Regional pastors and directors gather in Pasadena

Love of Christ prevails at conference; pastors and directors focus on future

By Thomas C. Hanson

U.S. regional pastors and regional directors from around the world met at church headquarters in Pasadena Jan. 15 to 18.

"The love of Christ, warmth and openness characterized this conference," said regional pastor Guy L. Engelbart. "Everyone was encouraged to offer input, ideas and suggestions in a collaborative way that I had not witnessed before.

"It was evident that the Holy Spirit was working mightily to bring vision and purpose to our meetings, and to lay the groundwork for much growth and development in the church."

Each regional pastor serves as a pastor to the pastors in his region.

Conference begins

Pastor General Joseph Tkach and J.M. Feazell, director of Church Administration, kicked off the conference Jan. 15.

The conference began with one hour of prayer. Mr. Feazell asked the ministers and their wives what things needed to be prayed for and then asked for volunteers to pray for those things. About 30 ministers and wives prayed for about two minutes each for a total of a little more than one hour.

Mr. Tkach said he and the church's top managers begin their Friday morning management meetings with a half hour to an hour of prayer and that this has caused the management meetings to improve 100 percent.

"We can't lose when we pray more," he said.

Included in the prayers was a moving and tearful prayer by Robert Persky thanking God for saving his son Brad from almost certain death from meningitis. As Mr. Persky struggled through his prayer, fellow ministers and wives placed their hands on his shoulders to give him strength. At times during the conference ministers and wives stopped to pray about the point they were discussing.

Before the noon break on Thursday Dave Fiedler prayed for Robert Flores, 47, pastor of the Appleton, Wisconsin, church, who is suffering from congestive heart failure; Curtis May prayed for Reginald Chrishon, a member of the Los Angeles church, who was beaten and robbed at a bus stop; Charles Fleming prayed for Grace Simpson, whose blocked artery hinders her from serving the Trinidad churches with her husband, Victor; and Richard Frankel prayed for his wife, Joyce, who is suffering with cancer.

The regional pastors were asked to read two books before the conference: The New Reformation: Returning the Ministry to the People of God, by Greg Ogden, and In Name Only: Tackling the Problem of Nominal Christianity, by Eddie Gibbs.

Management consultant

Godfried Fritz, a management consultant from South Africa, gave a day and a half presentation on developing effective strategies.

On Wednesday, Earl Grant, professor of Practical and Intercultural Studies at Azusa Pacific University, spoke on "Ministry for the 21st Century."

Dr. Grant said that Americans today are spiritually hungry, seeking the supernatural, but do not want anything to do with the church.

He discussed how to develop a philosophy of ministry, the effect of cultural changes in society and the church, and biblical models of ministry and church.

Quoting from Ogden's book, The New Reformation, Dr. Grant said: "The Reformation never fully delivered on its promise to release all the people of God to do the work of the ministry." Ogden wrote that the church should be people focused, not pastor focused.

Everybody in the church has a ministry, Dr. Grant said, and the spiritual gifts that God gives members is their job description. He encouraged ministers and members to know themselves and know how to use their spiritual gifts.

On Thursday John Comino, Don Mears and Craig Bacheller led a discussion on evangelism, discipleship and worship. They make up an evangelism team named by Church Administration to study evangelism and develop strategies for the ministry.

Evangelism team members consult with people in and out of the Worldwide Church of God who have expertise in the area of evangelism.

"So far as I am aware this is the first time that headquarters has entrusted evangelism to men working directly in the field ministry," Mr. Comino said. "This is a courageous step by our leadership team at headquarters."

Thursday afternoon Mark McCulley, Festival Administration manager, led a discussion about how regional pastors can help the Festival coordinators plan the Feast of Tabernacles. Mr. McCulley specifically asked them to advise the coordinators on the speaking schedule and the assignment of personnel to tasks.

Gerald Schnarrenberger gave a presentation about worship music. On hand to answer questions were Mike Hale, a worship leader in the Pasadena church, and Ella Marie Schatz, Pasadena music coordinator.

The regional pastors conference ended Thursday, Jan. 18. The international regional directors had meetings Friday with Randal Dick, assistant director of Church Administration International.

John Halford, regional coordinator for Europe, said: "I found the conference to be exceptionally friendly. Significant discussions took place in a positive and constructive atmosphere. I felt we were able to come to grips with some of the challenges that face a worldwide work in turbulent times.

"Oh yes, and the chocolate biscuits (cookies) were very nice as well."

Rod Matthews, regional director for Australia, New Zealand and Asia, said: "It was helpful for the international directors to meet together with the U.S. regional pastors for the first time in a joint conference. We are striving for similar goals in serving those in our areas, and it is exceptionally helpful to hear the same things at the same time and to be stimulated by the questions and discussions coming from a broader audience.

"In the months ahead the whole experience should prove to be beneficial in moving the church forward in its mission on a worldwide basis. The material presented helps us cope with what we have been through, value one another's unique contribution and function together as a team."

Church to embark on real work

Don Mears, Big Sandy regional pastor, said: "This conference focused on our future as a church, rather than on our past. We are at a point where we need to formulate plans for the future and the growth of the Worldwide Church of God.

"The presentations and discussions we had during the conference helped us take the first steps in creating a plan of action that will help the church be what Jesus wants and do what Jesus wants.

"It reminded me of what Winston Churchill told the British people in 1942, after the Allies had won the Battle of el-Alamein, a turning point of World War II.

"Churchill said: `This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.'

"I think the church is reaching the end of its beginning. It is about to embark on its real work."

Copyright © Worldwide Church of God,1996