Jerome Pickett to work
for Secret ServiceAZUSA, California--Nine high school students from BOLD Student Ministries (the Pasadena WCG youth congregation) visited Azusa Pacific University (APU) July 9 and 10 as part of the university's recruitment program.
The students were taken on a tour of the campus, walked through the application process and were given information on majors, scholarships and financial aid. Students stayed overnight in the university's student housing and were treated to lunch by the university.
The students visited the Ambassador Center at APU. They learned about services the center provides for APU students who are members of the WCG. These include ministry opportunities, worship, outings, scholarships, specific student services and help with access to other university resources. David Smith.
INDEPENDENCE, Kansas--The Independence church, along with seven other churches, participated in the third annual Community Children's Crusade June 15 to 19 at the First United Methodist Church.
Attendance for the crusade averaged 90 young people a day. Twenty-three young people committed their lives to Jesus.
Mike and Glenda Mann of Hutchinson, Kansas, led the crusade. They combine storytelling, illusions, ventriloquism and original music to teach the Bible and to convey the message of the gospel.
The Independence congregation has also provided more than 2,500 pounds of food for the area Food Basket Ministry in the first six months of 1998.
The Independence congregation has a list of those who come to the Food Basket who do not have a church preference or membership.
The names are posted, and members pray for those in need for one month. Some may send cards or letters of encouragement, and at some point they hope those on the list will respond to an invitation to church. Charles Rice.
HOUSTON, Texas--Ben O'Neal, Vernon Strickland, Joey Verdun and Pastor Chris Beam from the Houston North congregations, travelled to Dallas, Texas, for Evangelism Explosion certification training July 17 to 22.
They received certification as teacher-trainers for the Evangelism Explosion ministry and will begin training others in September.
For more than 30 years, Evangelism Explosion has been helping to equip the Body of Christ worldwide by friendship, evangelism, discipleship and healthy growth.
Evangelism Explosion stresses that every Christian is a witness of the gospel, and teaches a way of appropriately and confidently sharing the gospel with people so that they may trust in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life.
For more information, contact Evangelism Explosion International, Box 23820, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33307, phone 1-954-491-6100.
MIAMI, Florida--Pastor Charles Taylor baptized five young people June 27.
They are Andrew and Erik Aponte, Jennifer and Jessica Wright and Anshay Ivory. Dhanmate Aponte.
MURFREESBORO, Tennessee--The Church of God in Christ (COGIC)--Miracle Temple and the Murfreesboro WCG conducted their second combined worship service Sunday July 12.
The celebration also commemorated 10 years sharing a church building, and the 20th anniversary of the WCG-Murfreesboro congregation.
Both congregations recognize that the Spirit of God, rather than the day of the week for corporate worship, earmarks true Christians or Christian denominations.
The COGIC meets on Sunday in the same building the WCG meets in on Saturday, but once a year they combine for praise and worship . This sets the stage for a catered fellowship meal that follows. The event has become a celebration of unity among diversity in the greater church.
Elder Don Brooks of the Miracle Temple, and Richard Weber, WCG pastor, each presented 15-minute messages with the theme Perfect Unity in My Church.
The combined message encouraged the kind of perfect unity Jesus prayed for in his church. Nonsalvation issues were put into perspective, valued and respected. They were validated as worthy doctrinal matters for discussion and debate, but recognized as detrimental to the cause of Christianity when allowed to be a source of hostile contention in the Christian community.
The color program distributed for the event made the point of the celebration clear: "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity" (Psalm 133:1). Nancy Gunnels and Richard Weber.
MURFREESBORO, Tennessee--The Murfreesboro congregation plans to celebrate its 20th anniversary Sept. 12, and the Cookeville congregation its 25th anniversary Sept. 13.
An 11 a.m. worship service will be followed by a reception with food, slide show and reminiscing, for all Church of God members who share a common and rich history.
Ross Jutsum will lead the worship music, and regional pastor Bob Persky will be one of the key speakers. The theme of the anniversary weekend is Family and Friends Forever. Reconciliation through respect and acceptance is an ongoing mission of both congregations.
For details, please call: Cookeville, Arlen Bryant, 1-931-526-8530 or e-mail Lewis_A_Bryant@wcg.org; Church Office 1-931-528-3983 (for recorded message). Murfreesboro, Frank Beard, 1-615-893-0533 or e-mail rweber@bellsouth.net Richard A. Weber
BURLEIGH HEADS, Australia--No WCG members lived in Papua New Guinea villages destroyed by tidal waves July 17, according to regional director Rod Matthews.
Several tidal waves hit the Papua New Guinea coastline midway between the towns of Wewak and Vanimo, destroying a number of villages.
"We do have a dozen or so members in and around Wewak, at least one in a town inland from that same area of coast, and a member family in Vanimo," Mr. Matthews said. "But none were directly affected as far as we know."
ORMOND BEACH, Florida--WCG members did not suffer property damage from fires that ravaged Florida counties in July, according to Bill Powell, pastor of the Port Orange church.
"We had been living under oppressive smoked-filled skies for weeks, dry as a bone," Mr. Powell said. "It was clear to the communities we needed God to give us rain."
The rains came and brought back normal weather patterns.
"The rain was only one of the miracles," Mr. Powell said. "The way the community came together to pray for a common cause was a miracle, too."
Mr. Powell added: "The amazing thing is how few houses burned. Houses, businesses, nursing homes, apartment buildings, gas stations, mobile home parks all spared with burned woods completely surrounding them."
BERKELEY, California--John McKenna, senior editor of denominational publications, and Ralph Orr, director of in-service education, attended a conference and workshop at the Center for Theology and Natural Science in June.
The 10-day conference included lectures and discussions on the relationship between science and religion. It was the lead story in the July 20 Newsweek.
"Although science and theology are separate disciplines with absolutely different natures, they must be understood to overlap with one another," Dr. McKenna said.
"Whether we study God or the universe, we must be able to understand the real relationship between God and the universe where mankind has been given his being."
World class scientists and experts in the theologies of Judaism, Christianity and Islam gave lectures to the 400 who attended.
"Struggles to relate these sciences to various views of God were evident throughout the lectures," Dr. McKenna said. "To experience these struggles made for a full and challenging time for us."
Dr. McKenna continued: "Surprisingly, among the distinguished achievements of these world authorities, we found a great curiosity for what is happening with the Worldwide Church of God. Mr. Orr spent a lot of time explaining our history and new direction to many.
"We were left with the impression that the church's development was of concern to more people than we might have anticipated."
BILOXI, Mississippi--The Biloxi-Gulfport congregation, which has not met for six months, began services again Aug. 8.
Frederick Moore, a nonsalaried pastor in Alabama, will pastor the congregation. Bob Mansker.
SACRAMENTO, California--Ann Hanneman was honored by the Sacramento church and her family with a surprise retirement party May 30.
Her husband, Charles, wrote a tribute to her that told of her love for her students, many of whom came from dysfunctional homes. She not only was a teacher to her students, she was a mother and grandmother as well.
Her popularity grew to the point where people moved into or bought homes in the school district just to get their children into her class. Nancy J. Curtis.
Jerome Pickett to work
for Secret ServicePOUGHKEEPSIE, New York--Jerome A. Pickett, who graduated with honors from Marist College in May, is now working for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and will attend Secret Service training in the fall.
Jerome attends the Middletown, New York, congregation, with his parents, Hersal and Doreen.
GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan--Rosetta Andrews, a member of the Kalamazoo, Michigan, congregation, was honored with a surprise dinner and dance in Grand Rapids at the end of May.
Eight of her nine children were present, coming from as far as Miami, Florida; and Atlanta, Georgia. About 80 relatives and friends were also invited.
Rosetta said she has always had a partner in raising her children, Jesus Christ, whom we can trust in and put all our cares on. Ingrid Mandel.
BEARDSLEY, Minnesota--John Derby, a member here, wrote May 4 about how his and his wife Beverley's daughter, Jackie, survived a traffic accident the previous week near Sisseton, South Dakota.
Jackie was driving the family van with four of her girlfriends when she lost control and went into a ditch. When she tried to bring the van back onto the highway it rolled over twice and all of the girls were thrown out.
Jackie had a lacerated face, broken wrist, bruised liver and a shoulder injury. Three of the other girls had various broken bones, and the other was treated and released. John Derby.
Nelson Doucet retires
after 38 years of servicePASADENA--Nelson Doucet, shown below with his wife, Jenora, retired after 38 years of work in Plant Maintenance at church headquarters.
The Doucets moved to Newburgh, Indiana, to be closer to family.
Space is still available for the Festival site in Greece. For more information see the July WN and call Delores Schroeder at 1-626-304-6140.
The Oasis Praise Band seeks individuals with camera experience to videotape a praise and worship musical Oct. 10. Call Rex Danyluk at 1-818-409-9397.
The Mount Vernon and Belleville, Illinois, congregations will be hosts to a mini-Festival in Mount Vernon.
Worship services are planned for Friday evening, Oct. 9; Saturday morning and afternoon, Oct. 10; and Sunday morning and afternoon, Oct. 11. Call Pastor Jim Stokes at 1-618-277-2171.
The Feast site in Portugal will be Campo de FÄrias do Gerùs, Sïo Pedro do Sul, Portugal, near the historical city of Viseu. For more information call JosÄ Ribeiro at 011-351-1-225-9749 or send e-mail to Jose.S.Ribeiro@mail.telepac.pt
NEW YORK, New York--A New York Christian radio station conducted a Christian Family Night at baseball's Shea Stadium July 9.
Before the start of the game, a gospel choir led by Timothy Wright performed contemporary and traditional music.
The Queens men's ministry paid for all youths 17 and younger in the congregation to attend. They were joined by 20 members of the Long Island church.
"It was a great way to serve the youths, plus fellowship among the brethren and other area Christians," said Jeff Kolsch, Queens men's ministry president. "We were also able to show baseball fans that Christians can have fun too."
ST. LOUIS, Missouri--Fifteen women from the Belleville, Illinois, congregation, attended a Women of Faith "Bring Back the Joy" conference in St. Louis, July 10 and 11.
Ten men served at concession stands, netting $1,100 for the activity fund. Jim Stokes.
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1998