The Worldwide Church of God was founded by people who were committed in sacrifice and prayer to build a powerful radio ministry.
Jesus continues to work in this church through people who are committed in sacrifice and prayer to follow wherever he leads.
It has been a difficult year--but also a time of rejoicing. We praise our Lord for the assurance he gives us that our labors are not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Though the work is sometimes hard and it is not always easy to see where Christ is leading, we are promised that our labors will be rewarded. We are being refined, and purity does not come from comfort and easy routines. We are growing spiritually, and growth comes from shouldering the heavy load. Page 1.
This a good time of year to thank each of you for your financial support and prayers on behalf of the church.
Income in December held up relatively well, and thus followed in the tradition of previous Decembers.
Daily mail income average for the month was about $163,364, resulting in yearly daily average mail income of about $156,524, a bit over our projected amount of $150,000 average per day. Nonetheless, we have run a deficit of expenses over income of somewhere between $1.5 and $2 million excluding depreciation.
We chose a target of about $122,000 average mail income per day for 1997. Page 6.
In spite of the severe trials brethren in Africa face, their story is one of joy, commitment and growth. Randal Dick reports on the Francophone Africa Development Plan, nearing the completion of the initial three-year commitment.
The goals of the plan were to develop local leaders and strong congregations where a nucleus already existed, plant new churches where we discern Christ wants new people and build self-sufficiency where weakness and subsidy dependence exists. The areas targeted were primarily in Cameroon, Benin and Togo.
In 1997 we will shift the focus to Zaire as well as Burkina Faso.
Cameroon, Benin and Togo are experiencing healthy growth. The ability to replicate quality leadership without outside help is a main goal of the program. Page 7.
In a videotaped sermon aired in U.S. churches in January Mr. Tkach cast the vision for what he wants the Worldwide Church of God to accomplish in 1997.
Mr. Tkach listed four goals for 1997: 1) to increase small groups to 25 percent of the church; 2) to increase circulation to 150,000; 3) for everyone to discover his or her spiritual gifts; and 4) for all members to be actively involved in some kind of ministry. Pages 8 and 9.
"We hope to train you, to equip you, to work with you and to help you so that you in turn can help your congregations to preach the gospel to the whole world," Dan Rogers, superintendent of ministers, told 31 lay pastors and their wives meeting at church headquarters in Pasadena Dec. 26 to 31.
Mr. Rogers said that there are no benchwarmers in the Worldwide Church of God anymore. Everyone participates.
"Don't sit on the sidelines cheering, get in the game," Mr. Rogers encouraged lay pastors and church members." Pages 10 and 11.
Jan. 21, 1997, Worldwide News, page two
| WCG Home | Issues | Contents |
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God,1996