March 2004 Contents

Bernie Schnippert, church treasurer, announced the sale of the church’s east campus property Feb. 11 to Sares-Regis Group, a Southern California developer, for an undisclosed sum. Sares-Regis Group plans a transit-oriented urban village for the property. Page 5.

Pastor General

Jesus often said that God is merciful, writes Pastor General Joseph Tkach. But he also said, in a statement that can send chills up the spine, “If you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Page 6.

Reconciliation

A.C. Green, former all-star forward for the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Office of Reconciliation Ministries, were hosts for a conference on racial reconciliation Jan. 18. Page 9.

Church Administration

Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers, announced a restructuring of U.S. districts to reduce costs. He also announced the retirement of Guy Engelbart and Gerald Schnarrenberger as district superintendents. Page 10.

Youth Ministry

The adoration of Christ is an essential part of the foundation of all Christian ministries (youth ministries included), writes Ted Johnston.

This foundation is present in ministries where Jesus is clearly presented for who he is (Christ the Lord). Page 16.

Window on the World

The Worldwide Educational Institute is a small school in Sri Lanka sponsored by our church, writes John Halford.

The principles of success class teaches young men and women, many of whom are from Buddhist families, the underlying values of the Christian way of life. Page 22.

Financial Report

Member donations and regular income for the first month of the new year are holding steady when compared to the same month in 2003, writes controller Ronald Kelly. Page 24.

Bible Study

Throughout Romans, Paul argues that God counts us as righteous through faith in Christ, writes Michael Morrison. We have an obligation to fight sin—not in order to be saved, but because we are already children of God. In the last part of chapter 8, Paul turns our attention to our glorious future. Page 25.

WCG national conferences,
retreats and cruises set for 2004

PASADENA—Church Administration announced its nationally sponsored events for 2004.

This year the denomination will host eight regional conferences as well as four worship and fellowship events. The denomination will sponsor two cruises and a land tour (see page 28), as well as eight Spiritual Enrichment Program (SEP) camps for youths (please see our web site, www.wcg.wn/youths for further camp details).

This year’s regional conferences focus on creating the balance necessary for healthy, disciplemaking churches. Sessions will cover ways pastors, leaders and members can provide a friendly and supportive disciplemaking environment in their congregations. Attendees will work through an implementation process for guiding congregations through the priorities of winning the lost, building up believers and equipping workers.

the Song in Your Heart?” and will also lead a session on what God is doing through denominations. Dan Rogers, superintendent of ministers, will present “Building a Disciplemaking Environment in Your Church” and “Balance

for Growing a Healthy Church.” Additionally, several breakout sessions will be conducted during the course of these Friday to Sunday conferences.

the box on page 3. The registration fee of $25 per person includes a workbook and all handouts and materials for the event. For more information

about a particular location, please check out our web site at www.wcg.org/events or contact your pastor or the coordinator listed in the box.

SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE—Ministers
and members gather in Covina, California,
April 3 to 6, 2003. [Photo by Thomas C. Hanson]

2004 Conferences
Creating Balance in a Growing and Healthy Church

Our fall fellowship and worship retreats this year have been scheduled for September and October in four locations across the country. These events will be inspiring times of renewal for members and friends, and the dates and locations are listed in the table below.

The April issue of the WN will include a registration coupon that can be completed and mailed in along with your registration fee. The coupon will also be available on our web site at www.wcg.org/events along with additional details about each location. We look forward to these 2004 events, and we pray that they will be a time of equipping, renewal and encouragement for our members.

Church sells east campus property

The following article is based on a press release the WCG sent to the Los Angeles Times and the Pasadena Star-News.

PASADENA—The Worldwide Church of God announced Feb. 11 the sale of its east campus property in the Old Pasadena historic commercial district to Sares-Regis Group, a prominent Southern California developer, for an undisclosed sum.

Bernie Schnippert, church treasurer, announced the sale to employees that afternoon.

Sares-Regis Group plans to meet with the city to discuss its plans for a transit-oriented urban village that could include for-sale and rental homes.

The sale will allow the church and its development team to concentrate their efforts on completing the entitlement process for the west campus portion of the Ambassador campus planned development. The Ambassador campus is designed as a residential neighborhood that blends historic homes, gardens, new community infrastructure and the potentially reopened Ambassador Auditorium.

“The sale of the east campus is good for everyone involved,” Dr. Schnippert said. “The church is happy that we can continue our religious mission to focus our resources on our nearly 600 pastors and 800 congregations around the world.”

Bill Montgomery, spokesman for Sares-Regis Group, said: “We are very proud to have reached this agreement with the Worldwide Church of God, and are eager to develop the east campus with a project that meets or exceeds the high architectural design and landscape standards that make Pasadena such a special place. It is exciting to play a bigger role in this extraordinary community.

“The project we envision will help ease the housing shortage, and complement the exciting and vibrant Old Pasadena with an urban village neighborhood that is an easy walk to two Gold Line [light rail] stations,” Montgomery added. “We are just getting started in defining the scope of our project. We look forward to working with the City and community as we create the new plan.”

Dr. Schnippert agreed: “The property is in good hands. Utilizing their community planning and development experience, Sares-Regis Group will bring a new vision to the east campus parcel.”

Sares-Regis Group is one of the leading developers, managers and builders of residential and commercial real estate in the Western United States. The company has acquired or developed about 36 million square feet of commercial properties and more than 18,000 apartment and residential homes since its inception.

The Worldwide Church of God assembled more than 100 separate parcels of land over the past 50 years to build the 48-acre Ambassador campus, which has served as its international headquarters and the Pasadena campus of Ambassador College.

In acquiring these properties, the church was able to save many significant historic structures and gardens from likely demolition. The campus is widely recognized for its magnificent landscaping, historic homes and the Ambassador Auditorium. The church’s development plan includes the preservation of the significant homes and gardens, and the potential reopening of the Ambassador Auditorium.

With its belief in preserving the best of Pasadena character, the church created the Ross Grove historic landmark district to include five single-family homes on South Orange Grove Boulevard that had been part of the campus. Those homes, examples of the old Millionaires Row era of Pasadena, are now being sold to the public with the protections afforded by the Ross Grove landmark district.

Something Worth Thinking About
By Joseph Tkach

It's Hard to Forgive

Jesus often said that God is merciful. But he also said, in a statement that can send chills up the spine, “If you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matt. 6:15, NRSV).

Do we have to forgive everyone? Apparently so—yet no one does it perfectly. We don’t do anything perfectly. So how can we ever hope for the Father to forgive us?

After a brief romance, George and Judy married. After an equally brief marriage, Judy walked out on him, crushing his ego like an eggshell on a railroad track. Even 10 years later, George has deep scars from his wound. Is Judy’s “sorry, but I want to move on” an apology? Is there ever an acceptable apology for that sort of betrayal?

Bob was the youngest child in a family of seven. He “borrowed” all of his parents’ money and lost it in gambling. He’s broke now, and the older siblings have to take care of the elderly parents. How can they forgive Bob, when they are still suffering from what he did?

Or perhaps you know someone like Susan, Chris or Karl. Susan was abused by her stepfather, and 30 years later she still struggles with a distorted self-image. Chris was paralyzed in an accident caused by a drunk driver. Karl was left an orphan when his father committed suicide. The sinners are dead, and can’t repent or apologize. Can these victims forgive the people who caused them such pain, or would that trivialize the sin?

What other choice do we have, though? If we hang on to anger, it will eventually eat us from the inside out, like acid in an iron pot. We will become bitter, ulcerated, depressed and unpleasant—we add to our own damage and pain.

Anger raises our blood pressure and hurts our heart. For our own health, we need to forgive—but it’s hard to forgive.

“Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times’ ” (Matt. 18:21-22, NIV).

Imagine that someone in the church has hurt your feelings, and the person says “sorry.” And he or she does it again, and says “sorry.” And it happens again, and again you hear “sorry.” And again, and again, and again. At what point are you going to say, “I don’t think you’re really sorry?”

Maybe the person isn’t sorry, but Jesus says to forgive them anyway, even 77 times. Try saying “I forgive you” that many times! It might be good therapy.

Jesus said “forgive,” not “forget,” and there is an important difference. Jesus has not forgotten who betrayed him, or deserted him, or ordered his execution, but Jesus does not harbor grudges about it. He wants those people to accept the forgiveness that he offers—he died for them as well as for everyone else.

(When the Bible says that God does not remember our sins any more, it is not talking about forgetfulness—it is using the word remember in the sense of taking action on something. Ex. 2:24 is an example of this meaning of “remember.”)

Jesus then told a parable that explains why we should forgive: “Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents [an enormous amount] was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt” (Matt. 18:23-25).

"The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go." We can't pay our debt, but if we ask for mercy, God will give us more than we ask.

The king represents God, of course, and the debt corresponds to our sins. We are totally unable to pay for our sins. Even selling ourselves into slavery would pay only a small fraction of the debt. We can’t work our way out of this one.

“The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go” (vs. 26-27).

We can’t pay our debt, but if we ask for mercy, God will give us more than we ask. That’s what the kingdom of God is like.

(As an aside here, we can see that the servant didn’t have a totally accurate understanding of God’s grace. He asked for mercy, but still thought he could do something to repay his debt. That’s like a lot of Christians today, who don’t really believe they are forgiven unless they have done some kind of penance. Yet God forgives them anyway, even if they don’t understand how sweeping his forgiveness really is.)

So far, so good. It would be a great parable if Jesus just stopped right here. But Jesus did not stop here, and the second part of the parable makes me squirm a little. But I have to remember that Peter’s question is not whether he is forgiven, but whether he has to forgive others—and this is the task that we frequently face.

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded” (v. 28).

The first servant was determined to pay off his own debt by collecting every cent he could. A hundred denarii was a significant amount, but it was only a tiny fraction of the 10,000 talents. But every penny counts, the servant must have thought, and he even used a little violence to underscore his determination to collect.

Christians today do this as well. When they think they have to earn God’s respect through obedience and good works, they look down on people who aren’t trying as hard as they are.

“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay you back’ [which is what the first servant had said to his master]. But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt” (vs. 29-30). He wanted the man’s relatives to cough up the money to get the guy out of jail. He was playing hardball in a desperate attempt to gather enough cash to impress the king with his sincerity.

“When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ ” (vs. 31-33).

This chapter is about life in a community, not just between one person and God. This is a small reminder in this parable that our actions affect other people, and that we should encourage one another to give mercy, just as we have been given mercy.

Now here is where the parable turns into a warning: “In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart” (vs. 34-35).

Shocking!—Jesus represents God as taking away the forgiveness he once gave, and inflicting punishment, knowing quite well that the man will never be able to “pay back all he owed.”

But Jesus is not attempting to tell us about the nature of eternal punishment—he is simply presenting this as a warning, with terms appropriate to the parable, that we must forgive others not grudgingly, but from the heart.

But is Jesus laying on us an impossible burden? It is easy to say “you are forgiven,” but it is difficult to mean it in our heart. Aren’t we still angry at the injustice that was done to us? Don’t we still hurt when we think about it? Don’t we still want the person to be punished for what was done? What are we to do with the vial of bitterness we have accumulated in our thoughts?

If this parable had been longer, maybe it would have gone something like this: “And the wicked servant said, ‘O my king, you are right. You have been patient with me; I should be just as patient with my fellow servants. Please do not throw me in jail. Have mercy on me again. I will forgive the people who ask me for mercy.’ And the king said, ‘You are forgiven.’

“And the wicked servant went out and found a woman who owed him 50 denarii, and he demanded to be repaid within a week. The woman was exceedingly sorrowful, and sold herself into slavery to pay the debt. And since she did not ask for mercy, none was given.

“The other servants found out about this and reported it to the king, and the king was angry and called the wicked servant in again, saying: ‘You wicked servant! I forgave your huge debt because you asked me to. Can you not see that the poor woman wanted mercy even though she was afraid to ask?’ Therefore I will throw you into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“The wicked servant then said: ‘O my king, you are right again. If you forgive me this time, I will sell some of my possessions to redeem the woman from slavery.’ ‘Well done,’ said the king, ‘you may go.’ And the wicked servant went out and straightway forgot what he had promised.

“And he was reported to the king again, was threatened with punishment again, asked for mercy again, and was forgiven again. And I ask you, how many times will the king forgive—seven times? Nay, he will do it seventy-seven times. That is what the kingdom of heaven is like. God is even more merciful than what he tells us to be.”

In other words, God even forgives our imperfect attempts at forgiveness, as long as we look to him for mercy.

The better we understand that we are forgiven, the better we can forgive others. That does not mean thinking (as the wicked servant did), “Thanks for your patience; I will still try to repay all that I owe.” If we have that attitude, then we still overestimate our abilities, and we will still expect people to pay all that they owe us—groveling for everything they’ve done to us.

But the truth (which the wicked servant could have known, if he had listened carefully) is that when God forgives us, we are forgiven. There is no debt to repay. There’s nothing to work off, no penance to perform, no need to prove how sincere we were this time. It’s forgiven—it’s gone.

Another point from the parable that will help us forgive others: We have been forgiven an enormous debt; the sins that people commit against us are much smaller. Even if someone beats you to a bloody mess and nails you to die on a cross, God has forgiven you more than that. Perhaps you find that hard to believe, as I do, but this is the point of what Jesus is saying, and he has earned the right to say it.

Forgiveness does not mean that we pretend like nothing ever happened. It does not mean trusting a swindler with money, trusting a wife-beater to not get abusive again, or appointing a child-molester to be a youth pastor.

Forgiving does mean that we do not harbor grudges, we do not seek vengeance. It means letting go of our need to get even. It means praying for our enemies. It means seeing ourselves in their shoes, knowing that God has, for the sake of Christ, forgiven us all our sins too. No groveling required. God does not want us to sin again, but his mercy lasts forever.

God wants us to forgive, and he knows that it’s hard. He wants us to obey him in everything, and he knows that we don’t. That’s why our salvation does not depend on our performance, but on the righteousness of Christ. Our salvation does not depend on our performance in keeping the law, or in having enough faith, or in forgiving as well as we ought. In all these areas, we are sinners who fall short of the glory of God.

Our salvation depends not on us, but on Christ, and on our connection to him. He is the one who forgives with the sincerity and frequency that is required, and when our lives are hidden in Christ (Col. 3:3), God attributes Christ’s perfect obedience, including his perfect forgiveness, to us.

God wants us to forgive others because he forgives us. He forgives us far more generously than 77 times. The point is that we are to realize our need for mercy, look to him for mercy, depend on his mercy, and instead of harboring our hurts and nursing our grievances, we need to ask him to help us begin to forgive.

In this world of sin and ignorance, offenses are inevitable. We’ve all been hurt. What’s the worst thing that has happened to you? What resentment do you carry? For our own good, we need to let our resentments go. Jesus will help us—that’s something worth praying about.

A.C. Green, ORM conduct
reconciliation event

PASADENA—A.C. Green, former all-star forward for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association, and the Office of Reconciliation Ministries were hosts for a conference on racial reconciliation at Ambassador Auditorium Jan. 18.

The event was titled “Removing Walls/Building Bridges.” Among the 300 to 400 in attendance were church, community and political leaders.

The event began with a 20-minute slide show on civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting his work as a Christian minister. Bermie Dizon, pastor of the Pasadena NewLife and Los Angeles churches, coordinated the slide show.

“Many people use Dr. King to support various causes, but forget that he was first and foremost an ordained Christian minister,” Mr. Dizon said.

Bernard K. Melekian, Pasadena police chief, spoke on “Learning to Live and Work Together in Our Cities.” He said we have made progress since the days of Dr. King, but that we still have much to do.

Mr. May introduced a film, Masters of Invention, which highlighted inventions by African-Americans, and then explained four steps to reconciliation: confession, change, reconciliation and restitution.

*Confession: acknowledgment of the hurtful actions of my people or myself toward other people or categories of people.

*Reconciliation: expressing and receiving forgiveness, and pursuing intimate fellowship with previous enemies.

*Restitution: attempting to restore what has been damaged or destroyed, not reparations.

Green, who openly professed his Christianity during his days in the NBA, introduced a film called the Final Solution that he co-produced. The film was on the life of Gerrit Wolfhaardt, a white South African paramilitary member who renounced his racist ways. Mr. Wolfhaardt is now a Christian minister in the United States and works in racial reconciliation causes. His son, Thabo, 26, lives in Los Angeles and attended the conference.

The event closed with a question and answer session conducted by A.C. Green and Mr. May. Area WCG members served as ushers. The Los Angeles Times and the Pasadena Star-News covered the event.

Church Administration announces
changes to U.S. church districts

Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers, announced a restructuring of U.S. church districts that became effective Jan. 1. The primary reason for restructuring is to reduce the cost for providing district level ministries to U.S. churches, including the services provided by district superintendents.

With restructuring, the number of districts is reduced from 13 to 11, necessitating various boundary and district name changes (see map). Church Administration also announced that Gerald Schnarrenberger and Guy Engelbart no longer serve as district superintendents. Both have retired from the employ of the church (see articles page 11).

With the reduction in the number of districts, the district superintendents will focus their efforts on training and coaching shepherd-leaders in their districts. Their primary emphasis will be the development and supervision of church pastors. The detailed responsibilities of the district superintendents are set forth in the new Church Administration Manual now posted at www.wcg.org /lit/church/manual

To prepare the district superintendents for this training-coaching emphasis, they have been certified by Sonlife Ministries to conduct the Everyday Commission and Everyday Commandment seminars. Each seminar includes four to six hours of instruction related to a Christian’s calling to be a disciplemaking follower of Jesus Christ.

Mr. Rogers conducted these seminars at the regional conferences in 2002 and 2003. Pastors interested in hosting one of these seminars in their areas are encouraged to contact their district superintendent.

Following are the U.S. church districts with their district superintendents. You may contact your district superintendent at the e-mail address noted.

U.S. church districts with their district superintendents

Guy and Penny Engelbart:
touching lives for Christ

SPANAWAY, Washington—Guy and Penny Engelbart have served in the WCG ministry for nearly 43 years. They met at Ambassador College in the fall of 1959. Penny had lived with her family in the San Fernando Valley, 20 miles from the campus. Guy came from Nebraska, where his family had a farm. Guy became a WCG member in 1957, and Penny in 1959.

Guy graduated from the Bricket Wood, England, campus in 1961, and then returned to the United States for a baptizing tour. In October of that year, Guy and Penny were married in Big Sandy, Texas, after which they were sent to Chicago to begin their ministry.

Over the past 43 years they have served in such cities as New York City; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Washington, D.C.; Wichita, Kansas; Denver, Colorado; Cleveland, Ohio; and Tacoma, Olympia and Bremerton, Washington.

Guy and Penny raised up WCG congregations in Baltimore; Washington, D.C., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Besides pastoring, Guy has been a district superintendent on three occasions.

In 1964, while serving in the New York City area, their first son, Karl, was born. Karl presently lives in Cleveland and owns his own courier service. Their second son, Kevin, was born in Wichita in 1970. Kevin lives in Olympia and works for the Intel Corp.

As a pastor’s wife, Penny’s primary focus through the years was the women of our church. It was her heartfelt desire to see women take a more active role in what had been a male-dominated church. She is deeply thankful for the changes in our denomination, understanding the love and grace of Jesus, and how much women can give in service to him.

Guy and Penny were asked to retire from the full-time ministry in January. Presently living near Olympia, they will continue to help and serve the Body of Christ in whatever way they can. Guy is now assisting Ken Williams in the Northwest district, and also manages the family farm in Nebraska.

Guy and Penny are thankful to our Lord for the opportunity to serve in the WCG ministry all of these years, and to be used as vessels in touching the lives of many wonderful people for the sake of Christ.

Gerald and Connie Schnarrenberger:
new phase of life

COEUR d’ALENE, Idaho—Gerald and Connie Schnarrenberger have been actively serving in the WCG for more than 40 years.

Connie’s mother and aunts started listening to the church’s radio broadcasts in the early 1950s. Gerald and Connie both began to attend the church’s worship services in the late 1950s; Connie in 1958 and Gerald in 1959.

Gerald came into the church while in the U.S. Air Force. He had trained to be a pilot and was awaiting transfer to Randolph Air Force Base in Texas for advanced pilot training when he became convicted that a Christian should not fight in the military. He used his Air Force training to good advantage over the next 18 years as he taught flying; mainly multi-engine and instrument piloting. During that time, his main vocation was business management, including training course development.

Connie worked in the garment industry for more than 15 years, where she was manager for both pattern grading and pattern making departments. She also taught pattern grading, which is changing clothing patterns to the various sizes.

Gerald was serving as an elder when he was hired into the full-time ministry in 1985. He went to church headquarters in Pasadena, where he served in the ministry, took classes at Ambassador College and helped develop the SWIFTNET in-home WATS telephone system. While living in Pasadena, Connie worked for PTM and member files.

In 1987 Gerald was assigned to serve in pastoral ministry in Minnesota churches. They have served churches in Ohio, Kansas, Colorado, Minnesota and Illinois.

In 1994 Gerald was asked to come to Pasadena to serve in Church Administration; first in Family Ministry, then the Deaf Department. After the church made its major doctrinal changes in late 1994 and early 1995, he served as Church Administration office manager. For the next few years, he and Connie made numerous visits to U.S. churches. He has also worked with ministerial personnel policies, transfers and hiring.

In 1998 he was asked to take on additional duties as district superintendent of the Rocky Mountain district. He and Connie then moved to Salt Lake City, Utah, so they would be central to the district. Until retirement they continued to attend each regional conference and serve in a ministerial personnel capacity as well as visit pastors and churches in the Western United States.

Since retirement they have moved to Coeur d’Alene to be closer to their children and grandchildren, who all live in eastern Washington and western Idaho.

“Retirement doesn’t mean not working, it just ushers in another phase of life,” Gerald said. When Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers, announced Gerald’s retirement at the Orlando, Florida, conference in December, he said that “retirement didn’t mean less work, just less pay.”

Gerald continues to serve the church by writing the church’s Ministerial Manual and is developing a new discipleship course for the church. He will also continue serving in other capacities. His schedule is just a little less hectic now.

Fairfax members prepare shoeboxes
for Operation Christmas Child

FAIRFAX, Virginia—Members of the Living Hope Christian Fellowship, the Northern Virginia WCG congregation, prepared 70 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child.

This project has been an annual tradition for the congregation, and each year more boxes are sent than the year before.

Our congregation has been supporting Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child project for the past six years. Some of the children insert handwritten letters into the shoe boxes to possibly establish a penpal relationship with a receiving child.

One of our children, Lauren Hart, received a letter from a Ukrainian girl, from the previous year. The letter was written half in Ukrainian and half in English and included a picture of the child. What a blessing to know that you have made a difference in the life of a child thousands of miles away.

This annual project is a great way for the members of our congregation to fellowship and work together to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to children around the world. Sherry Bellamy.

Tyler children put on Christmas play

TYLER, Texas—Tyler members were entertained by the children of the congregation Dec. 20 with a play titled One Silent Night.

The play told the story of Jesus’ birth and included several holiday songs that focused on Christ. The play was organized and directed by Sandy Farnsworth and Sandra Adair, children’s church teachers. Janalee Swisher.

Robert and Judylyn Ferrer
lead worship at service in Vienna

VIENNA, Austria—Robert Ferrer, a native Filipino, and vice consul of the Philippine Embassy in Vienna, and his wife, Judylyn (both members of the Vienna WCG congregation) were the worship leaders at an interdenominational Filipino worship service in Vienna on Dec. 6.

The worship service involved six Filipino churches in Vienna. More than 400 mostly Filipino Christians and several guests attended the “Worship Together 2003” inter-church worship service at the Donau City Kirche. The service was opened by a youth musical praise number with mime and rap.

It was followed by two hours of praise and worship music accompanied by a live band and a 20-member choir.

The six churches are: Vienna Christian Fellowship, Vienna Christian Center Filipino Fellowship (an Assemblies of God congregation), Grace Church Filipino Fellowship (a Baptist congregation), Jesus Is Lord Church, Christliche International Gemeinde and the Weltweite Kirche Gottes (Worldwide Church of God).

Preparation for the event involved more than a dozen committee meetings and five months of regular practice of a combined worship team. The worship team came from the various worship teams and leaders of the six churches. Mr. and Mrs. Ferrer were the worship leaders. Mr. Ferrer also gave the main message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

“Many of those who attended praised God for the miracle and the opportunity to have a family reunion with friends from other churches who were previously estranged,” Mr. Ferrer said. “It was the perfect example of how different churches, with various temperaments, ways of doing things, and various gifts of the Holy Spirit, if inspired by God and working together in unity, could glorify him.”

Guests commented that it would be possible to involve other international evangelical congregations in a similar project in the future.

Ambassador College of Christian Ministry

Ambassador College of Christian Ministry provides practical, quality training in Christian ministry and is a valuable source of informative and stimulating Christian studies through both credit and audit programs. You can study online right here with

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The Associate of Christian Ministry program is designed to equip men and women for more effective and informed service in the work of the gospel.

The program is denominationally accredited and recognized by the Worldwide Church of God.

Ambassador’s Associate program also welcomes non-credit students who wish to undertake study of selected classes for personal interest and development without the need to undertake assessment.

We invite you to tour our web site at www.ambascol.org and contact us if you have any questions.

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Lessons From the Bible

The Gospel of Mark, Lesson 15
Mark 2:18-22

A Lesson About Old and News

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the

disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins” (Mark 2:18-22).

The primary fast of the Jews was the Day of Atonement, one of the seven annual solemn assemblies of the Law of Moses. The Pharisees also fasted on the second and fourth days of every week. Apparently, the disciples of John were doing something similar. (The Pharisees didn’t have disciples in the same sense as John or Jesus. The term “disciples of the Pharisees” might refer to anyone who followed the example of the Pharisees.)

Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”

Although such fasting was not part of the Law of Moses, by Jesus’ day it had become an important expression of the Pharisees’ meticulous devotion to the ceremonial law. To the Pharisees, if Jesus’ disciples were not fasting, then it called into question their piety, sincerity and devotion toward the ceremonial law. Further, it called into question Jesus’ attitude toward the ceremonial law. Jesus had already healed on the Sabbath, and his disciples had already been noticed picking grain on the Sabbath and eating without the prescribed ceremonial washing. Add to that the lack of fasting, and the Pharisees must have found this upstart rabbi increasingly troubling.

After Jesus was gone, fasting would have a place in the Christian community. It would remind believers of their dependence on God, of their need for God’s mercy, and of the power of God for the salvation of those who believe the gospel.

Until then, Jesus’ disciples had no reason to fast. In the Bible, fasting is a sign of disaster, or a voluntary abasement during times of great stress or trial. But the presence of the Son of God on earth with his disciples was a time of joy, not of sorrow. The time for sorrow would come later, when Jesus was murdered and taken away.

In any case, fasting in the manner of the Pharisees, as a sign of their devotion to the ceremonial law, was incompatible with the new covenant Jesus was inaugurating. For Jesus’ disciples, fasting while Jesus was with them would have been like sewing a new piece of cloth on an old garment—it would have been incompatible.

Jesus’ point was that the old has gone, the new has come. The two are not compatible. To put new wine in old skins ruins both the skins and the wine. New wine requires new skins.

Today, it’s still easy to try to pour the new wine of the gospel into the old wineskins of the Law.

Grace doesn’t come easily to us. We like to have a way of measuring where we stand with God. The gospel tells us simply to trust God that he loves us and has forgiven all our sins for the sake of Christ. But we often want something more tangible than that. We want something we can sink our teeth into.

So we run back to the Law. The Law provides a way of measuring where we stand with God. If we avoid sexual sin, for example, and lying, and stealing, and murder, then we can have a firmer basis for feeling that God isn’t mad at us. If we don’t use crude language, if we don’t watch entertainment that has sex and violence in it, if we help others, if we don’t miss church, and so on, then we can rest easier about our relationship with God. Of course, these are good behavior patterns, part of the way we naturally desire to live when we have fellowship with God.

But even when we’re successful in behaving well on the outside, a deeper problem remains. Doing good things doesn’t solve the problem of our alienation from God. Our pride, our selfishness, the sin in our heart of hearts, is still there. And every once in a while, when our guard is down, what we really are inside squirts out to remind us that we’re still sinners. Then we can either pretend we’re not really that bad, or we can admit to ourselves what we’re really like.

Fellowship with God is not based on the Law. It is based on God’s faithfulness to his word of grace.

God told Israel: “I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed” (Malachi 3:6; compare Deuteronomy 4:31). God’s free determination to do as he pleases is what gives us a positive relationship with him. He tells us through the words of Jesus in John 3:17: “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

John wrote, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). He did not write, “God is justice.” If God were after justice, none of us would survive. But God has determined to dispense grace rather than condemnation. We are told, “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13). How grateful we can be that God is the way he has chosen to be!

God’s devotion to us is the basis of our fellowship with him, devotion that God has demonstrated through Jesus Christ.

When we’re really honest with ourselves, we know that despite constant trying, we still sin. Where does that leave us? We can either work harder and harder to keep up the whitewashed façade of personal righteousness, or we can turn it over to God and trust him to forgive us and make us righteous. If we take God at his word, then we can rely on him to do in us and for us what he says he has.

Faith gives us rest. It transforms godly living from a duty, from a way of proving ourselves, to a joy, to a way of taking part in the good life we can have with God in Christ (referring not to physical abundance, but to spiritual contentment, to the inner peace only God can provide, which is worth more than physical riches).

Pikeville spearheads youth outreach

The Pikeville congregation is the thrust behind a youth outreach planned this summer in conjunction with several other churches. Events will take place every Friday night in the Pikeville City Park during the month of July from 8 to 10 p.m.

Activities will vary nightly and include local youth bands, testimonies, dramas, messages and comedy.

Tim Brassell, pastor of the Norfolk, Virginia, church, is tentatively scheduled to speak Friday, July 16. JULY JAM is geared toward reaching the youths in the community for Jesus. For more information contact Mike Stewart at mike.stewart@wcg.org Debby Bailey.

Disciplemaking ministry foundations (part 3)

The adoration of Christ

CANTON, Ohio—This article continues a series exploring six essential ministry foundations—key characteristics of youth ministries that cooperate with the Holy Spirit as he develops young disciplemaking followers of Jesus in and through the church.

Last month we discussed the first of these foundations—an atmosphere of love that leads to the development of grace-based disciples. This month we look at the adoration of Christ that leads to Christ-centered disciples.

One of my favorite Christmas hymns, “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” invites people to “come and behold him,” Jesus—the One who is “born the King of angels.” The hymn then invites our response: “O come, let us adore Him—Christ, the Lord!”

The adoration of Christ is an essential part of the foundation of all Christian ministries (youth ministries included). This foundation is present in ministries where Jesus is clearly presented for who he is (Christ the Lord) and where the appropriate response of worship is both invited and facilitated. Note, however, that the adoration of Christ involves far more than mere programs or tasks—it’s a life-style of active participation in the Holy Spirit’s ministry to and through the church.

During the evening before his crucifixion, Jesus spoke openly with his followers concerning the Spirit’s ministry in their midst. He promised to send the Spirit to be with them and in them as their Counselor or Comforter (John 14:16).

The Spirit’s ministry would be focused on Jesus: reminding his disciples concerning Jesus’ teachings (14:26), testifying about Jesus’ person (15:26) and thus bringing glory to Jesus (16:14). In these and other ways, the Spirit would develop the disciples by granting them a proper concept of Jesus, which would lead them to adore him as their Savior and Lord.

A youth ministry has the privilege and joy of joining with the Holy Spirit in this ministry through the church on behalf of children, teens and college-age young adults.

A youth ministry does so, in large part, by providing ministry environments where the adoration of Christ is placed front and center. Such environments are the fertile soil in which the Spirit grows Christ-centered youths.

But what does the adoration of Christ in a youth ministry setting look like? How can pastors, youth ministry leaders, youth ministry workers and parents provide environments where Jesus is fully seen and openly and consistently adored for who he truly is? Consider the following ideas and principles.

The adoration of Christ will grow within youth ministries where the group’s leaders, workers and parents are openly passionate for Christ and share that passion with the youths. This is vital to understand, because the adoration of Christ is more caught than taught.

Teaching about adoring Jesus is essential, but a youth minister’s life-style that models open and unashamed devotion and passion for Jesus is far more powerful. The group will tend to reflect what the leaders model.

If you work with youths, let your life be connected to and grounded in Christ. Let me encourage you to cultivate that connection—to spend time with Jesus, to adore him in times of prayer, time in his written Word (Scripture) and time worshiping him together with other Christ-followers. In such times let the Spirit fill you with the Father’s adoration for his Son Jesus.

As you are filled with that adoring love, it will overflow to the kids in your group. They will adore Christ along with you—particularly if you include them with you as you show adoration for Christ in ways that are meaningful to them.

The adoration of Christ involves more than getting a youth group to chant, “we love Jesus, yes we do.” It’s great to openly and enthusiastically express love for Jesus, but you can’t simply tell a person to adore Jesus and expect it to happen. The adoration of Christ flows from a personal encounter with him. And a primary place for such an encounter is in the message of the gospel—the good news of what Jesus has done for us that we might have forgiveness and eternal life with God. We effectively focus on the gospel as we personally embrace and then effectively teach the following gospel-centered truths:

Who God is. The adoration of Christ flows out of a proper concept of Christ—a biblical

understanding of the glory and majesty of who Jesus Christ is in his union with the Father and Holy Spirit. The more we appreciate who God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) is, the more we will worship and adore his priceless gift, Jesus, the one and only Son of the Father.

Help your kids to know this God in age-appropriate ways. Introduce God to them as the One who is infinite, omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent, good, merciful, all wise, faithful, just, gracious, loving, holy and personal. Help them to know him as Creator, Sustainer and Savior. In your teaching, praying, worship and discussions, focus on the majesty of God.

What God has done for us. The adoration of Christ intensifies as one begins to grasp the magnitude of what this awesome God has done for us—we who are undeserving sinners. Paint a vivid picture for your kids of all that God has given us by grace in and through Jesus Christ.

Look at Colossians 1 and 2 for examples. There we learn that God has qualified us to share in an eternal inheritance, has delivered us from evil, has redeemed us, forgiven us, reconciled us, presented us to the Father as holy, works through us with his power, has made us complete and alive with Christ and has cancelled our debt to God.

As we relate the essential truths of the gospel of Jesus to the real lives of our kids, they will rejoice—they will adore Christ. Lead them to that place, and they will be transformed.

Who we are in Christ. The transformation that we want to see in our kids flows not from mere behavior modification focused on obedience to rules, but from the kids’ union with Christ and their understanding of who they are in him. That understanding leads them to adore Christ in their whole being—including in their behavior.

Certainly youth leaders, workers and parents struggle with the misbehavior of some youths. What teen group leader has not spent many sleepless nights agonizing about group members who are involved in drug abuse, illicit sex or other God-dishonoring, dangerous behaviors?

Certainly youth ministry leaders should have basic codes of acceptable behavior in the group, and parents need the same within their homes. But more than codes of behavior, we need to help our kids understand that, as followers of Jesus, they are new creations.

In Christ, kids are forgiven and released from the enslaving bondage to sin. They have been given new freedom, through the Holy Spirit, to live in newness of life. This life transformation is supernatural and is rooted in a relationship with Jesus that is grounded in the worshipful adoration of Christ.

Want better-behaved kids? Then lead them to understand who they are in Christ—to experience the sheer joy of knowing Jesus—and thus to adore him. Do this and the Spirit will transform their hearts and minds—and new, Christlike behaviors will follow.

(For a good study on who we are in Christ, I recommend the publication “Thirty-Three Things That Happen at the Moment of Salvation.” It can be ordered from Sonlife Ministries at www.sonlife.com or by calling 1-800-770-4769. The cost is $3 for each copy, plus shipping.)

Jesus may be adored anywhere, at any time. But one of the responsibilities of youth ministry leaders and workers is to provide appropriate spaces (times and places) where youths are focused on adoring Christ. One of the best tools for creating such spaces is worship entered into through music.

Music is the heart language of youths in our culture. And for most Christian youths, worship music is the preferred language for adoring Christ. Christian worship music provides a powerful and biblically appropriate way for young disciples to adore Christ—fully engaging their bodies and minds. Music that is passionately Christ-centered and Christ-adoring leads young worshipers into the Lord’s presence where they are filled with the Father’s love for Jesus and God’s love for them.

To the tool of worship music may be added the spiritual discipline of prayer. Teach young disciples to pray together—to praise Christ and pour out their hearts to their Heavenly Father together. Getting rid of timidity in group prayer takes time for some, but it is my experience that most soon learn to open up. A key here is to provide a non-threatening, loving environment (see last month’s article on creating an atmosphere of love in your youth group).

Another powerful tool for leading youths to adore Christ in worship is to involve them in the dramatic reenactment of the main events of Jesus’ life. By reenacting Jesus’ birth at Christmas, for example, young people are drawn into the reality of Jesus’ self-giving through the incarnation and thus experience more fully the magnitude of his sacrifice on their behalf.

One more idea about providing spaces where youths can adore Christ: take them into nature, where the glory of their Creator may be seen and experienced. How about a float trip down a beautiful stream (caution: wear life vests), or a Discovery Weekend in a rural camp? When Jesus is lifted up in such environments, adoration flows.

Much more can be said about providing an atmosphere characterized by the adoration of Christ. It’s not about a set formula, but these are some ideas and principles that work.

In closing, let me encourage each of us to ask ourselves a couple of key questions: Do I adore Christ? Do I express that adoration openly so that I’m adding to an atmosphere of the adoration of Christ in my congregation, family or youth group?

Let me encourage all of us to develop a life-style that answers yes to both questions. As we do so, we’ll be contributing to the building of congregations, homes and youth groups where Christ is openly adored. In doing so, we will be making a positive contribution to Jesus’ disciplemaking ministry on earth, walking in step with the Spirit, to the glory of our Heavenly Father.

North Carolina
Discovery Weekend April 2 to 4

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina—Come make new friends and visit with old ones at North Carolina’s Discovery Weekend at Camp Chestnut Ridge near Chapel Hill, April 2 to 4.

Food, games, chapels and praise and worship will fill the weekend. Register by March 1 to receive the early bird rate of $40. Registrations after that are $55. Visit www.carolinacamp.com and click on Discovery Weekend or contact Shane Bazer at 1-919-461-9900 for more information.

Discovery weekend set for St. Louis, Missouri

ST. LOUIS, Missouri—Gate Way to God welcomes youths ages 12 to 25 to attend a discovery weekend March 19 to 21 at Revive Us Again Christian Retreat Center in Dittmer, Missouri.

Activities will include praise and worship, skits, breakout sessions, a block party, various games, volleyball and basketball (weather permitting) and a dance.

For more information please contact Pastor Karl Reinagel at 1-314-839-0363 or send e-mail to him at karl.reinagel@wcg.org Visit their web site at www.gatewaytogod.org for registration information and forms.

Teens have Discovery Weekend in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana—“God Wants to Rock Your World!” was the theme of this year’s Discovery Weekend at Fontainebleau State Park Jan. 2 to 4 in which 79 teens and adults participated.

Friday night, Jan. 2, began with a praise and worship service led by Travis Washington, a teen from the Baton Rouge church, followed by some mixer games.

Guest speaker Jeff Broadnax, pastor of the Clarkstown, New Jersey, and Middletown, New York, churches, gave the opening message on how “Jesus Keeps It Real.”

Saturday began with more praise and worship after which Pastor Jeff spoke on how “Jesus Keeps It Relevant!” explaining that there isn’t anything Jesus doesn’t understand about our world and the stuff we carry around with us.

After lunch, several of the youths gave testimonials relating how God had been working in their lives. One boy spoke of his experience of getting in trouble and going to jail, but now God was giving him the strength to avoid wrong choices and focus on him. The youths then broke into groups and prayed for one another.

After lunch, Pastor Jeff gave a message titled “Jesus Keeps It Right Now.” The Baton Rouge youths then performed a play called “Mama Grace’s Family,” an inspiring story about a single mom with several children and the challenges they face. They ultimately realize the importance of loving and supporting one another and relying on God. Stan Duhon, a Baton Rouge youth, wrote, directed and played the lead role. The play included several song and dance numbers.

A banquet and dance took place Saturday evening, and on Sunday morning several New Orleans youths performed a dance routine to the song “Awesome God.” Pastor Jeff then gave the final message on “Your Response: Now What or So What?”

Bobby Dees, a college student from the Mobile, Alabama, church, then spoke on what he felt God had laid on his heart as the weekend progressed. He talked about the struggle of maintaining your enthusiasm following inspiring events such as Discovery Weekends. It is always difficult to not get bogged down in our everyday problems, and keep our focus on Christ.

He encouraged the youths to not give up even when they feel they have messed up. God will not condemn them but always loves them and is ready to help them overcome their daily struggles. Joy Cryer.

Orlando youths visit
Holy Land theme park

ORLANDO, Florida—The New Beginnings Christian Fellowship in Orlando sponsored a youth activity to the Holy Land Experience in Orlando on Oct. 26.

Twenty-three people, including 12 members of the youth group, visited the theme park filled with biblical history. Some of the highlights included a live dramatization in the Garden Tomb, viewing of an indoor model of Jerusalem, petting goats and eating ice cream overlooking the Scriptorium, which houses a collection of biblical artifacts. Riccinni Beloso Banham.

Erica Lively named
homecoming queen

MAGNOLIA, Arkansas—Erica Lively, a senior at Magnolia High School, was chosen as homecoming queen Nov. 11.

Erica attends the New Beginnings congregation in Texarkana, where she sings special music for services. On one occasion she was asked to sing for President Bill Clinton while he was in office.

She is president of the Future Business Leaders of America organization (FBLA) in her high school, where she is also a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a member of the National Honor Society and plays on the school tennis team.

Her parents, Paul and Karen Lively, and her sister Emily, along with her grandparents, Sammy and Mary Crabtree, all attend church in Texarkana.

Window on the World
From Randal Dick, superintendent of missions

A glimpse of the past
shows the way to the future

WATTALA, Sri Lanka—The Worldwide Educational Institute (WEI) is a small school in Sri Lanka sponsored by our church.

It is on a quiet street in Wattala, a suburb of Colombo, the capital. (The island nation of Sri Lanka is on the other side of the world to most of you reading this. If you dug a hole straight through the earth from Dallas, Texas, you’d come out close.)

It was founded in 1986 as the Waterfield Institute and was first located in the central highlands at Nuwara Eliya. When the church had to withdraw funding and close the institute in 1995, past and future students, their families and local church members were deeply disappointed.

Many graduates, including some from member families, had obtained outstanding employment and were given the gift of a fulfilling future because of their training at the institute. Under the auspices of the Australian Office and with the encouragement of the Colombo church, then-Pastor Bharat Naker and Joe Piotrowski, Waterfield director, responded to the widespread feelings of dashed hopes by creating a plan to keep Waterfield alive by charging manageable tuition fees. Two years later the institute moved to Colombo so it could operate less expensively out of the church’s own building.

Today the institute, renamed the Worldwide Educational Institute, has about 80 students. Most are of school-leaving age, the equivalent of freshmen and sophomores in a U.S. college. The institute offers three- and six-month certificate courses and a one-year diploma program.

The focus is on developing effective English language skills. Sri Lanka’s national language is Sinhalese, but English is still the language of business and commerce.

WEI also has classes teaching business skills, including word processing and marketing. The principles of success class teaches young men and women, many of whom are from Buddhist families, the underlying values of the Christian way of life.

WEI students develop a confidence and a polish that gives them an excellent foundation for higher education in the world of work. The institute has developed a reputation for excellence, acknowledged by Sri Lankan Airlines, which has contracted with WEI to provide training classes for their employees.

Robert Reeves, an Ambassador graduate, is principal, and Spencer Cramer is director. Mr. Cramer volunteered to serve WEI after his retirement from a local company.

In this largely Buddhist country, WEI shines its light not with overt evangelism but by example and by modeling and reinforcing those values that reflect the teachings and beliefs of the Bible. Sri Lanka has been wracked by a vicious civil war for the last few decades. More recently, a cease-fire has been negotiated and hopefully will hold. But there are also growing signs of anti-Christian sentiment.

In a number of rural areas, Christian church buildings and some pastors have been attacked by militant Buddhists who see the growing number of conversions to Christianity as a threat to the traditional structure of the village communities and the well-being of the Buddhist religious community—even though only eight percent of the population is Christian.

In this challenging environment, our school at Wattala represents an intelligent and thoughtful way forward. WEI offers a priceless education to the young people of this beautiful and emerging nation. The greatest challenge it faces right now is financial—to keep it affordable for Sri Lankan families while maintaining the standards.

WEI and our congregations in Sri Lanka ask for your prayers and are grateful for your concern.

We thought you would like to read the graduation address by graduating diploma student Denishiya Fernando. She explained what WEI meant to her—and hundreds like her.

There is a saying “a person who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything”—and I was such a person.

In school, I did not get good grades except for maths and Tamil. I did not participate in many school activities, because I was shy. I wanted to, but I didn’t. I thought that I was useless because nobody thought that I could do anything. I was very unhappy with myself.

I tried taking many English classes, but they didn’t help me improve at all. But one day I made up my mind to face up to challenges without running away from them.

As you all know, finding the right place to learn English is not easy because there are so many places being advertised. But thanks be to God. He directed me to the right place—WEI.

I was very scared during the first few days at WEI. Everything was new—faces, the environment and doing all my subjects in English. Although I was very scared, I said to myself, “I am going to continue whether I like it or not.”

In the first few days, I made a lot of mistakes when I spoke English. I was shy and thought my classmates and teachers will laugh at me.

But you know, not only did they not laugh at me, they also encouraged me to be brave and keep trying.

I was surprised because for the first time nobody condemned me because I made mistakes.

My teachers at WEI never gave up on me. They constantly encouraged me to believe in myself; to believe that I’m an intelligent person; to believe that if I try I can achieve.

Life at WEI was not easy. We had to work very hard—midterm test, final test, projects, assignments, speeches, pop quizzes, outreach activities, talent show are some of the things we had to do. Some days I thought, how can I do all these? But I managed.

It was also during this tough time I was able to make many good friends. We had to do projects and activities together. It also helped me to learn life skills like how to work with people, how to work in teams, meeting deadlines and so many other things.

Today I stand behind this podium proud of what I have achieved: from an F in English, I managed to get the highest grade at a test in class; from being shy and scared, to being a confident and mature person; from running away from responsibilities to taking on challenges.

WEI is like a beacon that gives direction to the ships in the deep ocean. So thank you very much for directing my life and the lives of these young men and women sitting here today. Thank you for turning my life around. Thank you for giving me a hope and a future.

May God bless you and help you continue to change the lives of many more young men and women.

Update From Finance & Planning

Off and running in 2004

PASADENA—It seems like just yesterday that we were concerned about the so-called Y2K scare that loomed over the start of a new millennium. But that scare came and went without any significant impact and here we are starting 2004. As they say, “Time flies.”

Member donations and regular income for the first month of the new year are holding steady when compared to the same month in 2003. This year, total January donations came in at $1.38 million, while last year contributions were right at $1.30 million. So we seem to be off to a fairly good start, although sometimes the early days of a year can be misleading, so we are also cautious.

As we have been reporting the past few months, we have established a goal this year of maintaining a balanced budget—meaning our church-related expenses should not exceed our church-related donations and income. I’m happy to report that we have achieved that goal for January by keeping our expenses under that $1.38 million income level. It probably won’t be that easy doing the balancing act every month, but it is a challenge we must successfully meet.

Last month I reported in fairly great detail the annualized expenses for 2003. It’s too early in the year to have an accurate analysis of our income vs. expenses for 2004, but we will keep you posted as we go through the next couple of months. For that reason, our Finance & Planning report this month is a bit shorter than usual.

As always, we appreciate your generous donations during these rather tense years of transition. But one thing is at least clear, we are nearer now to the implementation of our new financial model than ever. And we pray that day will be soon.

In the meantime, I cannot over- express my gratification at your patience and ongoing support. Your consistent donation pattern is essential to the financial health of our church and to our long-desired future reorganization as we focus our attention even more on what can and will be accomplished in our local congregations.

Many members have requested information on how best to make a gift to the Worldwide Church of God, either during their lifetime or upon death through wills, trusts or other means.

If you want to receive information regarding such gifts, the Legal Department of the church is available to aid you in this regard without cost or obligation. Please write to Legal Office, Worldwide Church of God, Box 5005, Glendora, CA 91740.

Greg Archer competes in

world freestyle wrestling championship

TERRE HAUTE, Indiana—Greg Archer, a member of the Terre Haute church, competed in the Veterans World Freestyle Wrestling championships in Budapest, Hungary, in August.

Mr. Archer overcame several training injuries, the first just seven weeks before competition and the last, a torn medial lateral ligament to his knee, just two days before his first match. After an urgent phone call home, the Terre Haute church, together with his teammates in Hungary, prayed for healing so that he might compete.

In answer to everyone’s prayers, he overcame his injuries and finished fifth in his age and weight class. The U.S. team finished third out of 25 other competing nations.

Greg gave all the credit to God in an article in the Terre Haute Tribune-Star. “My being able to compete was nothing short of a miracle,” said Mr. Archer. “When the (knee) injury occurred, I knew the only way I would be able to compete was if God intervened.” After only two days of therapy, “my knee made amazing progress.”

Mr. Archer is the assistant wrestling coach at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and wrestled as a student at Indiana State University.

Bible Study

The certainty of God’s love:

a study of Romans 8:18-39

Throughout the book of Romans, Paul has argued that God counts us as righteous through faith in Christ. Even though we sometimes sin, those sins are counted against the old self that was crucified with Christ; our sins do not count against who we are in Christ. We have an obligation to fight sin—not in order to be saved, but because we are already children of God. In the last part of chapter 8, Paul turns his attention to our glorious future.

The Christian life is not easy. Fighting sin is not easy. Enduring persecution is not easy. Coping with day-to-day life in a fallen world, with corruptible bodies, has its difficulties. Nevertheless, Paul says, “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (v. 18, TNIV throughout). Just as there was for Jesus, there is joy set before us—a future so wonderful that our current trials will seem minor.

But we are not the only ones who will benefit. Paul says that there is a cosmic significance to God’s plan being worked out in us: “The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed” (v. 19).

The creation not only wants to see us in glory—the creation itself will also be blessed with change when God’s plan is brought to completion, as Paul says in the next verses: “For the creation was subjected to frustration … in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God” (vv. 20-21).

The creation is now in decay; it is not the way it was designed to be. But at the resurrection, when we are given the glory that rightly belongs to God’s children, the universe will in some way also be freed from its bondage. The entire universe has been redeemed by the work of Jesus Christ (Col. 1:19-20).

Even though the price has already been paid, we do not yet see everything the way God wants it. “The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time” (Rom. 8:22). The creation is burdened, as if in pain, as it forms the womb in which we are being birthed. Not only that, “but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption, the redemption of our bodies” (v. 23). Even though we have been given the Holy Spirit as an advance payment of salvation, we also struggle, for our salvation is not yet complete. We struggle with sin, we struggle with physical limitations, pain and sorrow—even while we rejoice in what Christ has done for us.

Salvation means that our bodies will be made new, no longer subject to decay (1 Cor. 15:53), and transformed into glory. The physical world is not junk that must be tossed aside—God made it good, and he will make it good again. We do not know how bodies are resurrected, nor the properties of the transformed matter, but we can trust the Creator to complete his work.

We do not yet see a perfect creation, neither in space nor on earth nor in our own bodies, but we have confident hope that it will be transformed. As Paul says: “For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently” (Rom. 8:24-25).

We wait, with both patience and eagerness, for the resurrection of our bodies, when our adoption will be completed. We live in the situation of “already but not yet”: already redeemed, but not yet completely redeemed. We are already freed from condemnation, but not yet completely freed from sin. We are already in the kingdom, but it is not yet in its fullness. We live with aspects of the age to come, even as we struggle with aspects of the old age.

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (v. 26). God knows our limitations and frustrations. He knows that our flesh is weak even when our spirit is willing, so his Spirit intercedes for us, even for needs we cannot put into words.

God’s Spirit does not remove our weakness, but helps us in our weakness. He bridges the gap between old and new, between what we see and what he has declared us to be. For example, we sin even though we want to do righteousness (7:14-25). We see sin, but God declares us righteous, because God sees the end result even while the process has just begun.

Despite the discrepancy between what we see and what we want, we can be confident that the Holy Spirit does what we cannot. He will see us through. “He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” (8:27). God is on our side, helping us, so we can be confident!

Even despite our trials, our weakness and our sins, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (v. 28). God does not cause all things, but he allows them and works with them for his purpose. He has a plan for us, and we can be confident that he will complete his work in us (Phil. 1:6).

God planned in advance that we should become like his Son, Jesus Christ. So he called us through the gospel, justified us through faith in his Son, and united us with him in his glory: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Rom. 8:29-30).

The meaning of foreknowledge and predestination is vigorously debated, and this verse does not resolve the debate, for Paul is not focusing on these words here (nor does he elsewhere). Paul is not commenting, for example, on whether God allows people to reject the glory he has planned for them.

Paul's purpose is to assure readers that they do not need to worry about their salvation. If they want it, they'll
get it.

Paul’s purpose here, as he nears the climax of his presentation of the gospel, is to assure readers that they do not need to worry about their salvation. If they want it, they’ll get it. And for rhetorical effect, Paul speaks even of being glorified in the past tense. It is as good as done. Even though we have struggles in this life, we can count on glory in the next life.

“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (vv. 31-32). If God went so far as to give us his Son even when we were sinners, we can be sure that he will give us everything else that we need to make it. We can be sure that he is not going to get angry at us and take away his offer.

“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies” (v. 33). On the day of judgment, no one can accuse us, for God has declared us not guilty. No one can condemn us, for Christ our Savior is interceding for us: “Who then can condemn? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (v. 34). We have not just a sacrifice for our sins, but also a living Savior who continues to help us in our journey toward glory.

Paul’s rhetorical skill shines in the stirring climax of the chapter: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered’ ” (vv. 35-37, quoting Ps. 44:22). Can our troubles separate us from God? Even if we are killed for the faith, have we lost the battle?

Absolutely not, Paul says: “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Even in pain and suffering, we are not losers—we are better than conquerors, because we share in the victory of Jesus Christ. Our prize—our inheritance—is the eternal glory of God! The prize is infinitely greater than the cost.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (vv. 38-39). Nothing can separate us from the plan that God has for us. Absolutely nothing can separate us from his love. We can be confident in the salvation he has given us.

* How do you envision the glory that will be revealed in us? (v. 18) What will we be like?

* How much groaning do we do, and how much does the Spirit intercede for us? (vv. 23, 26).

* Would Paul agree that God works for the good even in cases of child sex abuse, terrorism and genocide? (v. 28).

* God loves everyone, but does everyone love him? He will always love us (v. 39), but will we always love him?

Waco congregation
reaches out to neighbors

WACO, Texas—The Waco congregation reached out to the neighborhood around their meeting hall Oct. 25 with hot dogs and games.

The congregation has been meeting for more than three years in a rented building on the grounds of a city park. Next door to the park is a neighborhood of about 500 homes. In the past, we have invited the residents to join us for a music concert and to hear a guest speaker from Voice of the Martyrs. We’ve had a total of maybe 10 people respond to our invitations, with none of them coming back for a second visit.

This time, we provided a more direct service to the neighborhood families—not involving them coming to the church building. We placed 300 flyers on the home doorknobs touting an afternoon picnic with free food and lots of games for the kids. Our small church of mostly older members pitched in with decorations, homemade desserts, grilled hot dogs and all the fixings, and plenty of fun games and prizes.

This time, 45 visitors showed up! Although our door flyers had advertised that the event was sponsored by our church, we didn’t purposely bring up the church connection unless people asked who we were. Our purpose was to serve the neighborhood families and begin to create relationships and trust. The event was a major morale-booster for our members. Lee Berger.

The Gathering:
Reconciliation event
in West Virginia

HUNTINGTON, West Virginia—Twenty Huntington area congregations gathered Oct. 5 for a reconciliation event referred to as “The Gathering.”

Pastor Michael J. Greider coordinated this event and served as master of ceremonies. “The purpose was to reconcile three of the issues that have divided the Body of Christ across the Tri-State,” he said.

“What we hope to accomplish is a more harmonious relationship between congregations by dealing with denominational prejudice, prejudice between the evangelical and pentecostal/charismatic congregations, and racial prejudice.

The event began with worship led by the Kenova First Baptist Church music director and a combined choir from the participating congregations. Mr. Greider’s introduction focused on the need for working together. This was followed by a presentation by Pastor Ron McClung of the Kenova First Baptist Church about denominational prejudice.

Pastors took part in a foot washing, while another pastor performed a short drama. The evening’s event concluded with a communion service for more than 200 people.

“It was truly a powerful event that I feel touched the heart of God,” Mr. Greider said.

Fellowship cruises and adventure tour

PASADENA—Even though it is only March, we are well into the planning stages for three special worship and fellowship opportunities—a Western Caribbean cruise, a Canada-New England fall colors cruise and a Costa Rica adventure tour.

For several years many members have discovered how fantastic our WCG Caribbean cruises are. The Caribbean offers wonderful weather and interesting ports of call. This year we will cruise the Western Caribbean on the MS Zuiderdam— one of the newest ships in Holland America’s fleet. The Zuiderdam offers more outside cabins and cabins with verandas than other ships in the Holland America Line.

Our first stop will be at Key West, Florida, then we will travel on to Cozumel, Mexico, to the Grand Cayman Islands and finally to Half Moon Cay, a private island in the Bahamas owned by Holland America.

The Western Caribbean seven-day cruise is from Oct. 2 to Oct. 9, and prices start at $512 per person. A WCG cruise offers fellowship with other members and features inspirational worship services and music.

The WCG will once again partner with Holland America Lines for a fall colors Canada-New England cruise. This 10-day cruise, Sept. 30 to Oct. 10, from New York to Montreal through the St. Lawrence Seaway, is on the MS Rotterdam. Prices start at $1,594.

The major attraction at this time of year is the opportunity to view the autumn colors. Ports of call are Newport, Rhode Island; Gloucester, Massachusetts; Bar Harbor, Maine; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Sydney, Nova Scotia; and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

We will cruise the Saguenay Fjord and stop in Quebec City and finally Montreal. The MS Rotterdam is the flagship of the Holland America fleet. This is more expensive than most of our previous fellowship cruises, but a number of members have asked for something longer than a seven-day package.

We negotiate rates that are almost always lower than group cruises sponsored by other ministries, and the fun, fellowship and inspiration of spending a week or 10 days with fellow members is invaluable. Add to that the inspiration of messages from WCG ministers and the uplifting music of our worship leaders, and you have the best of all cruising and fellowship worlds.

For those wanting more adventure, we have added Costa Rica to our fellowship opportunities. This land-based tour will be Oct. 1 to 8.

The day we arrive we are met by a bilingual tourist staff, and then we have private transportation to the Melia Cariari Hotel for dinner. Our second day starts with departure to El Cairo, where we leave for the river, have safety instructions and then indulge in whitewater rafting. We spend the night at the Marriott Hotel.

On our third day, we leave for the Tabacon Resort and enjoy the hot springs and other features. On day four, we arrive at Cañon Negro and have a guided boat tour. On our fifth day we have miscellaneous activities and then enjoy a free afternoon for personal activities or leisure.

On day six we arrive at Buena Vista and have a guided canopy tour. Later that afternoon we depart for a spa and spend time in the hot springs or a mud bath.

On day seven we arrive at Palo Verde and have a boat tour with a naturalist guide. Later that evening, we will have a farewell dinner.

This trip is sure to offer you fellowship opportunities and adventure in addition to the regular worship services conducted on all our group tours.

If you are interested, please contact Travel Gallery (see details below) for an information packet and pricing. Whether we have this group tour depends on sufficient interest and a minimal number required to host a group, so early interest and applications are appreciated.

So, even though it’s not yet spring, we appreciate early bookings. Often prices are better for early booking. For those on the cruises, early reservations assure the pricing and cabin categories most desired. The less expensive cabins tend to reserve early, so call, write or e-mail for information if you think you might be interested in any one of these opportunities.

Because of the limited time frame to enjoy fall colors, and the immense popularity of this cruise, the New England-Canada cruise tends to sell out early. So, if you are interested in this cruise, in order to avoid disappointment, we recommend booking as soon as you are certain.

A Special Tribute to a Good Man

MONROEVILLE, Alabama—This is a tribute to a good man, a man of God. On Dec. 3, I received a telephone call that Melvin Hall, 52, the bivocational pastor of the Monroeville congregation, was killed in a farm tractor accident.

While attempting to pull a stump out of the ground in his backyard, Melvin’s tractor flipped over, landed on top of him and caught fire. When his wife, Linda, went to the back of the house looking for Melvin, she saw the smoke from the burning tractor and then discovered his body under the tractor.

Melvin and Lynda were planning to leave for Florida the next day to attend the conference in Orlando. Melvin is survived by his wife, three sons, Michael, Sedrick and Carlos, and his 93-year-old grandmother.

Melvin was born in Brewton, Alabama. He played football for three years in high school. After graduating, Melvin enlisted in the U.S. Army and served two tours in Vietnam as a combat medic. He and Linda were married on July 2, 1982.

In 1986, he joined the Worldwide Church of God in Monroeville. He was ordained an elder in 1998, and later he became pastor of the Monroeville congregation. Whatever responsibilities he was given in the ministry he carried out with joy, gladness and thanksgiving with a servant’s heart.

Before he retired, Melvin was employed with the Alabama State Department of Corrections for 23 years. He was affectionately known as “Driveshaft.” His ministry went far beyond the walls of the church as he ministered and counseled his employees, the inmates and everyone he met. The call of Jesus on his life was exemplified in his everyday Christian walk.

Please keep the Hall family and the Monroeville church in your prayers. Melvin was a humble servant of God and we will miss him very much.

WATERVILLE, Minnesota—From Dec. 28 to 31, 58 youths, 37 adult staff and three children participated in Snowblast 2003 at Camp Omega, hosted by the Living Hope (formerly Minneapolis North) congregation in Champlin, Minnesota.

This year the activity took on the characteristics of a blend between a Discovery Weekend and the Spiritual Enrichment Program (SEP), including several praise and worship sessions, Christian Living classes, outdoor winter activities (broomball, capture the flag, and snow tubing) and indoor activities (drama, dance lessons and arts and crafts).

Our theme for this sixth-annual event was “Building Relationships That Last for Eternity.”

Most of the youths came from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Illinois, however two young men, Juan Carlos Barrero and his brother Andres Felipe Barrero, came all the way from Colombia, South America.

Jeff Skrove, Living Hope youth coordinator, has been the driving force behind all six Snowblast events.

Julie Holladay, drama coordinator, wrote: “I left Snowblast very energized and renewed in my faith. A lot of the campers had gone to SEP in the summer, and I’m excited by the fact that I might see them next summer to see how they’re doing.”

Julie and crew were responsible for several skits that formed the basis of many discussions during Christian living classes and dorm discussions.

George Denn, one of the adult volunteers, commented afterward: “One of the highlights for me was to see my nephew Zack recommit his life to Christ. The last night all of us in Dorm 2b laid hands on Zack and prayed for him.”

Pastor John Bailey from Beloit, Wisconsin, said: “My observation of the youths was that they were like sponges soaking up the information shared. I got a sense the youths have gained a better footing on how to develop lasting and meaningful relationships with their peers and adult significant others.”

Christian living classes were conducted by Pastor Cliff Parks and Pastor John Stonecypher. Praise and worship sessions were a blend of live music (led by Pastor James Newby), and CDs led by Living Hope worship leaders Nat and Lisa Seltzer.

BROOMBALL—Lauren Miarecki and Seth Schnoor
battle it out as Zachary Denn watches for his opportunity.
[Photo by Doug Johannsen]

Update:
News of people, places and events

Church honors employees
for 25 years of service

PASADENA—The WCG honored the following employees for 25 years of service to the church.

Trevor J. and Vickie Gail E. Cherry, pastor, Yorkton and Moosomin, Saskatchewan, and Dauphin and Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, churches.

Michael J. and Dana L. Greider, pastor, Paintsville, Kentucky, and Charleston, Huntington and Ripley, West Virginia.

Yong Chin Gee and Yeong Yuet Siam, pastor, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Tucson church conducts
first Sunday service

TUCSON, Arizona—Members of Grace of God Fellowship, a WCG congregation in Tucson, conducted their first regular Sunday service at their new location Jan. 4.

Thirty-eight members and seven guests attended the service. Selina Harding led the praise service, assisted by Gezzele Martin and James Snyder.

Curtis May, district superintendent, gave the sermon and led the quarterly communion service. After a potluck meal, Mr. May and his wife, Jannice, attended a meeting of the congregation’s pastoral council. Paul Pronze.

R.T. Byrum publishes
young adult adventure series books

ATLANTA, Georgia—R.T. Byrum, a member of the Northwest Christian Fellowship, the

WCG congregation in Kennesaw, Georgia, signed the first two volumes of his Carver Cousins Adventure series for readers from 10 to 18 on Nov. 10.

The event was the Night of 100 Authors at one of the largest Barnes and Noble stores in the area.

Mr. Byrum, disturbed by the number of books for teens involving the occult, sexual situations and even drugs, wanted to do something about it. A longtime writer of ad copy, television programming and commercials, Mr. Byrum took on the task of creating a series that has been described as “the Hardy Boys meet Indian Jones and MacGyver.”

Seven of the books have been completed, with two of them, Mystery of the Shrieking Island and The Phantom Bridge, now available in stores and on the Internet.

Although the stories are filled with mystery, high adventure and villains to be overcome, Dave and Andy, the two cousins who are the heroes, have a sense of respect for law and parents. The books were named as the international poster books for “I Love to Write Day” in November.

Mr. Byrum was a producer and director of the World Tomorrow television program from 1970 to 1974.

For further information, contact your local or online bookstores or visit Mr. Byrum’s web site at rtbwriter.com.

CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION—
Violet Woolsey, a member of the San
Antonio, Texas, church, receives a
certificate from Pastor Rodney Schuler
for completing Experiencing the Word.
[Photo by Larry Scott]

BIG SANDY, Texas—Members of the Texarkana and Big Sandy congregations completed a “Witnessing Without Fear” class in November developed by Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ.

The video program has been successfully used by churches around the world. Nearly two billion copies of his booklet The Four Spiritual Laws have been printed in many different languages.

The Texarkana congregation went through the program’s six sessions over a three-week period.

The Big Sandy congregation conducted a one-day seminar, and invited other churches to participate. A Methodist pastor was invited to present one of the sessions.

Participants are now better prepared to go and make disciples and witness to others as Christ guides them.

Billy Graham said of the program: “If every Christian individual were to put these proven methods to work on a daily basis, it could change the entire approach to world evangelization.”

Glendora marks eighth
Martin Luther King tribute

GLENDORA, California—One hundred thirty-one members and guests attended the Glendora congregation’s eighth annual Martin Luther King Day observance Jan. 18.

They were greeted by the voices of the black Gospel Choir under the direction of Bernice McDuffie after Pastor Neil Earle led the audience in a rendition of the 1960s folk song “Blowing in the Wind.”

Deacon Walton Brown shared recollections from his experiences with the Montgomery bus boycott of 1954-1955. “Those memories are still fresh and vivid in my mind though I was just a teenager at the time.” The boycott is widely recognized as beginning the modern phase of the civil rights movement.

“With the Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and 1965 America officially repented of segregation,” Mr. Brown told the audience. He also emphasized how the black churches of Montgomery were the real rallying places for the movement.

Then David Lewis, a Jewish-Christian WCG member and history professor at Citrus College, addressed the issue of Jewish participation in the events of the 1950s and 1960s. “Jews were very much aware of the black struggle,” said Dr. Lewis, “since they had been under persecution for some 3,000 years.” He recounted how Dr. King had early seen the need for allies in the broader community if his movement was to achieve success.

Finally, Durrell Brown quoted excerpts from Dr. King’s most famous speeches, including: “This is not a victory for black Americans; this is a victory for all Americans. Justice threatened anywhere is justice threatened everywhere.”

“The whole presentation reminded me of the terrible struggles people endured, and a renewed commitment to strive for reconciliation,” said Traule Soetebier, a longtime WCG member. Neil Earle.

HONOLULU MARATHON—Linda Helscher of the New Hope Christian Fellowship in Pasadena finishes the 26.2 mile Honolulu Marathon Dec. 14. “This marathon was the hardest physical thing that I’ve ever done,” Mrs. Helscher said. “Spiritual analogies were reinforced in my mind such as courage, commitment and dedication. Also, it’s harder or even impossible to accomplish a goal without the support of others.”

Church conducts
conference in Honduras

SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras—The WCG conducted a conference in San Pedro Sula over the weekend of Dec. 11 to 14, according to Charles Fleming, mission developer.

Sixty-one people came from Honduras, El Salvador and Colombia. Hector Barrero, Colombian pastor, presented material from Sonlife Ministries and from Dan Souterland’s transitioning conference on mission and vision.

David Agreda, web site manager for Latin America and chairman of the pastoral team in El Salvador, gave a presentation on evangelism, using material compiled by Ted Johnston, northeast regional director. The conference ended with communion.

“This was our fifth annual conference in Central America,” Mr. Fleming said, “and it was incredibly inspiring to see the growth and maturity of our leaders.”

The two churches in Honduras (Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula) have “effective youth ministries,” Mr. Fleming said. In both churches those younger than 18 make up more than half the congregation.

“The El Salvador church is strong on discipling and is developing an increasingly strong focus on community outreach,” he said.

GREENVILLE, South Carolina— The Way of the Cross Fellowship, the WCG congregation in Greenville, carried out a community outreach and open house in October and November.

The congregation decided to hand out packages on Halloween that contained a Gospel of John, an introductory card about the church with meeting times, some candy with Bible quotes on the wrapper, bookmarks, and an RSVP to an open house in November.

On the afternoon and evening of Oct. 31, six members of the fellowship, David Goode, John and Jackie Huffman, Henry Merrill, Paul Titus and Pastor Hasadore Hall went into the nearby neighborhoods and delivered 124 bags to homes and residents.

Members were encouraged to invite family, friends and co-workers to the Nov. 16 open house, which was primarily a praise and worship service followed by a catered Thanksgiving style meal.

Combined Advent season service
in Redding

REDDING, California—The Redding church had a combined service Dec. 14 with its host church, Cornerstone Community Church, and the Iglesia de Dios, which also uses the facility.

Pastor Ralph Johnson of Cornerstone gave the sermon. All three congregations provided different parts of the praise service, with Judy Van Landuyt and Carol Wertz, the pianist from Cornerstone, playing a piano-organ duet to open the service. They also played duet accompaniment throughout the service.

Later a group of members from the Spanish congregation sang several seasonal hymns in Spanish.

Larry Van Landuyt, pastor of the Redding church, provided a prayer of petitions, and the Spanish pastor offered prayer in Spanish (with a brief explanation in English beforehand) to close the service.

“It was a uniting experience for all,” Mr. Van Landuyt said. “It was a time of mutual rejoicing in the Christian miracle of reconciliation through the incarnation and arrival of Immanuel—God coming to live with us and provide a means of perfect redemption from human sinfulness.” Larry Van Landuyt.

Ester Reed honored
at senior citizens Bible study

HOUSTON, Texas—The Community Christian Fellowship senior citizens Wednesday Bible study group had a fellowship meal after the Bible study, Dec. 17.

Susa and Mary Washington prepared the food. After the meal, Lois Mason presented gifts to Ester Reed for his 76th birthday (Dec. 25). Each study participant brought Mr. Reed a small gift, and a group gift was also presented in appreciation for the many years he has served as teacher and elder. He also brings people to the weekly study in addition to providing transportation to doctor visits, shopping trips and giving help wherever needed.

The gifts were placed under a Christmas tree. Afterward, the tree was given to Mr. and Mrs. John Thiessen for their years of service. Lue Ennis.

Duties ending

The paid duties of the following Church Administration employees have ended: Barbara Egbert, Spiritual Enrichment Program assistant director; Lloyd Garrett, pastor of the Washington, D.C., East church; and Steven Ramos, pastoral intern, Pasadena Spanish church.