Several articles in this issue show how members are striving to accomplish the goals Pastor General Joseph Tkach set for the church for 1997.
Those goals are 1) to increase small groups to 25 percent of the church; 2) to increase circulation of the PT 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.
Please see the comments below and the articles themselves for more details.
In this month's "Personal," Pastor General Joseph Tkach asks and answers the question: "Why should I go to church?"
Mr. Tkach relates church attendance to six aspects of our Christian walk: 1) worship; 2) spiritual disciplines; 3) discipleship; 4) fellowship; 5) service; and 6) evangelism.
Mr. Tkach discusses the benefits of joining a small group and discovering and putting to use our spiritual gifts.
He closes with an appeal to those who no longer attend.
"I cannot know your heart," he wrote. "I do not know all your hurts and questions. But I do know that you are missing out on a large percentage of Christian life. God wants to do so much in your life.
"If we have done something to hurt you, I apologize and ask your forgiveness. If you cannot attend with us, I ask you to attend another church in which Jesus Christ is preached as Lord and Savior." Page 1.
As Christians we all have pivotal issues and periods in our life. Charles Fleming, regional director for the Caribbean and Spanish areas, looks at the life of the apostle Peter to show us how we can surrender our lives to Christ and be transformed by him.
Jesus led Peter through different levels of acceptance to a profound surrender.
Even though some of those levels were inadequate, Jesus never abandoned him. He was with Peter all the way. That same Jesus has been--and is--with us. Page 4.
As congregations launch women's ministries, the Women's Ministry Support group in Pasadena gives the purposes for women's ministry.
Women's ministry is for women to teach, nurture and help one other become mature Christians (Titus 2:3-5).
No manual has been produced because each group of women is unique, with varying ages, occupations, home situations and cultures. Page 6.
Pasadena and Antelope Valley, California, teens participated in a 30-hour famine Feb. 28 and March 1 to raise money for the relief efforts of World Vision.
In order to make hunger more real for the teens, they were asked to go without food for 30 hours. They were allowed to have liquids.
While fasting they packed and sent food to the needy in Southern California, and built crates and filled them with supplies. Page 6.
Treasurer Bernie Schnippert reports that average daily mail income for February was $144,357, which brings the year-to-date average to $134,371.
Projected income is $122,000. However, the higher than average figure for February is necessary to offset typically lean months. Page 15.
March 18, 1997, WN, page 2
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