* At the Feast of Tabernacles this year many began to really know Christ for the first time, and others in a more profound way than ever before.
* Church pastors have recommended more than 200 members as potential lay pastors for our smaller congregations. We are earnestly seeking God's guidance and blessing in screening, interviewing and selecting lay pastors.
Lay pastors will not be left on their own. Full-time personnel will continue to train, mentor, encourage and supervise the lay pastors.
* I am encouraged by the results I am seeing--in lay pastors, lay-initiated service projects, and in many other evidences of spiritual growth among the members. I rejoice in our Lord Jesus Christ. Page 1.
* If the gospel is to flourish in Bangladesh, where only 0.03 percent of the people are Christians, the people must not be removed from their culture more than necessary. They must be taught to come out of sin, not to stop being Bengalis.
John Biswas, founder of the Bengali Evangelistic Association, knows this. John, who when he is in the United States, attends the San Bernardino, California, church, trains native leaders and uses them to disciple new converts. John asked that these congregations bear the name Worldwide Church of God.
While U.S. and Australian brethren have contributed money to print literature, Canadians have contributed 28,000 Canadian dollars to build a training center, purchase Bengali Bibles and pay the start-up costs for the center. Pages 1, 13.
At the Feast this year, women all over the world took the vision of women's ministry and gave it a face.
They celebrated their salvation in Christ at luncheons, seminars and workshops.
Many women said it was a life-changing experience and they were excited about getting home and beginning productive, Spirit-filled ministries. Page 8.
Evangelist Ron Kelly writes that one of the most exciting prospects for growth in our fellowship is when members lead others to Christ through direct personal contact.
This personal evangelism is worth more than thousands of pages of printed matter and hundreds of hours of broadcast time.
God uses each of us according to our abilities for this task. One of us will reach one type of person, while another can better communicate with an entirely different type.
What an encouragement to know that we don't have to fit into some sort of preconceived spiritual mold. Page 12.
Charles Fleming, regional director for the Caribbean and Latin America, relates how he is coming to know Jesus Christ in a more personal way and offers suggestions on how members can experience this too.
He calls on all members to make Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 a central part of their prayers.
Charles told his wife, Carmen: "For years I have been religious. I am only now becoming a Christian." Page 4.
Through Sept. 26 the church's daily average mail income rose from the disappointing August figures of $136,950 to about $146,528.
Although the number is still far under our original goals for the year, it was heartening to see this small upward movement.
The downturn in August led the church to start making various budget cuts. In order for us to live within our means, those cuts will regrettably have to continue as planned. See Update from the Treasurer, page 3.
Oct. 29, 1996 Worldwide News page two
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