniel Yovo, who met our group at the Ghana-Togo border (ensuring hassle-free crossings) had invited the Togolese director of Building Services to the meeting. Nearly 100 were in attendance. Church representatives from Benin, and some former members also joined in the celebrations.

“During the service, I spoke on ‘How to Bring in Crowds to Jesus.’ I encouraged the members to emulate Christ, who attracted people wherever he went because he loved the crowds of unconverted people and had compassion on them.

Artist’s sketch of final project.

“Second, he always met their needs before he taught them spiritual things. Third, he taught them so well, they were amazed.

“I suggested that their effort to bring people to Christ will succeed if they pray for the same qualities that Christ exhibited in his ministry. After all, we are just copying what Christ started.

“The medical facility is to consist of a pharmacy, an out-patient clinic and a maternity home.

“Supported by Yovo and other ministers, I laid the foundation stone on your behalf. During the ceremony, I pointed out that the most important components of the project were the love of people behind the project, the many people who will benefit from the clinic and the care-givers who will serve there.

“I prayed for God’s blessing on the sources of funding and that God would provide a team of dedicated workers. For those who would visit the clinic, I prayed that they receive not only physical relief for their ailments but God’s peace and spiritual healing.”

NACHES, Washington—The North-west region will host its annual Discovery Weekend for teens Dec. 30 to Jan. 1 at Lost Creek Village in Naches, 30 miles northwest of Yakima.

Come join us for a fantastic weekend with Jesus, friends and snow. This building event is available for teens ready to deepen their relationship with Christ.

Our theme is “What’s in Your Heart?” based on Ephesians 3:17. We will explore our relationship with Christ and delve into God’s Word in our chapels and seminars. Our goal is to help teens deepen their relationships with Christ and other Christian teens so they may be strengthened for the world we live in.

The cost is $85 per teen. However, if teens register and pay a deposit by Nov. 10, tuition is reduced to $75. If you would like to attend or serve as staff at the event, please call Tori Emerson at 1-425-317-8412 or send an e-mail to emerson_erikntori@msn.com.

How Beaumont members
fared in Hurricane Rita

 BEAUMONT, Texas—Gene Koch and James Scales, WCG pastors in Beaumont, commented on how members fared during Hurricane Rita. They had 10 nights of pitch blackness at night and lack of communications. Koch evacuated for about six days and came back to a house with only a few shingles missing. He used a generator for about six days.

Gene Koch

James Scales

Here is the rest of their report:

“Words cannot describe the damage done. All streets were blocked with downed trees. All members in the Beaumont church have been contacted with the exception of two and those contacted have minimal damage to their homes. We thank God for his protection.

“Thanks to WCG members who remembered us in their prayers. The Beaumont church could not meet for two weeks. We met this past Sunday, Oct. 9, for a worship service in the Koch home. We hope to meet soon in our regular hall, which the City of Beaumont (our landlord) turned over to the electric company for temporary use as a staging ground for out of state power trucks and repairmen. As of Oct. 12, 95 percent of electric power has been restored to Beaumont and hopefully in two to three weeks all power should be restored to all the affected areas.

“Our God is a great God, who is merciful, kind and loving and who provides for our protection and needs at all times. As the apostle Paul said, ‘Whatsoever state I find myself in, I am content,’ and so are we.”

Sisters in Fellowship

KALAMAZOO, Michigan—Sharon Turharsky hosted Sisters in Fellowship July 10.

After prayer and lunch, the women packed gift packs for an ecumenical senior citizen’s agency to use for their weekly bingo games. The women donated toiletries, toilet paper and sugar-free candy. They also provided pads and pencils with love notes and scriptures. The gift packs were delivered the next day by Sharon Turharsky and Cathy Sturdivant. Cathy Sturdivant.

Ministerial transitions

PASADENA—Church Administration announced the following ministerial transitions.

Gary Crowell, pastor of the Honolulu, Hawaii, church, went part-time paid as of Aug. 15. Crowell was previously a bivocational pastor (not receiving pay).

Paul David Kurts, pastor of the Hickory, North Carolina, church, changed from church pastor to dual career church pastor May 29.

Lester A. McColm became part-time pastor of the Fresno, California, church Aug. 1.

Todd Crouch was hired church pastor-full time, Sept. 12, to serve in Washington, Pennsylvania; Cambridge, Ohio; and Wheeling, West Virginia. He replaces Tom Smith, who pastors the Pittsburgh church.

Baltimore has been FLIPT

The Baltimore, Maryland, children’s ministry—the Treasure Seekers—was FLIPT over the summer. The ministry used the Willow Creek/Promiseland curriculum called FLIPT—when a child encounters Jesus he can FLIPT him or her to go his way.

The fellowship hall was transformed by Karen Harris into three distinct areas to accommodate the different components of the program.

As our 40-plus children entered the Sunday school area, they participated in music and drama on the second Sunday, crafts on the third Sunday and games on the fourth Sunday. The second part of the program was the large group and teaching time section, and the last part was small groups and team time. (We have designated the first Sunday of each month as Family Sunday, when Treasure Seekers join their parents for the service.) Carol Whitting.

Gateway to God campers
focus on transformation

ELLINGTON, Missouri—Gateway to God Discovery Weekend took place Sept. 3 to 5 at Logan Valley Christian Retreat in Ellington. 

The theme “Extreme Makeover: Christ Edition” was reflected in chapels led by chaplain David Bauman. The three chapels during the weekend focused on humanity’s separation from God, his gift of eternal life and our need to be born again.

Workshops led by Bauman and Tony Raney, activities director, focused campers on their need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and how he can transform their lives.

Campers enjoyed volleyball and basketball among other games. They also participated in a high ropes challenge course and, much to their delight, a 250 foot waterslide. The 30 campers stayed in two boys and two girls dorms, each with the name of a country where Christians are being persecuted: China, Cambodia, Sudan and Egypt. They were encouraged throughout the weekend to pray for those countries and others where Christians cannot worship without fear of persecution.

During the praise service on Sunday night, Sept. 4, we were blessed with a performance by The Missouriinos, a Christian rap group. One member of the group, Darnell Alexander, spoke about how Jesus saved him from his former life-style of drugs and violence. Counselor Jon Reinagel recounted experiences of his mission trip to the Philippines and described how they changed his life.

Director Karl Reinagel observed: “The Holy Spirit was clearly at work throughout the camp. I was impressed with the level of participation in the chapels and the enthusiasm of the campers in praising God. It was encouraging to see a number of new campers who had their first exposure to Jesus Christ.”

Each Gateway to God seems better than the one before. Tony Raney noted: “For me the prayer focus was far greater than that of the four previous weekends. I lost count of how many times I had hands laid on me, and I suspect others can say the same.”  

For the first time, staff members arrived Friday night for fellowship and prayer before the campers came Saturday afternoon. 

The weekend ended with the baptisms of campers Joseph Sterling and Amber Redden by Pastors Gary Harris and Karl Reinagel of New Creation in Christ in St. Louis. Sarah Loranger.

Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2005