CALATAGAN, Philippines--Forty-one campers (about half of the total) and two staff members were baptized at the Philippine Summer Educational program April 30 to May 9.
Ten young people outside our fellowship also attended. Eight of them were baptized.
One girl outside our fellowship gave her testimony. She said, "I attend a Protestant church but it is only here that I have experienced the love of Christ."
The Holy Spirit moved in a way that none of us ever expected. God has set a new standard for SEP here in the Philippines. Bill Sidney.
PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island--Carlos and Yvonne Tavares, who pastor the church in Portugal, visited the Providence, Rhode Island, and Norwich, Connecticut, churches March 25 to April 2.
Carlos, who is a lay pastor, and Yvonne also oversee our mission work in Angola and Brazil.
They came to talk about spreading the gospel and equipping the saints in Portuguese-speaking areas, especially Angola, where we have had exceptional growth in the last two years.
Several months ago the Providence and Norwich churches pledged to be sister churches to the churches in Portugal in helping with the Portuguese mission.
The Providence church has a high concentration of Portuguese descendents, and so the partnership seemed to be a natural one.
Providence and Norwich have set up fund-raising efforts and intercessory prayer teams and plan to send 15 to 20 members to Portugal for the Feast. Dennis Pelley.
SEDONA, Arizona--Regional pastor Rand Holm gave the sermon at the 41st annual Easter service here March 30.
Barry Hall, president of the Sedona Evangelical Association, gave him the speaking assignment and asked: "Do you have a problem with that?"
Rand replied: "If I have a problem giving a sermon celebrating the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, then I am in serious trouble."
The resurrection celebration was conducted on top of a 600-foot mesa at the foot of a cross visible to all of the city.
Ivan Kuipers, a local church elder, rebuilt and refurbished the cross.
When Barry Hall introduced the sermon he paid tribute to WCG members.
Barry said: "The most exciting story of this day is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
"The next most exciting aspect in the resurrection celebration is when an individual becomes personally excited about the historic resurrection event and yields his or her life to Jesus Christ.
"When an entire group realizes the shortcomings of its theology, the truth of the gospel, and fully enjoys the magnificence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ ... that then is something very, very exciting!
"That is exactly the circumstances of the Worldwide Church of God and our featured speaker....
"The members of the new Worldwide Church of God are modern-day heroes of the faith. Pray for their steadfast, unmovable and abounding faith to continue to rest secure in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania--Members of the Pittsburgh, Beaver Valley and Indiana, Pennsylvania, churches attended a racial healing workshop at the Monroeville United Methodist Church April 5.
Cherry Steinwender, co-director of the Center for Racial Healing in Houston, Texas, described how racism affects each one of us, and how healing is a process that must continue for our lifetime. Racism is learned, and it can be unlearned.
Chris Beam, pastor of the Houston, Texas, North church, expanded on the topic of unaware racism.
A panel of WCG members spoke of ways their lives had been affected by racially conditioned behavior, and throughout the day documentary videos relating to racism reinforced the speakers' messages.
The afternoon worship session continued the theme.
Mr. May said that Jesus Christ destroyed all barriers, the one separating humans from God, and others that separate people from one another.
Mr. Albrecht encouraged members to confess racially conditioned attitudes to Christ and ask for his healing and help. Sharon Lippincott.
FAYETTEVILLE, Arkansas--The Fayetteville church was host for the Fayetteville Ministerial Association's monthly meeting April 3.
President Jim Johnson of First Christian Church introduced Terry Warren, WCG pastor, as a guest speaker.
Mr. Warren gave a presentation on the history of the WCG, its progression of leaders and the circumstances leading to the doctrinal reformation.
"We once considered ourselves as the exclusive body of Christ," Mr. Warren said. "But now we praise God to see ourselves as a smaller part of a larger body of Christians from many denominations.
"We sincerely apologize to other Christians toward whom we took a dogmatic stance. Our views were driven by a theology we have come to see was unsound."
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma--Pastors and lay leaders from the Kansas City, Missouri, and Oklahoma City regions attended a seminar here titled "How to Build a Purpose-Driven Church."
It was presented by Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Valley Community Church in Orange County, California, and author of The Purpose Driven Church. Ray A. Meyer.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba--Two members homes remained flooded May 9 as floods ravaged the area.
The main floor of member Linda Haddad's house was three feet deep in water May 1. Most of the furniture was on the second floor but floorcoverings, walls and cabinets will be ruined.
Sewer backups have started to happen (75 homes so far) but this has not affected any members yet.
A huge cleanup effort is planned after the flood waters subside. I met with other church leaders and relief organizations to discuss coordinating our efforts. Alan Redmond.
COLUMBIA, South Carolina--The Columbia church will celebrate its 30th anniversary July 19.
Services will be at 3 p.m., and a covered-dish dinner and dance will follow.
If you would like to attend please call pastor Ellis Rice at 1-706-650-9570. Robert P. Gleim.
ROANOKE, Virginia--The Roanoke church will celebrate its 25th anniversary July 19.
Activities will include worship services, a recognition ceremony, memorabilia display, dinner and a dance.
The cost is $18 for adults; $7.50 for children 4 to 12; and free for children younger than 4. Full payment must be made by June 15.
For more information call 1-540-992-2623. To reserve your place send payment to Robert Carroll, 2907 Burton Ave. NW, Roanoke, Virginia, 24012-4010.
Church headquarters will be the site of the Southern California Job Fair 2000 beginning at 9 a.m. June 22. Admission is free.
The job fair will include participation by hiring companies--among them TRW and JPL-- along with hiring agencies, as well as agencies to assist with starting and developing small businesses.
Five workshops and lectures will address aspects of career transition, development and business trends.
The job fair is sponsored by Christian Business Leaders (CBL) Worldwide, a ministry of the Pasadena church.
"This is one of our biggest efforts to reach the community, and we hope to have similar events in the future," said Mark Leon, job fair chairman.
"I'm glad the Christian Business Leaders are providing positive Christian leadership in this area," Mr. Tkach said, "and I think it's a wonderful opportunity for people to meet prospective employers."
Harriet Carlisle.
ST. PETERSBURG, Florida--Karaline "Lina" Luckhardt of the St. Petersburg church celebrated her 100th birthday March 7.
Lina was born in Nieder Horborf, Germany, and came to the United States in 1925. She learned English by reading newspapers.
She and her deceased husband had one son, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.
Forty members in Burundi in Africa request prayers.
Because of war and an embargo, they have been isolated, without news from the church for more than a year.
They need encouragement and want us to remember them. Your prayers would be appreciated.
Church congregations throughout the United States can participate in a Bible recycling project that will run for four weeks starting in June. Please ask your pastor if your congregation is participating.
The project is sponsored by the Bible League. Jeff Kolsch, a WCG member in Queens, N.Y., and a Bible League field director, is coordinating WCG participation. You can contact Jeff at 1-800-334-7017, extension 505, or e-mail him at jkolsch@aol.com
The goal is to collect 10,000 used Bibles to distribute in the Philippines, Africa and India.
May 20, 1997, WN, page 16
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