SPOKANE, Washington--Early Sunday morning, Feb. 21, someone burned a cross on the lawn of Zion Temple Church of God in Christ, an African-American church in Spokane.
The Spokane WCG congregation has a ministry called Agape Fellowship Ministry, which is a ministry to hurting churches. WCG members attend hurting churches on Sunday mornings and pray with them, worship with them and encourage them.
A dozen people from the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, congregations attended Zion Temple the week after the cross-burning. Along with the WCG group were another dozen people from other churches.
"Pastor Luis Solomon Sr. and his congregation were moved to have us support them during their trial," said Glen Weber, WCG pastor. "I was asked to sit on the stage with the pastor--as is the tradition in African-American churches.
"Not long before he was going to speak, he whispered in my ear that he was going to share the pulpit with me and expected me to give a split sermon with him," Mr. Weber said.
"I was not expecting to speak. However, before leaving home I had asked God for a passage of scripture that would be appropriate to read. God clearly pointed out Colossians 3:1-17. I simply preached from that passage, which went hand-in-glove with pastor Solomon's message and was appropriate for the situation."
NASHVILLE, Tennessee--The Nashville congregation celebrated Black History month with a gospel fest and fish fry Feb. 27.
The service included praise and worship, gospel music presented by members and friends of the congregation, an interpretive dance by the Spiritual Expressions (a group of four teen girls), a film by Frederick K.C. Price from his series on Race, Religion and Racism, and a message by member John Tucker.
Mr. Tucker traced how the Holy Spirit has worked through modern history, including President Abraham Lincoln, to bring us in line with the values on which our nation was founded.
God causes leaders to accomplish his purposes in ways that are not even characteristic of their nature, Mr. Tucker said. Just as he worked through the leaders of nations in the Bible, he has continued to work in our day.
VAN NUYS, California--Several WCG ministers attended a Crowns of Beauty Conference sponsored by World Impact at the Church on the Way Feb. 4 to 6.
The Crowns of Beauty theme is from Isaiah 61:1-4, where the suffering are given crowns of beauty instead of ashes. World Impact is a Christian missions organization dedicated to ministering God's love to those in the inner cities of America.
Its purpose is to make God known through evangelism, follow-up, discipleship and planting culturally conducive churches.
Main speakers were Keith Phillips, president of World Impact; Jack Hayford, pastor of the Church on the Way; and Don Davis of the Urban Institute.
In attendance were 1,250 delegates representing 358 churches and organizations, six countries, 36 states and 31 denominations.
WICHITA, Kansas--Charles A. Calahan, pastor of the Wichita congregation, presented morning and afternoon workshops March 12 on Natural Church Development: The Eight Qualities of a Healthy Church to the 1999 Kansas Leadership and Sunday School Convention.
More than 4,000 Christian leaders attended the three-day event. The keynote speaker was Tony Evans, pastor of the Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, and a frequent speaker at Promise Keeper events.
DES MOINES, Iowa--Ross Jutsum, president of State of the Heart Music Ministry, led a weekend of worship services and seminars here March 5 and 6.
Dr. Jutsum's messages focused on the object of our worship, Jesus Christ, rather than forms and styles of worship. Members were challenged to let their worship draw them together in love rather than divide them over personal preferences.
Friday evening, March 5, Dr. Jutsum led the worship service in Chariton, Iowa, for a group of members and visitors with his presentation, "Jesus Christ--the Same Yesterday, Today and Forever." The young people were so excited about their participation midway through the service that they remained on stage for the remainder of the worship.
Saturday morning Dr. Jutsum had breakfast with the worship leaders in Omaha, Nebraska, before giving a workshop to the members of the Omaha and Lincoln churches titled, "Worship Is a State of the Heart."
After a break, the combined congregations were treated to a worship service again centering on Jesus Christ, the focus of our worship.
That afternoon Dr. Jutsum returned to Des Moines to conduct his third worship service of the weekend, which concluded with a baptism.
After a chili supper, members gathered for another workshop, which was also attended by members of the Foursquare Church that shares its building with the WCG.
Donna Lemley seemed to capture the thoughts of many members: "Our God is a fun God, and I had so much fun praising God with Ross. I have thanked Jesus many times for allowing Ross to come to Des Moines." Karl Reinagel.
LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas--The Little Rock church met at their new location, 7101 W. 12th St., 10 a.m., Sunday Feb. 7.
Pastor Leon Steele spoke on "What Is a Church?" The congregation also meets on Wednesday evenings for Bible study and intercessory prayer.
"I just enjoyed three days of prayer and fasting Jan. 25 to 27 with Concerts of Prayer--Greater New York City," said Daniel Bierer, pastor of the Montvale, New Jersey, and Middletown, New York, churches.
Mr. Bierer was accompanied by elder Ron Robinson. "How great it is to see the renewed zeal that is taking place in the body of Christ."
SAN JOSE, California--Myra Emata-Stokes, a senior business administration major at San Jose State University, was selected as a Templeton Fellow to participate in a national project to explore the role of higher education in developing character and civic responsibility in college students.
Sponsored by Campus Contact, a coalition of nearly 600 college presidents, the Templeton project provides an opportunity for student leaders from member campuses to interview their presidents on these topics.
CLEARWATER, Florida--Anton Thomas, son of William and Jackie Thomas of the Clearwater church, will receive a four-year innovation graduate fellowship from the 3M company of Minnesota.
Funding for this fellowship will be $30,000 for each of the four years.
Anton will graduate from Florida A&M University May 1 with a degree in mechanical engineering. He plans to pursue a doctorate in engineering, and he will work for 3M during the summers.
ROCHESTER, New York--The Rochester congregation had a youth worship service Nov. 21.
Terri Dudek and Joseph Kebbi were worship leaders. The opening and closing prayers were given by Corey McPhall and Amy Cooper. Michael Williams led the congregation in a responsive reading.
The under-10 crew, Kaitlyn and Kailey Gnage, Corrine Spencer, and Kaylin Cosme, provided special music, led by Robert Gnage.
Mr. Gnage presented one of two adult messages, his being a view of youth spirituality and the need for adults to acknowledge it.
Andrew, Kaitlyn and Kailey Gnage, Malcolm Kebbi and Serena Rogers read scriptures.
The main message was delivered by Jon Gross, who discussed "Friends in Christ."
Next came the Lord's Supper. Terri Dudek and Joseph Kebbi read the appropriate scriptures, joining pastor Ken Williams in opening the service.
Richard Gross gave the closing message. Amy Cooper gave the closing prayer.
Crystal Nowatchik read from Jeremiah for the benediction. Richard Gross.
VICTORIA, Texas--Thirty-three members and guests gathered Feb. 27 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Victoria church.
The day began with a morning worship service, and a potluck followed. The afternoon was spent reminiscing about the past 25 years.
Five original members attended the anniversary event. They are Bessie Brubaker, Ewalt Schmidt, Gladys Mitchon, Estelle Migl and Dorothy Schulte. They are seated in the front row of the photo.
NORFOLK, Virginia--The Norfolk congregation participated in the installation of pastor Timothy Jerome Brassell Jan. 16.
Keith Brittain, district superintendent, officiated, along with elders Emory Jones and Jerry Hall and deaconess Sharon Hall.
Mr. Brassell and his wife, Donna Faye (Weaver) have two children, Jocelyn, 6, and Autumn, 1.
The worship service that day also included communion. Waneece Jones.
FLORENCE, Montana--Jessica Wallace, 14, launched a read-a-thon to benefit victims of Hurricane Mitch in Central America.
The participants, five groups of eighth-graders at Florence-Carlton School, read out loud in one-hour shifts Feb. 26 and 27 for 24 hours.
"We do this all because God showed his love for us first and now we can show it for other people," Jessica told the local newspaper.
The whole class signed up and set a goal of raising $6,000 to match the amount given by the Missoula, Montana, chapter of the Red Cross.
CONFERENCE ATTENDEES--WCG ministers attend Crowns of Beauty conference
Feb. 4 to 6 in Van Nuys, California. From left: Ron Robinson, Montvale, New Jersey; Curtis
May, Pasadena; Dan Bierer, Montvale, New Jersey, and Middletown, New York; Randal Dick,
superintendent of missions; and Mike Medina, Montevideo, Uruguay.
SOUTHWEST REGIONAL PASTORAL CONFERENCE--Dan Rogers, superintendent of
ministers, addresses ministers, wives and worship leaders at a conference conducted in
Pasadena March 5 to 7. [Photos by Ron Grove]
CONTAGIOUS CHRISTIAN WORKSHOP--Dee Bulante, now pastor of the Tucson,
Arizona, congregation, conducts a workshop in Pasadena Feb. 21 on Becoming a Contagious
Christian. Mr. Bulante conducted the workshop with Bermie Dizon, pastor of the Pasadena
A.M. church. [Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]
Ben Dizon receives
scholarship PASADENA--Ben Gibson R. Dizon, son of Bermie and Carmelita Dizon, passed qualifying examinations and an interview in March to enter the seventh grade at Pasadena Polytechnic School. He was given a full tuition scholarship.
The Polytechnic School offers outstanding education opportunities in an atmosphere that fosters integrity, responsibility and concern for others.
The church will again offer a Festival tour in Ghana. Last year the group visited sites in Accra, and Cape Coast and Elmina, sites of two slave castles. A similar tour is scheduled for this year.
For more information, write to Gabriel Ojih, Ghana FOT Tours, P.O. Box CT 2738, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana. Telephone: 011-233-21-502817 or e-mail Ojihgab@AfricaOnline.com.gh
Copyright © Worldwide Church of God, 1999