February 2005 Contents

This is our February cover.

Letters to the editor

Great tool

Awesome. Totally awesome.

Just received my copies of the new Vol. 1 No. 1 of Odyssey and WCG Today and was unable to put them down! Read them both cover to cover.

Excellent material, superb composition. Really inspirational and informative. Both will serve a wonderful purpose for their readers now and in our future.

Thanks to everyone who had a hand in this endeavor, and may God richly bless all your hard work and inspiration. Thank you to those whose gift is vision, willing to look ahead and try new things. This is going to be a great tool in reaching out, as well as encouraging those in the church. 

I appreciated Joseph Tkach’s letter accompanying the two new publications too. A wonderful reminder about the importance of a new start. Thank you for your kindness in honoring our patriarch Herman L. Hoeh. His presence shall indeed be missed.

Don’t know where the idea came from, but the caterpillar and the butterfly in the name and throughout the magazine is a neat touch and really describes our journey well. May the butterfly’s work be blessed by a generous, kind and loving God!

                                                                                Arnold Clauson
                                                                                Pastor
                                                                                Dallas, Texas, North

Transforming ministry

The new formats of WCG Today and the new Christian Odyssey publications are fantastic. It is exciting to be a part of this transforming ministry of Jesus Christ.  Like the pine cones of certain trees that sprout only after a forest fire to arise out of the ashes of destruction in new birth, so have we arisen out of the demolition of legalism to new birth in the grace of Jesus. Praise the Lord! Praise Jesus! It truly is a walk in odyssey!

                                                                                                Tom Blake
                                                                                                                        Edgerton, Wisconsin

Missing Sri Lankan family
found safe after Asian tsunami

By Rod Matthews

VARSITY LAKES, Queensland, Australia—Lynton Silva, pastor of our congregations in the hill country of Sri Lanka, telephoned me Jan. 21 with the wonderful news that Ravi and Mala, who lead a Bible study group in Batticaloa, and their children survived the tsunami.

We thank God for his love and mercy! The family had not been heard from since the Dec. 26 tsunami.

They were not at home when the tsunami struck, but were visiting friends farther away from the sea. After the wave caused such devastation, they went back to their house to find it demolished, and with everyone else, faced the fear of further tsunamis coming ashore, so they decided to head inland.

Lynton said that Ravi was most grateful to learn of the worldwide concern that had been expressed for his family.

I regret that we still have no news of the other three adults in Batticaloa who are still missing.

Previous trip

Silva had made an earlier trip  through the eastern areas of Sri Lanka devastated by the tsunami. His journey included visits to Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee.

In Ampara, where we have a group of 20 people that meet when Silva or one of the leading men from Badulla visit, he found all the people safe, but all had suffered loss of property and were living in temporary shelters. He and his wife, Iona, spent time with them in prayer and encouragement and left them with dry rations and used clothing before going to Batticaloa.

What the survivors need

Based on the information Silva has from local sources, a simple dwelling could be built for less than A$1,000 (US$770). They will assess the need in each area with a focus on the 20 displaced members in Ampara and the 12 who survived from our group in Batticaloa.

The generosity of our members around the world has been incredible. It seems that our own people will be well looked after in the rebuilding efforts. More than A$4,000 (US$3,080) has already been sent to the church’s Colombo account for use in relief operations.

Donald Pieris, our elder in Colombo, along with his two sons and a few members in the southern suburbs of Colombo, help distribute relief supplies, mainly dry rations such as rice, powdered milk, vegetables and lentils of various sorts and drinking water, to people who are making their way back to whatever is left of their homes.

The faculty and staff of the Worldwide Educational Institute (WEI), our school in the northern Colombo suburb of Wattala, including a few students, are helping in the densely populated coastal or canal bank areas near WEI. A home for disabled children is a focus of these relief efforts.

Mohan Jayasekera

Our church in Sri Lanka is not large, but the contacts we have there through Mohan Jayasekera and members will enable us to make a contribution to the national effort that is significant in the light of our size. We have already established a relationship with Pastor Reginald Ebenezer, a friend of Jayasekera for many years who heads the Canaan Peace Prayer Mission, an organization whose work includes establishing orphanages and facilities to help tap the talents of the physically disabled.

The church has already made a contribution to his mission to help children in orphanages obtain educational materials and cloth for school uniforms and other clothing needs, as authorities attempt to resume classes.

Jayasekera has also been in touch with the head of the Dutch Reformed Church in Sri Lanka, who was a childhood friend and who is a member of the National Christian Council, whose help has been sought by the President’s Special Task Force for reconstruction (he has been instrumental in getting convoys of relief supplies moving into some of the more remote areas), the Anglican Bishop of Galle (Jayasekera’s cousin) and one of the national board members of World Vision Sri Lanka to help facilitate and coordinate our church’s involvement and the effective use of the resources we have available from our worldwide family.

Relief organizations remind us that funds will be needed for months to come. Through the generosity of our own people around the world, we are in a position to assist with the vision and patience needed in the long term. In meeting this challenge, valuable relationships are being established as we work together with the rest of the Christian community to demonstrate in practical ways the love of Christ in us.

Something Worth Thinking About

True worship

By Joseph Tkach

Jews and Samaritans simply didn’t get along. The trouble went way back, five centuries or so, to the days of the Jewish leader Zerubbabel. Some Samaritans offered to help the Jews rebuild their temple, and Zerubbabel rebuffed them. The Samaritans responded by complaining to the king of Persia and stopped the work (Ezra 4).

Later, when the Jews were rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, the governor of Samaria threatened to take military action against the Jews. The Samaritans eventually built their own temple on Mt. Gerizim, and in 128 B.C., the Jews destroyed it. Although their religions were both based on the laws of Moses, they were bitter enemies.

Jesus enters Samaria

But Jesus was not shackled by the squabbles of the past. Although most Jews avoided Samaria, Jesus walked right into it, taking his disciples with him. He was tired, so he sat down at a well near the city of Sychar, and sent his disciples into town to buy some groceries (John 4:3-8). Along came a Samaritan woman, and Jesus talked to her. She was surprised that he would talk to a Samaritan; his disciples were surprised that he would talk to a woman (verses 9, 27).

The Samaritan woman was surprised that a Jew would actually drink from a Samaritan water pot.

Jesus shows us a simple way of dealing with people who have different religious beliefs, people who are from a different ethnic group, people who are traditional enemies: just treat them like normal human beings. Don’t ignore them, don’t avoid them, don’t insult them. But Jesus had something much more profound than that to say.

He began in the simplest possible way: He asked the woman for a drink. He was thirsty, but he had nothing to draw water with—but she did. He had a need, she had a means of fulfilling it, so he asked her for help. She was surprised that a Jew would actually drink from a Samaritan water pot—most Jews considered such a vessel ritually unclean. And then Jesus said: I have something a lot better than water, if you want it. I am willing to ask you for a drink of water—are you willing to ask me for something that’s better? (verses 7-10).

Jesus was using a play on words—the phrase “living water” usually meant moving water, flowing water. The woman knew quite well that the only water in Sychar was in that well, and there was no flowing water nearby. So she asked Jesus what he was talking about. He said he was talking about something that would lead to eternal life (verses 11-14). He was talking about religious ideas—but would the woman be willing to listen to spiritual truth from a religious enemy? Would she drink Jewish waters?

The woman asked for the living water, and Jesus invited her to get her husband. He already knew that she didn’t have one, but he asked anyway—possibly to show that he had spiritual authority. He was the vessel from which she could receive the living water. The woman got the message: “I can see that you are a prophet” (verse 19). If Jesus knew the facts about her unusual marital status, then he probably knew spiritual truths, as well.

True worship

After learning that Jesus was a prophet, the woman brought up the age-old controversy between Samaritans and Jews about the proper place to worship: We worship here, but you Jews say that people have to go to Jerusalem (verse 20). Jesus responded: The day will soon come when that won’t be relevant. It won’t matter whether people look to Mt. Gerizim or Jerusalem—or any other location. The hour is already here when people will worship God in spirit and truth (verses 21-24).

Has Jesus suddenly jumped to a different subject? Maybe not—the Gospel of John gives us some clues about what he meant: “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63). “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:16). True worship means listening to the words of Jesus, and coming to God through him. Worship does not depend on place or time or ethnic group—it depends on our attitude to God as shown in our attitude to his Son, Jesus Christ. True worship comes along with the living water.

Jesus was revealing a profound spiritual truth to this stranger—a truth just as profound as what he had discussed with one of Israel’s religious leaders (John 3). But the woman was not quite sure what to make of it, and she said, When the Messiah comes, he’ll tell us what’s right (verse 25).

Jesus responded, I am he—probably his most direct claim to be the Messiah—and yes, what I am telling you is right. The woman left her water jar behind and went back to town to tell everyone about Jesus, and she convinced them to check it out for themselves, and many of them believed. They believed not just because of the woman’s testimony, but because they listened to Jesus himself (verses 39-41).

Worship today

Sometimes people today get too opinionated about worship—true worship has to involve a certain day of the week, a certain type of song, a certain posture or some other detail. But I think that Jesus’ answer to the Samaritan woman covers it well: The time will come when you will worship God neither this way nor that, because God is not to be found in earthly places, rotations of the earth, cultural music or human gestures.

God is spirit, and our relationship with him is a spiritual one. We live in time and space, and we use time and space in our worship, but those details are not the meaning of worship. Rather, our worship centers in Jesus, and in our relationship with him. He is the source of living waters that we need for eternal life. We need to admit our thirst, and ask him for a drink. Or to use metaphors from the book of Revelation, we need to admit that we are poor, blind and naked, and ask Jesus for spiritual wealth, sight and clothing. We worship in spirit and truth when we look to him for what we need.

In marriage, different people express love in different ways, and some forms of expression are appropriate in public, and some are not. This is true of worship, too. We express our adoration in different ways, and some ways are more appropriate in private than in public. Certain activities, though they may seem worshipful to one person, may appear disrespectful or distracting to another person. When we worship together, we do not want our activities to put other people off. At the same time, believers who are more formal need to be tolerant of a little diversity. True worship is not defined by external matters, but by our attitude toward Jesus Christ.

When it comes to worship, though there will always be room for improvement and maturity, may we continue to learn from Jesus not only about what worship really is, but also the way we interact with people who think about it differently than we do.

Meet your district superintendent

Randy Bloom:

Randy & Debbie Bloom

Central district

MEMPHIS, Tennessee—Randy Bloom, central district superintendent, was born in Pen-nsylvania. His father was in the Air Force, so Bloom spent his youth in numerous locations, including Great Britain.

He attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, where he met his wife, Debbie. They graduated in 1975 and were sent to Atlanta, Georgia, where he was employed as a ministerial trainee. After the denomination had a major layoff in 1976, Bloom sold building materials for eight years with Huttig Sash and Door Co. in Atlanta. He also started a specialty millwork sales business. He was ordained as an elder in 1976.

In 1984 Bloom was re-employed as the assistant pastor in Atlanta. In 1989 the Blooms were sent to pastor in Somerset, Kentucky. The next year they were sent to pastor the Syracuse and Utica, New York, churches. In 1998 the Bloom family moved to pastor the church in Memphis.

Bloom has earned master of arts in religion and master of divinity degrees from Liberty University.

In 1999, Bloom began to serve as superintendent for the Central district. “Pastoral ministry is difficult,” he said. “Pastors need someone they can turn to for help, especially when things get tough. I hope I can be that someone for them.”

To train and equip pastors and members for ministry, Bloom conducts ministry development meetings at eight locations throughout the district. He especially enjoys the personal visits he has with pastors and their wives.

Debbie is employed as a customer service manager by S/G Industries. The Blooms have two children: Lisa (who is married to Chris Higgins), and Ryan.

The following pastors, wives, congregational lead-ers and congregations are in the Central district.

Ada, Oklahoma: Stuart and Darlene Rising.

Alamosa, Colorado: Paul and Bonnie Phillips (small group church leader).

Batesville, Arkansas: Jeff and Tammy Noordhoek, Jim and Cindy Noordhoek.

Casper, Wyoming: Arthur and Donna Baldrey (contact person).

Cheyenne, Wyoming: Shannon and Denise Fertig.

Columbia, Lake of the Ozarks and Kirksville, Missouri: Brad and Cindy Bruns.

De Soto, Missouri: Bob and Jan Ehlen.

Denver, Colorado, South: Tim and Mary Ann Snyder.

Denver North and Colorado Springs, Colorado: Allen and Doris Bullock.

Elm Springs, Arkansas: Terry and Madeline Warren.

Grand Island, Nebraska: Fred and Beverly Davis.

Jackson, Tennessee: Wayne and Buni Wendt.

Jonesboro, Arkansas: Bill Floyd, Ray Gardner, Larry Holmes and Judy Pierce (pastoral leadership team).

Kansas City, Missouri, North and Kansas City, Kansas, South: Ray and Carol Meyer.

Lake St. Louis, Missouri: Gary and Diane Dry.

Lawton, Oklahoma: Johnny Bailey, Farrel Dockstetter and Bill Pemberton (pastoral leadership team).

Lincoln, Nebraska: Duane and Alberta Marquis (small group church leader).

Memphis, Tennessee: Frederick and Laura Moore.

Mountain Home, Arkansas: Paul and Mary Miller.

North Platte, Nebraska: Norris and Doris Grous (small group church leader).

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Mike and Julie Rasmussen.

Pine Bluff, Arkansas: Oliver and Yvonne Baker.

Ponca City, Oklahoma: Stuart and Robbie Powell.

Pueblo, Colorado: Sam Reese, Doris Baer and Jan Shriver (pastoral leadership team).

Russellville, Arkansas: William and Ednita Condley.

Scottsbluff, Nebraska: John and Linda Kehn.

Sioux City, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska: David and Linda Husmann.

Springfield and Joplin, Missouri: Jim and Kaye Kissee.

St. Joseph, Missouri: Ron and Joannie McCrerey.

St. Louis, Missouri, North and South: Karl and Carla Reinagel.

Topeka, Kansas: John and Sue Howard.

Tulsa, Oklahoma: Jon Rummel, Catherine Foster, Phillip Talley and Sheila Talley (pastoral leadership team).

Tupelo, Mississippi: Danny Thomas (contact person).

Van Buren, Arkansas: Don Walker, Johnny Newby and John Hammock (pastoral leadership team).

Wheatland, Wyoming: David and Rose Weber.

Wichita, Kansas: Don and Alix Engle.

Regional Snapshot

Representing Jesus
in Canada

By Gary Moore

For more information about the differences between the United States and Canada, check our web site at www.wcg.ca

SURREY, British Columbia—Being authentic Christians and representing Jesus Christ and his gospel to contemporary Canada is the task of WCG members and congregations here. It is a task we share with the wider body of Christ. 

Christianity in Canada is at a historically low ebb, though it is showing some good life signs. In 1945 and 1950, Canada had one of the highest church attendance rates in the Western world. More than 50 percent attended a weekly worship service. Today, that number has shrunk to 20 percent. Thankfully though, that decline in numbers finally appears to have been halted. This compares to the United States, where 40 to 45 percent attended weekly 50 or 60 years ago, and virtually the same percentage does today.

Declining church attendance

A whole host of reasons are cited to explain this divergence. Part of it may be that Roman Catholics and mainline Protestants form a much larger percentage of the Christian population in Canada, with evangelical Christians very much present, but in lower numbers than in the United States.

The Roman Catholic Church and mainline Protestants have dropped significantly in attendance and in some areas are still dropping. Evangelical churches in Canada have done a much better job holding and even gaining members, and are a growing percentage of the Christian population here.  Significant numbers of evangelicals are also in the Roman Catholic and mainline Protestant churches.

So Canada finds itself somewhere between the low northern and western European church attendance rates (5 percent in many countries) and the comparatively high church involvement of the U.S. population.

Canada has moved more into what has been called a postmodern society than the United States. This may partially be because of the high rates of immigration from around the world, leading to greater diversity. Partially it may be because of the deliberate government policy of multiculturism over the last generation. This policy has produced more of a salad bowl society in Canada, where each ethnic and cultural group tries to preserve its distinctives.

The United States has historically viewed itself as a melting pot, where policy has historically encouraged the shedding of distinctives by new immigrants in favor of a common American culture. This is an over-generalization, as second and third generation Canadians tend to lose their distinctives, and in the United States the tendency is growing to resist the melting pot in favor of cultural institutions such as linguistic (often Spanish speaking) schools.

Fusion of cultures

Of course, another factor that has influenced the Canadian approach is that the country was formed as a fusion of English and French cultures. This has required a constant willingness by all parties to compromise and seek tolerance of differences to preserve the nation’s unity. Canadians tend to seek more of a consensus over issues rather than one group simply trying to impose its will on the others. One can debate whether this is good or bad, and it likely depends on the nature of the problem being addressed.

Maybe a way to explain this in contemporary terms to a U.S. audience would be to say that Canada would tend to be more like the blue states in the November U.S. election, though some Canadians would identify with the red states.

The bottom line is that Christians in Canada have to approach their society carefully. The most effective way seems to be by incarnational ministry. By that I mean letting Christ express his love through his people to others in acts of service. This love in action then creates the conditions where the gospel can be shared and will be listened to with open minds. 

Most Canadians simply don’t respond well to more direct, in your face, styles of evangelism. They need to see the gospel lived before the preaching becomes credible and effective. 

Pray for us

Please pray for our 70 or so congregations from coast to coast.  Many of the congregations are quite small, but they have members who have big hearts to serve Jesus Christ in their communities. We face our challenges, as do our brothers and sisters in the United States and around the world. The ground at times seems stony and hard, yet we remain committed to the task our Lord has given us and promises to empower us to accomplish, as we look to him. 

For anyone interested in more information about the religious differences between the United States and Canada, check the article “Like Thy Neighbour?” in the July-August issue of Northern Light.  Northern Light is published by WCG Canada, and the online version may be found on the national church web site at www.wcg.ca.

Update From Finance & Planning

 A new way
for church finances

By Ronald Kelly

PASADENA—The last quarter of 2004 marked the first months of operating under our new financial model. All 389 U.S. congregations now have funds in local banks and are responsible for budgeting and planning programs for evangelism, outreach and community service. It’s been an exciting time in our fellowship.

New financial model

As I have been saying the past few months, our denomination now has a whole new way of doing business. For 70 years we operated on a centralized system for donation processing. Employees in Pasadena received and opened the mail and deposited the funds in a bank.

The Finance & Planning staff planned annual budgets and paid virtually all of the bills, including pastors’ salaries, fringe benefits, hall rental and member assistance, maintained the collegiate educational system, and sponsored the World Tomorrow television program, the magazine and booklets and many other budgeted expenses.

The primary focus of the Worldwide Church of God was media outreach and Ambassador University. Local church funding was generally limited to funds that could be raised through fund-raising efforts such as bake sales, orange and grapefruit sales, store inventories and other creative means of raising cash. 

Now, in the new financial model, donations contributed at worship services will be retained locally, and budgeted and spent locally. 

Smaller headquarters staff

The work of our headquarters staff has also changed. Now the much smaller headquarters staff will concentrate on providing services to pastors and the congregations.

We will continue to publish literature as an educational and inspirational service to our members. We plan to conduct regional conferences that all members are welcome to attend. Headquarters is also responsible for doctrinal studies and doctrinal integrity. 

Transition

Another new service is offering continuing educational services for pastors and many of our members through the Ambassador College of Christian Ministries. These are just a few of the services that support pastors and members around the world. 

The centralized budget for the past two or three years has been more than $1.5 million a month or $18 to $20 million a year. Through apportionments paid by each local congregation, the projected budget to finance headquarters in the future will be $300,000 a month or about $3.6 million a year.

That demonstrates the intent of our denomination to focus outreach and evangelism at the level of the local church. This financial transition has not been easy, but the hard work has paid off, and the transition is complete.

New headquarters facility

The church campus in Pasadena is far too large and too expensive to maintain. Once we had several hundred employees in Pasadena. We plan to relocate to nearby Glen-dora, California, in a few months and will have only about 35 employees on the headquarters payroll. Quite a change!

Property sale

As President Joseph Tkach announced in his weekly update to our pastors, we are in the final sale process for the Pasadena campus. The upper campus is in escrow, and the sale is scheduled to be completed by the last week in January or early February. So hopefully by the time you read this issue of WCG Today, that sale will be finalized. 

A certain amount of renovation is necessary for us to occupy the office and warehousing building we purchased in nearby Glendora.  Preliminary planning and drawing are nearly complete, and work should begin within a few weeks.  We hope to have the building ready for occupancy by mid summer

We certainly appreciate your dedication and faithfulness through these past few years. Now, we trust each one of you will join your pastor and leadership teams to reach out in your communities to serve as examples of Christian love. 

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.

Update:
News of people,
places and events

Michael and Cath Wells
do mission in Rwanda

GAHINI, Rwanda—Short-term mission can be exciting and challenging, but don’t go into it unprepared.

Michael “Swelly” Wells, an Australian, and his English wife, Cath, arrived in Rwanda in August for a four-month mission experience. Theirs was mainly social mission, using Cath’s skills as an occupational therapist and Michael’s as an accident and emergency nurse.

The surgical team from left: Gunther, surgeon, and Ruth and Michael, theater nurses.

Their placement was done through the Church Missionary Society in the United Kingdom, which gave them a one-week training and preparation program before leaving for Africa. 

“This fulfilled a long-term goal,” said Michael. “As a Christian I have always wanted to give of myself in some meaningful way such as this. I knew that both Cath and I had skills that could make a contribution in difficult areas.”

They were assigned to Gahini, about two hours northeast of Kigali, the capital. This has been the scene of much fighting and deprivation during the various wars that have plagued the African Great Lakes region.

Children in the handicap center.

Michael worked as a surgical and emergency nurse in Gahini Hospital, while Cath did occupational therapy at a center for the physically disabled.

“It affected my relationship with Jesus,” noted Michael. “I developed a sense of relying on him every day, which is not always the case in an easier society.”

Michael and Cath recommend the idea of short-term mission. Organizations and churches can help with ideas and preparation. First, however, one needs a desire to serve. Then, of course, useful skills are relevant, as well as the ability to integrate into a new and often strange community. Financial independence is important as well as having the available personal time, and a sense of realism as to what can be accomplished.

“Mission is also on our doorstep as well as abroad,” Michael stressed. “This experience has made me want to do something in my own country.” James R. Henderson.

DALLAS, Texas—Spiritual Enrichment Program (SEP) camp directors from around the United States met in Dallas Nov. 12 to 14 on how to improve the regional camp model. 

The purpose of the meeting was to debrief SEP 2004 and identify common concerns and develop recommendations for how to address them. In the summer of 2004, seven regional camps hosted 919 campers and were staffed by 370 staff members. In addition, 77 young people were baptized. 

Three task forces were created, one on camper behavior chaired by Jeff Broadnax, SEP Connecticut director; one on how to better use our web presence chaired by Sarah Miles, SEP Colorado assistant director; and a task force on identifying finance-related concerns chaired by Jay Richie, SEP Ohio senior camp assistant director. 

One of the common themes is a greater percentage of campers who have no affiliation with the Worldwide Church of God. While this is an exciting development, it requires camp leaders to make sure that policies are appropriate to those who know little about the church’s camp ministry history. 

As plans begin to be established for 2005 and beyond, some exciting new camp concepts are being considered. For example Marty Davey said that SEP Florida in 2005 will partially occur on a Caribbean cruise. And Lee Berger, pastor of the Waco and Austin, Texas, congregations, is considering ways to start a missions-focused SEP in Texas by 2006. Jeb Egbert.

Beloit members serve
homeless at Christmas service

BELOIT, Wisconsin—The Beloit congregation presented a Christmas service Dec. 19 to several hundred homeless people at Rockford Rescue Mission.

As the music started, frowns were turned into smiles and lifeless eyes began to sparkle as the Holy Spirit filled the room with love, joy, peace and hope. Racial and ethnic barriers fell as this inner city group of strangers became friends for the night.

Twenty minutes of joyous music of praise for our Lord’s birth was followed by a Spirit-filled message by Pastor John Bailey that brought many to tears. The message was that Jesus came into a broken world to give hope to those who have suffered trauma.

The Beloit congregation is less than 25 percent of its former size, yet the Holy Spirit is working through the few to serve the many.

God has called this congregation to share the healing ministry of Jesus Christ through outreach programs. In the early spring of 2004, Juanita Buschert, a Madison, Wisconsin, member, began to see the need to provide outreach healing ministry to many of the young Hispanic families who rent apartments from her and her husband, Jim.

They started a bilingual Bible study, and by May a house church began with just a handful of people. During November and December the average attendance had peaked at just less than 30.

In addition, a new weekly Bible study began Jan. 7 at the Elm Drive Senior Community in Ed-gerton, Wisconsin, the result of an outreach Christmas program Dec. 12. “We go where the people need the healing ministry of Jesus,” Pastor Bailey said. Tom Blake.

CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee—As their final service project of the year, the Clarksville youths decided to ring bells for the Salvation Army. They manned both entrances at a Wal-Mart for five hours Dec. 20.

This little congregation strives to make a difference in the Clarksville community and the world. Sondra Peters.

BELL RINGERS---—Church youths ring bells
for Salvation Army. Darin Owen, Ben Owen,
Mariel Tomes, Will Peters, Kayla Williams,
Keribeth Williams, and James Donovan (in back).

 
Will Peters and Mariel Tomes start off the five-hour
shift in 22 degree weather. [Photos by Ed and Sondra Peters]

HOUSTON, Texas—The meaning and spirit of Christmas was deeply felt by the congregants and friends of Community Christian Fellowship (CCF), a WCG affiliate in Houston, during the Dec. 18 service.

After worship through prayer, the service consisted of a re-enactment of the birth of Jesus as portrayed in Luke 1 titled The Savior Is Born. Margaret Ryan wrote the script and directed the drama.

Narrator Laura Francis introduced each scene beginning with Mary (Julie Lobar) being visited by an angel (Pamela Hawkins). The next scene has Mary visiting Elizabeth (Samantha Jowers-Rojas).

Meanwhile, Joseph (Paul Vincent) ponders what to do about Mary’s pregnancy until the angel, in a dream, tells him to go ahead with the marriage.

Joseph takes Mary to Bethlehem, where they cannot find a room to stay in. Finally, an inn keeper (Kirby Vincent) directs them to his stable, where the baby Jesus is born.

As shepherds (John Mayes, Bruce McNair and Sylvester Washington) watch their flocks, an angel brings them the news that the Savior is born. The shepherds then go to Bethlehem. During this scene the drama became an interactive play as each person in the audience lit a candle and joined in singing “Joy to the World,” “O Come All Ye Faithful” and “Silent Night.”

Mary ponders the future of her baby as “Mary Did You Know” is played. Simeon (Walter Hawkins) gets to see the Savior, and Anna (Dede Madison) prophesies about Jesus in the next act.

King Herod (Sebastian Lofaro) is perplexed when he hears that wise men are looking for the king of the Jews. The priest (Kalissa Taylor) tries to appease him. The Magi (Sylvester Washington, Bruce McNair and John Mayes) visit Herod and then go to Bethlehem, where they worship the King of kings.

The service was capped off by a catered meal prepared by Rebecca and Debra Glover. Jesse Soto.

HOUSTON, Texas—Community Christian Fellowship (CCF) participated in Operation Christmas Child, a ministry of Samaritan’s Purse that sends shoe boxes containing gifts to poor children around the world.

Sheri Bounds coordinated this drive.

Members were asked to contribute items to fill the boxes and to cover the shipping costs of $5 per box. Members were encouraged to enclose a note or a photo. If a return address was included in the box, the child receiving the gift may write back. The boxes were to be gift-wrapped at home and brought to services.

On Nov. 13 a packing party took place after the worship service. Pastor Mark Mounts and his family were much involved in the packing process.

At the end of the day, members had packed 67 gift-wrapped shoe boxes filled with school supplies, toys, hygiene items, candy and other small gifts for impoverished children around the world. Jesse Soto.

CHRISTMAS CAROLS-—Members of the New Hope Christian Fellowship choir sing Christmas carols in Old Town Pasadena  Dec. 11. [Photo by Daniel Leon]

MELBOURNE, Florida—Members in Orlando and Melbourne, Florida, provided a drumset to Travis Al-Gharaballi on Christmas Eve.

Travis Al-Gharaballi with new drum set [Photo by Steve Schantz]

Travis’ mother, Lisa, a member of the Melbourne congregation, is raising three teenagers as a single parent with a minimum wage job.  Their father is Arabic, and she left him in the Middle East 11 years ago when he tried to keep a harem and her as well. Although he is wealthy, she has received no support from him for the children.

The Melbourne congregation, pastored by Steve Schantz, has sort of adopted the family. Travis is in the Merritt Island Junior High band, but he does not have the resources even for the lesson book used by the school’s band director.

Mike Waller, a neighbor of the Schantz family, and the band director at Westshore Middle School in Melbourne, called music stores on the congregation’s behalf to secure a discount.

LAS VEGAS, Nevada—The Las Vegas congregation will celebrate its 35th anniversary July 23 and 24.

A dinner-dance will take place Saturday, July 23, from 6 to 10 p.m. The Sunday morning worship service begins at 10:30 a.m. with a potluck following. The location is New Horizons Academy, 6701 W. Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada.

Please RSVP to Barbara Clark, 3700 Steward Sp 112, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89146; telephone 1-702-459-6040. For housing, contact Mary Dawson, 804 S. Mallard St., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89107; telephone 1-702-877-2084; or Gayle Johnson, 270 Duke of Wales Ct., Henderson, Nevada, 89015; telephone 1-702-566-1671. Tom Melear.

SAN JOSE, California—The San Jose church will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a worship service at 10:30 a.m., Feb. 26, and anniversary celebrations following. We are planning a dinner and dance that evening. We invite all former members and friends of the San Jose church to come and celebrate with us at 4250 Kirk Rd., San Jose. If you can’t attend, please send us a note with any of your memories so we can put an album together.

For more information, or to send us any memories, please contact Betty Shamus, 1332 Crestwood Dr., San Jose, California, 95118, e-mail: linedanz@comcast.net; telephone: 1-408-264-0603. If you are planning to come and are not a member of the San Jose congregation, please let Mrs. Shamus know as she is planning the food for the day. Larry Shamus.

24-7 Community Church
marks fifth anniversary

NEWARK, New Jersey—The 24-7 Community Church celebrated its fifth anniversary Dec. 12.

The congregation conducted its first worship service Dec. 26, 1999 under the leadership of the late Pastor Ronald Robinson. To mark this milestone, we set aside Friday, Dec. 10, for a dinner-dance and Sunday, Dec. 12, for our celebration service.

The dinner-dance took place at the Costa del Sol restaurant in Vauxhall, New Jersey, with 177 in attendance. Before dinner, Curtis May, director of the Office of Reconciliation Ministries, spoke about the ministry.

Sister Theresa Clarizio, a representative of New Community extended care facility in Newark (the nursing home we visit on a monthly basis), emphasized the importance of having a ministry of reconciliation. She then presented the 24-7 Community Church with a certificate of appreciation for five years of outreach services.

The Dec. 12 service took place at the Newark Gateway Hilton with 160 in attendance. The congregation was ushered into worship by our dance ministry, Sweet Incense, who performed with colorful flags and jubilation. The worship song was “The Presence of the Lord Is Here.” Later, the church’s choir   performed an encouraging song titled “While You Wait.”

The congregation’s history was read to remind the congregation and inform new members about how the congregation started as a small group that developed into a church of 18 members. Today, we average around 50 in our weekly attendance. The late Ron Robinson was acknowledged as a man of leadership and vision.

Fred Clark, director of World Impact, an urban ministry in Newark, spoke about 24-7’s history and encouraged us to move forward.

Jacqueline A. Young, principal of Sojourn High School, located in the Essex County Youth Detention Center, where we minister to youths, spoke about how society has given up on youths who are considered bad. She challenged the church to continue reaching out to help those youths.

A video of congratulations from Joseph Tkach, WCG president, was shown. Messages of congratulation were also received from Ted Johnston, Northeast superintendent, and Steve Botha, superintendent when the congregation started.

May’s wife, Jannice, encouraged us to continue to have faith. Then he spoke about the need for a ministry of reconciliation, especially in our society today. His message focused on the Samaritan woman in John 4.

Before the service ended, the 24-7 Community Church presented Pastor Franklin K. Howard and his wife, Leslie, with a plaque of appreciation for their dedicated service to the work of the ministry and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Franklin K. Howard.

WCG-Union
Women’s Ministry
Presents

 The 2005
International Women’s
Conference

 Sept. 9-11

Be all you can be in Jesus Christ

(By building the fruits of the Spirit)

 at the Sheraton Parsippany Hotel

Parsippany, New Jersey

 Come experience a weekend of

• spectacular speakers

•  interactive workshops

•  spiritual and personal growth

•  plus food, fun and fellowship

 For further information contact

Sandra Delmonte
(732) 422-9816
or
by e-mail at gangan2@aol.com

Dean Wilson dies at 75

PORTLAND, Oregon—Dean Wilson, 75, who served in the WCG ministry from 1962 to 1995, died Jan. 11 after a long struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

Wilson graduated from Ambassador College in 1962, served as regional director in Canada from 1962 to 1977 and in Australia from 1977 to 1980. He pastored a number of congregations after returning to the United States.

Survivors include his wife, Marolyn.

Copyright © Grace Communion International, 2005