UCG Work in Brazil Growing
May 2, 2012
[The following report was filed by Jorge de Campos, senior pastor for the United Church of God's Portuguese-speaking regions. Mr. de Campos visited Brazil during the Days of Unleavened Bread.]
The trip to Maloca de Moscow
On April 10 I left the United States to visit the brethren in Brazil, and to conduct three Kingdom of God Bible Seminars and fulfill a number of visit requests. God blessed the trip with spiritual growth of members, safety and health. Thanks are to be given to God for His blessing on this visit.
Church Hall in Wapixana village of Maloca de Moscow built from United Church of God "Good Works" funds.
After flying from Dallas, Giovane Macedo, a member in Brazil, joined me in Boa Vista, Brazil, to visit the indigenous brethren in the Wapixana village of Maloca de Moscow. Giovane and I admired the lovely building which they built with Good Works funds for their services. This building was inaugurated on Passover night, April 5, 2012.
We also admired the lovely new vegetable garden which they planted at my request for their benefit, with “seed” funds donated by brethren. We delivered some toys, second hand clothing and bags of rice for their sustenance. In addition I carried from the U.S. a 32” flat screen TV and a DVD player for them to play our video sermons in Portuguese. All this arrived there in perfect condition and was donated by various brethren. The video sermons will be placed on DVD’s for them, as well as placed on the Web for other Portuguese members, either in Portugal and/or Brazil, who have access to the Internet.
New flat-screen TV for brethren to watch sermon DVDs and other church programs.
On Friday, the last day of Unleavened Bread, we had two services and the attendance was 34 people for both services. On the following Sabbath, April 14, we had services in the morning with 32 brethren present and 8 visitors. In the afternoon we conducted the first series of the Kingdom of God Bible Seminars, with a total attendance of 42, of which 16 were visitors.
On Sunday afternoon we conducted a wedding in the new church hall they built. However, before the wedding I conducted a Bible study about the marriage vow. I addressed God’s laws regarding marriage and the need to comply with the laws of the country, that is, to legalize the marriages in Brazil.
Wedding ceremony in Wapixana village of Maloca de Moscow.
Subsequent to the Bible study, while the ladies prepared for the wedding, we did a leadership training session reviewing previous instructions about preparing sermonettes and additional instructions about how to preach the Word of God effectively, lessons on song leading and general procedures regarding services, how to handle announcements in church, and the festival assistance program for them.
After the wedding we discussed ways that we could proceed to further assist the local brethren.
Visit to São Paulo
Giovane and I left Sunday evening to Boa Vista to catch a 2:30 a.m. flight early Monday morning to Brasília and then to São Paulo. Giovane at this juncture left to go to his home in Montes Claros and I proceeded to São Paulo. The municipality of São Paulo has well over 11 million people and the greater São Paulo region has some 19 million people. After renting a car, I finally arrived that afternoon at the residence of a prospective member family, the Pellegrinos.
Pellegrino family, prospective members in São Paulo.
That same Monday evening I conducted a Kingdom of God Bible Seminar with nine people attending. One of the new people that attended the Seminar was a gentleman of 83 years of age who used to attend God’s Church until 1995, and has remained faithful for all these years. This seminar in São Paulo ended up being a seminar with many questions and we left the venue at about midnight.
On Wednesday I drove 5 hours to Ribeirão Preto to visit a prospective member. This young man showed a lot of interest in the Church and we are in contact over the Internet. On Thursday, I visited a lady in an outlining suburb of São Paulo with many biblical questions and very desirous to worship God with us. In the same evening we visited a man in downtown São Paulo, who also demonstrated interest to join United.
Youth choir in Wapixana village of Maloca de Moscow.
As we have had no presence in São Paulo before, we are breaking new ground thanks to God opening the minds of new people who are very interested in the truth. We need to pray that God protects these new ones from Satan’s deception and brings them along to the truth. We now have an urgent need to set up a more visible ministry via video sermons and Internet contact to help these people along. We may even have to have a new Feast of Tabernacles site to teach these new prospective members about God’s Way. Let’s pray for God to bless this effort in the industrial hub of Brazil.
Change to the Feast Site in Brazil
Giovane Macedo and his family with Jorge de Campos in Montes Claros.
On Friday I went to Montes Claros for the Sabbath to visit with the Macedo family, conduct a third Bible Seminar and wrap up the Brazilian trip. During this leg of the trip I learnt from the brethren in Maloca de Moscow about their decision that two of the four heads of family decided not to leave the village to attend the Feast in Boa Vista.
So that we would keep them together as a family, and upon prayer and council with the home office, we decided to move the Feast site in the North of Brazil, from the town of Boa Vista, back to the village of Maloca, and to conduct it in their new hall. This in fact will be a lot more economical and practical for the local brethren and they have all the equipment necessary to view video sermons in the village.
Regrettably we have to mention to those who intended to travel to Boa Vista from overseas to the Feast, that this is no longer possible—as Maloca de Moscow does not have the facilities for overseas guests. It could accommodate one or two people that would want to camp and rough it, but we could not accommodate a number of visitors. In the meantime we will also investigate other options near São Paulo as God is calling new people in that region and they need instruction about God’s Way, and the Feast is one of the ideal opportunities which God created for that purpose.
After the visit to Montes Claros I started my trip back early Sunday morning, April 22. I thank God once again for the doors that He is opening and for the health that he personally granted to me during this trip. Please continue praying that God may bless His Work in the Portuguese language and pray for these scattered brethren.
For your information, during this trip, we completed the printing of a new booklet in Portuguese making now 18 booklets that we have available in Portuguese. For literature and sermons in Portuguese please visit our members website at membros.revistaboanova.org.
Jorge de Campos—Senior Pastor, Portuguese-speaking Areas
Video: Dennis Luker Gives Update on Trip to Africa
April 25, 2012
Earlier this month president Dennis Luker and his wife, LeeAnn, made a visit to see the United Church of God brethren in South Africa, Malawi and Zambia. This was during the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread. They were accompanied by Victor Kubik and his wife, Beverly. Mr. Kubik is senior pastor for Malawi and Zambia.
During the same time period, Richard and Emma Kennebeck also made a trip to South Africa to help our office staff there update their file system.
View this 22-minute video update by Mr. Luker about this very encouraging and inspiring trip. See photos and video of some of the brethren and learn about ordinations that took place while there.
We plan to continue to provide these short video updates about visits with our brethren in various areas.
Mr. Kubik also put together a video presentation of the journey, and you can view his 17-minute clip as well.
Peter Eddington—Media and Communications Services.
Video: Dennis Luker Gives Update on Trip to Caribbean
March 29, 2012
President Dennis Luker and his wife, LeeAnn, made a visit to see the United Church of God brethren in Trinidad and Tobago during the weekend of March 24 through 25.
View this five-minute video update by Mr. Luker about this very encouraging trip. See photos of some of the brethren and learn about an ordination that took place while there.
From time-to-time we plan to provide these short video updates about visits with our brethren in various areas.
Peter Eddington—Media and Communications Services.
Pre-Passover Letter From Dennis Luker
March 21, 2012
Dear Brethren,
An early spring has engulfed the home office area in the northern hemisphere, bringing with it the anticipation of the biblical spring Holy Day season and the beginning of the annual observance of God’s plan for humanity.
It is very interesting that during this time three high-profile ancient Middle Eastern artifacts have made big news in the archeological world. A long, multi-year trial in Jerusalem ended earlier this month, clearing professionals of forgery charges related to three important finds: an ancient piece of sculpture that some experts believe comes directly from Solomon’s Temple, a tablet fragment from the 9th century B.C. that also could have been associated with Solomon’s Temple, and finally an ossuary (bone burial box) that many believe is directly associated with James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ and the author of the book of James.
The James Ossuary. Source: Paradiso Images
The first two are significant and exciting because if they are indeed authentic, they may serve as additional extra-biblical proof of the events described in the Old Testament during Solomon’s time. The third, the James ossuary (dated from the time of Christ), had attracted the most attention, in part, because it includes an inscription in Hebrew stating, “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus.” Over the past few years this news of a possible direct physical connection to Jesus has served to raise considerable fresh interest in both the book of James and in James’ role in the early New Testament Church.
As we in the Church know, the book of James emphasizes the “royal law” (James 2:8) and the “law of liberty” (verse 12). In the book, as James clearly teaches, and just as his older Brother Jesus taught, Christians are expected to obey God and produce good fruits, which James refers to as “works” (James 2:14-18, 26). The apostle Paul singled out James, confirming him as “the Lord’s brother” (Galatians 1:19). Paul also notes that Jesus appeared to James privately after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7).
While we do not seek to venerate ancient artifacts (Exodus 20:3-6), they can be useful to reinforce the biblical message and raise awareness of the accuracy of its teachings. With that in mind, consider this: In referencing the “royal law,” James cites Leviticus 19:18: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus, the Son of God and the living Head of the Church today, stated that this was the second of the two greatest commandments, the first of course being: “You shall love the Lord your God with all of your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37; Deuteronomy 6:5).
Now, as we approach the spring Holy Days and the Christian Passover, you have probably already begun the process of preparing for these days. As Paul taught, to properly fulfill the potential for spiritual growth during this time, “Let a man examine himself and so [prepared] let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28). The biblical message is clear. Lest we wrongly come before God in “an unworthy manner” (verse 27), we are to diligently and humbly prepare in advance, renewing our commitment to God and rededicating ourselves to His Son, Jesus Christ, and His way of life (2 Corinthians 13:5).
So how do we prepare and “examine ourselves”? Clearly we know that we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and that were it not for receiving God’s grace through the sacrifice of Jesus—the very event we are to remember during the Passover service—we could not be heirs with Christ in the family of God.
As we prepare for the Passover and continue to grow in our Christian life, are we more concerned about the welfare of others over ourselves? Do we have self-centered thoughts that need to be replaced by the thoughts of God? Has our speech improved? Has unwarranted criticism, foul-speaking, gossip and harsh talk vanished from our lives? If not, James warned, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless” (James 1:26, emphasis added).
Are we learning how to love one another, as Jesus directly instructed just prior to His crucifixion? Can people see this growing love in us for our fellow brethren (John 13:34-35)? Are we more forgiving and less judgmental? As James emphasized: “Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13).
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9). Reflecting on what He said, James wrote, “The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace” (James 3:18). Those words are rich with meaning, as that peace comes from receiving wisdom from God (verse 17), which is pure, gentle, willing to yield and full of mercy and good fruits.
Today, many good things are happening in the church, and I sincerely thank you for your prayers. As you can read in United News and elsewhere, many new opportunities are opening to us as we continue to grow spiritually and please God. Please pray that God will open the minds and hearts of many others as His Word goes forth in an ever more powerful way, and that they will help in supporting God’s work.
In conclusion, as James wrote, those of us who yield to God and become doers of the work will be blessed in what we do. May we all yield to the authority and guidance of the true Leader of this Church, Jesus Christ, our Passover Lamb, and seek to know and do the will of our living God!
You brethren are in my prayers as we approach the Passover. I pray that your preparation for and observance of the spring Holy Day season will be rich and spiritually rewarding.
In Christ’s service,
Dennis Luker—President
UCG’s “Good Works” Program
March 15, 2012
The United Church of God’s “Good Works” arm has a couple of projects taking place in the coming months that you may be interested in knowing about, and praying for.
Hydroponic Organic Gardening
From left: Sarah Bizic, Milan Bizic and Jonathan Magee. An anonymous donor made a generous donation of white shirts which will be delivered for use in school uniforms in Guatemala.
From May 13 to May 22, 2012, Jonathan Magee, Milan Bizic and Sarah Bizic will travel to Guatemala to assist local brethren in a joint Good Works and Youth Corps project. The main goal of the project will be to establish hydroponic and organic farming infrastructure to produce food for personal use and to sell. We will be providing an update to introduce the volunteers shortly.
More information on this project will be given at Good Works and at LifeNets.
The United Church of God is providing the three Youth Corps workers. The Good Works program is providing the air travel to Guatemala. LifeNets is providing the supplies.
You may be interested in more of the details of the project as outlined on the Good Works website.
Good Works, Youth Corp and the Legacy Institute
The Legacy Institute is a non-profit organization that “seeks to improve the quality of life of people everywhere, both spiritually and physically.”
One aspect of the Legacy Institute is the Legacy Foundation. The Foundation sponsors a number of projects in Thailand—including the Legacy Leadership Training Center. Located in Chiang Mai, the purpose of the center is to improve the quality of life of the underprivileged. The students are generally from the hill areas of Thailand and Burma.
In the past, the United Church of God, through United Youth Corp has partnered with the Legacy Institute to provide volunteer opportunities for young adults. These volunteers have served as teachers at the Legacy Leadership Training Center. We are happy to once again be rekindling this partnership. Good Works has agreed to sponsor a volunteer to travel to Thailand this summer. We will update shortly with more specifics.
Further details about upcoming projects are available on our Good Works website.
United Church of God—Good Works
Announcement: UCG and LCG Representatives Meet
January 12, 2012
From: Dennis Luker, president
United and Living Church of God Representatives Meet
As the end of this age draws near, it seems more appropriate than ever that God’s people, wherever they may reside, support one another in fulfilling the commission Jesus Christ gave us. With this in the forefront of our minds, representatives of the of the United Church of God, an International Association, met with the leadership of the Living Church of God at Living’s Headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, on January 9-10 for a two-day visit.
The purpose of the visit was to rekindle friendships and discuss ways to cooperate in serving God’s people. The meetings were cordial and positive and included an open and frank discussion about those things that we have in common, and some of our differences, including church government and the way each Church is organized. We also discussed our different strategies for preaching the gospel in this modern age. There was no discussion of any type of merger.
Discussions about areas of cooperation within the greater Church of God community included humanitarian concerns, disaster relief and other unforeseen events where we can help our members meet critical needs by supporting and loving one another as Jesus commanded. Cooperation could also include helping members who have difficulty getting time off for the Sabbath and Holy Days, and other legal matters that affect both organizations. It was agreed that open communication between Church of God organizations will become more important as world events move towards their ultimate prophetic fulfillment.
Those in attendance at the meetings in Charlotte on behalf of the Living Church of God were Dr. Roderick C. Meredith, Mr. Richard Ames and Dr. Douglas Winnail. Those who traveled from Cincinnati for the United Church of God were Mr. Dennis Luker, Mr. Victor Kubik and Mr. Peter Eddington. Mr. Luker commented that the Cincinnati team felt most welcome and were treated very warmly. In addition to the meetings, the UCG visitors were given a full tour of the Living Church of God headquarters and adjacent media center.
“Speaking of 2012″: Member Letter from Dennis Luker
January 3, 2012
Dear Brethren,
Here at the home office we are still elated from the exciting experiences of the recent Winter Family Weekend and the fact that our Beyond Today television program just set a new record out of the 24 programs aired since July 10, 2011. It attracted 1,198 responses. It is interesting that during the time many of our brethren get together to fellowship and give their children and families a respite from the year-end holiday furor, our television program sets a record while profiling the pagan origins of the Christmas season. It is certainly encouraging to be a part of God’s Church and work!
The 15th consecutive Winter Family Weekend was held for the first time this year at the Great Wolf Lodge near Cincinnati. The four-day event represented a great success with 1,100 members in a standing-room-only Sabbath service and 712 attending the Friday night Bible study. To accommodate the large attendance, the staff at the Great Wolf Lodge pulled in every available seat they could find in the conference center.
The extensive Great Wolf Lodge water park and traditional church athletic activities were a major hit with families, and many people attended the Bible and Christian living seminars held each day for both teens and adults. These seminars, a number of which were also standing-room-only, ranged from an open question and answer session with four members of the Council of Elders, including Melvin Rhodes, chairman of the Council, to an in-depth look at the meaning of Galatians 2 and 3. Members also enjoyed taking part in the live production of three new Beyond Today television programs featuring each of our presenters, and a large group relished a formal tour of the church’s home office about 20 miles away. Needless to say, plans are already underway for a return to Great Wolf Lodge for our Winter Family Weekend in 2012.
Speaking of 2012 and the new secular year before us, light snow dusted the region around the home office as the Winter Family Weekend ended, reminding us that we must gird ourselves to persevere through the winter months (in the northern hemisphere) between the festival seasons, and even now begin to think about and prepare ourselves spiritually for the Passover. It is through this commitment to constant improvement that we progress forward in our spiritual lives.
Of course, 2012 has been tagged as the year when the now-extinct Mayan civilization supposedly “predicted” a global apocalypse, with a whole host of purported cataclysms to accompany it. We in the Church know that a specific sequence of events and prophetic fulfillments must occur before the final catastrophes engulf this planet, and even then we are warned that “false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect—if that were possible” (Matthew 24:24 New International Version).
Brethren, we are God’s “elect” as we are grounded in the faith, and Jesus Himself tells us that as we collectively hear the rumblings of prophecy fulfilled drawing closer, we are to “see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6 NIV).
Rather than become fearful and anxious about whether we shall escape some future cataclysm, we are to direct our energies into overcoming—seeking to be transformed by God’s Holy Spirit (Romans 12:1-2). We are told by Jesus, the living Head of the Church, that we are to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). This light must “so shine”—it must be seen—“before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (verse 16). That applies to every one of us.
As we think about this and about beginning to prepare for the Passover, I would like to remind you of what Jesus said later in His famous Olivet Prophecy. Continuing what He began in the 24th chapter of Matthew, Jesus used a parable as a teaching tool in the 25th chapter regarding 10 virgins. Christ noted that “while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept” (Matthew 25:5, emphasis added). Half of the 10 virgins had been wise in securing oil—a spiritual metaphor for God’s Holy Spirit—while the others were not. Half were prepared, even when the others neglected to do what was right and necessary. Christ’s point? Emphasizing what He had said earlier in Matthew 24:44, He declared, “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13).
Jesus used the action verb “watch” to underscore our need to be alert and fully engaged in God’s plan. It includes the need to discern the times we live in, but it also encourages us to take a look at our own spiritual condition. This word watch echoes the command given to us by Paul in preparing ourselves spiritually before the Passover, where we are to examine ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:28). The parable of the 10 virgins reveals how easy it is for us to know the right thing, but then to fall short and not do it. We are instructed by James, the human brother of Christ: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22, NIV, emphasis added).
While we have the encouraging knowledge that the world will not end in 2012, we also have this sobering message: “Because lawlessness will abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matthew 24:12). This is worth giving some thought to as Christ proclaimed that a major identifying mark of a Christian would be the fact that others could openly see the godly love that Christians have for one another (John 13:35). Is this spiritual love apparent in the observable light that is supposed to shine forth from us? In addition to those in the Church, Jesus told us that we are to “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).
These are not easy things to do, but they give us a framework to begin preparing for the upcoming Passover in about three months. Let us renew our commitment to seek God with fresh intensity, understanding that it is not by our human power that we overcome, but literally it is “God who works in you” (Philippians 2:13). Through the mighty power of God we can overcome our human nature and be changed day by day in our hearts and minds, filled eventually to the full with God’s transforming Holy Spirit!
Thank you for remaining faithful to God and for helping in the work of His Church. Your love, prayers, service and financial support are sincerely and deeply appreciated!
In Christ’s service,
Dennis Luker
PS—As the second round of the Kingdom of God Bible Seminars will be coming up shortly, please remember to pray for their continued success in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Letter from Dennis Luker
August 15, 2011
Greetings Dear Brethren,
Many exciting things are taking place here at the home office this week!
On Sunday we held an orientation picnic for the Ambassador Bible Center (ABC) incoming class of 2011-12 in the dining area and outdoor patio behind the home office. It was followed by an orientation on Monday and classes beginning bright and early on Tuesday morning. It’s always encouraging to see the excitement and enthusiasm of these young adults who are eager to dig into the Bible and learn more about God’s way of life!
We’re also pleased to see that, in spite of the recent troubles, this year’s class is substantially larger than last year’s and that it includes several international students who are coming here for Bible training that they can take back to their countries and share with others there. A total of 35 students are enrolled, of whom three are from other nations, including the Netherlands, South Africa and Colombia.
We’re also glad to see how well our several new instructors, longtime pastors Frank McCrady, Randy Stiver and Steve Myers, are fitting in. Each has a special love for and rapport with young adults, and it shows in their classes.
This week we also have other guests in town. Darris McNeely and Gary Petty are joining Mr. Myers and members of our media staff for the planning and recording of several more Beyond Today television programs.
We hear an increasing number of comments from members about the effectiveness and professionalism of the programs, and we’re grateful that doors recently opened for us to reach new people with better times and stations in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle.
We very much appreciate your prayers for the continuing success of our television programs and other media efforts. Since we started airing Beyond Today on nationwide cable on WGN America last summer, we’ve received more than 48,000 responses requesting a subscription to The Good News magazine and one or more of our booklets.
Speaking of booklets, this week we’re mailing our latest booklet, Is God a Trinity? to our several thousand member households and shipping them to our international offices to be distributed to members around the world.
Those of us who realize the fallacy of the Trinity doctrine rightfully find it hard to understand why so many people believe in this deceptive teaching. You’ll be surprised at the quotes in the booklet from theologians and others who firmly believe that the Trinity is a “litmus test” for determining who is and isn’t a Christian, as they would define the term.
At the same time, many theologians and religious scholars candidly admit that the Trinity is a “divine mystery,” incomprehensible to limited human minds. One of the most amazing quotes you’ll find in the booklet, taken from a book authored by a seminary professor and an international missionary, is this: “He who would try to understand the Trinity fully will lose his mind. But he who would deny the Trinity will lose his soul.”
This aptly demonstrates what a bizarre hold this confusing doctrine has on the minds of so many millions of people!
In this booklet you’ll learn the equally strange story of how this doctrine came to be one of the foundational teachings of this world’s Christianity—developed over several centuries after the biblical writers had passed from the scene! You’ll also find many quotes from Bible resources, religious scholars and historians who openly acknowledge that the Trinity as taught today is simply not found in Scripture, but was developed and accepted long after the Bible was written.
And of course, the booklet thoroughly explains how God is revealed in the Bible—as God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son, forming a divine family into which those whom the Father has called and granted His Holy Spirit have the opportunity to enter. It’s a wonderful future almost beyond our comprehension, and one that is obscured by the deceptiveness of the Trinity doctrine.
This week’s activities at the home office—the beginning of a new ABC year, the production of new Beyond Today programs and the mailing of this new booklet (our 34th)—again show our commitment to our founding determination to preach the gospel and prepare a people, sharing the wonderful truths our Creator has revealed to us with a world in desperate need of the hope that lies within us.
As we approach the autumn Holy Days, now only six weeks away, let us always be thankful for the wonderful truth we have been given and the awesome privilege it is to be a tool in God’s hands to share these things with the world.
We deeply appreciate your faithfulness and prayers that make all of this possible.
In Christ’s service,
Dennis Luker
PS—Don’t forget to pray for the success of the Kingdom of God Bible Seminars coming up beginning September 10. We’re now up to more than 150 congregations that will be hosting them, not just in the United States but in several international areas as well. We’re seeing new people sign up daily to attend! To stay on top of the latest developments, sign up for regular updates at realtimeunited.wordpress.com by entering your e-mail address at the right side of the page.
New Regional Pastors Appointed
August 15, 2011
On Tuesday we appointed three new regional pastors to serve the three U.S. regions. We want to give more of our pastors leadership opportunities and make certain that more and more jobs and responsibilities do not fall on a small group of men. We wanted all three of our regional pastors to actually be in the field ministry, as they have been in the past.
This decision was made by the president and myself (with input from Roy Holladay, Gary Antion and other senior staff) after we polled pastors in each of the regions asking them for three names of pastors in their region who they would recommend for that role. We also wanted to be certain that the minister’s wife would be an active support to her husband in fulfilling the job description of regional pastor. We know that the regions are still too big to easily travel through so we plan to add more regional pastors in the future.
The new regional pastors and their wives are:
- Eastern: Ken and Barbara Martin
- Central: Vern and DeLee Hargrove
- Western: Steve and Melania Nutzman
As you recall, after the Feast of Tabernacles last year we reduced the number of regional pastors to three. At that time, we assigned this responsibility to two of us at the home office: Gary Antion and myself, and Roy Holladay, pastor of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Rome, Georgia.
As former regional pastors, we had been serving in multiple jobs:
- Roy Holladay serves as pastor, member of the Council of Elders, and will continue on the Ministerial and Member Services team.
- Gary Antion is also a member of the Council of Elders, is over Ambassador Bible Center, and also has oversight over the Church’s education programs. There are many aspects of education that need to be developed further, including various facets of member, ministerial, youth and focused education.
- I have been a regional pastor, but because of my responsibility as operation manager for MMS and my other senior pastor roles in Eastern Europe and Africa, I have always regarded my regional pastor role as very temporary.
We feel that this change will improve our ability to serve the Church more effectively as we fill fewer roles and are better able to focus more on the ones we now have.
One of the key items to note from the job description for a regional pastor is that it is not a line function between Ministerial and Member Services and the field ministry. All ministers will continue to communicate directly with the home office; however, there are key functions that would help us all to do our jobs better. Here are some important concepts from the job description:
- Develop a team concept as a facilitator.
- Consult, advise, answer questions, encourage.
- Help mediate conflict that is delegated to him.
- Advise Ministerial and Member Services.
- Be a friend and co-worker to each minister in the region and not as one in “authority” over the region.
Please pray for these new regional pastors and wives and give them our full support and cooperation. Thank you!
Victor Kubik—Operation Manager, Ministerial and Member Services
ABC 2011-2012 Class Enrolls 30
July 22, 2011
We have now accepted 30 students into the Class of 2012 at Ambassador Bible Center. And, we have a few more days before the admission period for 2012 is concluded.
We are excited to have the potential for a multi-national representation. There are students from Philippines, The Netherlands, South Africa, Australia and Colombia scheduled to come this year.
We have accepted 17 males and 13 females. The age range has averaged at 22 since the beginning of ABC. There are a few who are older students, a few younger ones and many in their twenties.
We are preparing the course outlines and orientation packets, procuring textbooks and planning the welcome picnic so that we may be ready for the beginning of our 13th year of Ambassador Bible Center that begins on August 14. We’d appreciate your prayers to God for the success of this important United Church of God program.
Gary Antion—ABC Coordinator
Gary and Barbara Antion
