Wesleyan News
May 9, 2008
World Hope Begins Myanmar Assistance
World Hope International founder and CEO, Dr. Jo Anne Lyon, said, “Thank you for your prayers and response to the assessment phase for the tragedy in Myanmar. As we have all seen on the news, Myanmar's military junta is turning back AID and hijacking it from the UN and foreign governments. However, they are allowing some groups already on the ground to work in the country. We are fortunate to have partners established in-country already which will allow us to help in several ways:
- Support desperately-needed medical care
- Supply critical food and water
- Open temporary shelters
In the absence of food, water, shelter and basic medical care this tragedy worsens. WHI has begun opening shelter space for those suddenly made homeless by Cyclone Nagris. $30,000 is needed immediately to get rice, beans and medical assistance to the survivors. Additional funds will be applied to the relief effort as they are provided.
Thank you for your immediate response to give on-line. We will continue to give you periodic updates on our website www.worldhope.org.
Continue to pray for all affected by this tragedy.”
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Response to Myanmar Cyclone Assessed
The Wesleyan Church, through its Global Partners missions arm and its partnership with World Hope International, are assessing the situation in Burma (Myanmar) to determine a response that will be helpful and effective. The cyclone Nagris has resulted in great suffering, including the deaths of multiplied thousands. Initial reports indicate no loss of life for our Wesleyan families.
Funds given to aid in this joint response may be sent to World Hope International. Online donations accepted at www.worldhope.org
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World Hope Commits Funds for Chile Evacuees Ministry
World Hope International funding committed to help Chile Wesleyans who are reaching out to their community after volcano eruption
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Global Partners Regional Direcor, Southern Cone, Jarvis Ferguson, reports:Chaiten has about 4000 inhabitants (with neighboring villages) and a strong Wesleyan Church pastored by Erwin Gomez. Most of the inhabitants have been evacuated from the town, since the air is impossible to breathe and the water sources are now contaminated from the ash. Pastor Carlos Martinez has traveled to Puerto Montt to meet with the many displaced people that have arrived there. Funding to assist the church in reaching out to this community during this time of need has been committed by World Hope International. According to news reports, there do not appear to have been any injuries or substantial damage as of yet, but the towns closest to this volcano have been evacuated by national authorities. This evacuation has affected local Wesleyan congregations in the area. National Superintendent Rev. Carlos Martinez G. requests prayer for Pastor Gomez and the congregation and many others in the affected area.
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Former President of Bethany Bible College Passes
Dr. Norman Trafton was instrumental in the merger of the Reformed Baptist Church with The Wesleyan Church.
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Dr. Norman Trafton, age 95, passed away the evening of April 25. For those who knew him, it seemed so fitting that Dr. Trafton’s passing coincided with the singing of “Find Us Faithful” at the conclusion of the Baccalaureate Service of Bethany Bible College. Norman Trafton served as an evangelist, pastor, and professor. He was Denominational Superintendent for the Reformed Baptist Alliance of Canada and was instrumental in the merger of the Reformed Baptist Church with the Wesleyan Church. Bethany Bible College came to the denomination through that merger, and Rev. Trafton served as its president from 1951-1954.
In 1996, Bethany awarded him an honorary doctorate for his years as an ambassador of Jesus Christ and a great statesman of the church. Dr. Trafton “officially” retired from pastoral ministry in 1973, but continued to serve where needed, even up to his passing, as he conducted a monthly preaching service for residents of his final earthly home – an assisted living care facility. Norman Trafton will be missed and long remembered for his dedication and commitment to spreading the gospel.
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Houghton Students Place Sixth in Human Resources Competition
Houghton students compete against 24 teams, including teams from Cornell University, Penn State, and Seton Hall University.
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Four Houghton College business majors competed at the 2008 Northeast Region Human Resources Games of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) held at Bryant University in Rhode Island. Competing against 24 other teams, Houghton College placed sixth. The Houghton College team consisted of John Buteyn, a senior, from Houghton, N.Y.; Hillary Brower, a junior, from Honeoye Falls, N.Y.; Angelyn Achilles, a senior, from South Dayton, N.Y.; and Allison Hackett, a junior, from Worchester, Mass. tudents from Cornell University, Penn State, and Seton Hall University were among the 24 teams.
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WPH Announces ’08 Writers Conference Speakers
Wesleyan Publishing House has announced the speakers for the fall 2008 Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference.
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Best-selling author Stan Toler and Thomas Nelson Publisher Mark Gilroy will headline the Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference, Nov. 7–8, 2008, at The Wesleyan ChurchWorld Headquarters. Toler is senior pastor of Trinity Church of the Nazarene in Oklahoma City and serves as the executive director of the Toler Leadership Center, located on the campus of Mid-America Christian University. Toler has written over 70 books, including Stan Toler’s Practical Guide to Pastoral Ministry and Total Quality Life.
Gilroy is a 20-year veteran in the publishing industry with significant experience in gift, inspirational, trade, periodical, and curriculum publishing. He has developed a number of successful series as a book packager including Crazy About You, God's Way, Nightstand Reader, and Whisper a Prayer with combined sales of over 750,000 units within two years of release.
Make plans now to attend Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference on November 7-8, 2008!
Indianapolis Christian Writers Conference
Wesleyan Publishing House
PO Box 50434
Indianapolis, IN 46250
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Houghton College Commencement Weekend
Houghton College celebrates commencement weekend on May 9 and May 10. J. Brady Anderson, former United Sates Agency for Internal Development (USAID) ambassador, will bring the commencement address on Saturday, May 10, at 10 a.m. in Wesley Chapel. As the former head of USAID, Anderson directed programs of crisis relief and long-term development in 80 countries. He is currently a member of the Council of American Ambassadors, vice chairman of the board of World Vision, and chairman of the board of Wycliffe Bible Translators.
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Guyana Wesleyan Church District to Celebrate 100 Years
The Guyana Wesleyan Church District will be celebrating 100 years since the first missionaries visited Guyana (then British Guiana) in 1908.
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The Guyana Wesleyan Church District will be celebrating 100 years since the first missionaries visited Guyana (then British Guiana) in 1908. The District is hosting a series of activities to mark this 100 year milestone under the theme, “Remembering the Past, Recognizing the Present, Partnering for the Future.” The Centennial celebrations in Guyana were launched on April 27, 2008, with the symbolic unveiling of the Centennial Billboard by at the Wesleyan Bible College on Brickdam.
The unveiling of the Centennial Billboard bears historic significance for The Wesleyan church since its first missionaries, Revs. Moulton and Taylor, conducted special services in the Georgetown Town Hall during their visit to then British Guiana 100 years ago. The Pilgrim Holiness Church was subsequently established by the early missionaries and later renamed The Wesleyan Church. Today, the church has various preaching points across Guyana including hinterland communities.
This year’s centennial celebrations are being held to honor the contributions of the missionaries, pioneers, founding pastors and members, lay preachers and workers. Among the objectives of the observances are the fostering of inter-regional cooperation among Wesleyan congregations in Guyana, Suriname, and the Caribbean and fostering the preservation of the history of The Wesleyan Church in Guyana.
Members of the Wesleyan Church community at home, as well as those from the North American, European, and Caribbean Diaspora, are expected to be part of the local celebrations which will culminate with two weeks of activities during the first two weeks of August, 2008. The activities include country tours, an international quiz, a centennial awards service and gospel concerts in Berbice and Linden.
—Dr. Leonard Lewis, Overseas Organizer, Guyana Wesleyan Church
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Cruise Winners Say Thank You
Winners of the give-away cruise sponsored by the Spiritual Formation Department at The Gathering ’07 have completed their cruise to Hawaii.
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Winners of the giveaway cruise sponsored by the Spiritual Formation at The Gathering ’07 have completed their cruise to Hawaii. Winners from the random drawing of Early Bird registrants, Dave and Barbara Holmquist are from El Cajon, California where Rev. Holmquist is the Spiritual Formation Director for El Cajon Wesleyan Church. They write: “It was a wonderful, refreshing time. Thank you again so much for this blessing.”
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Bethany Graduates Largest Class
Bethany Bible College graduated its largest class, 51 students, on Saturday, April 26.
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Bethany Bible College graduated its largest class—a graduating class of 51, on Saturday, April 26. Dr. Shirley Mullen, President of Houghton College, delivered the Commencement address and was also awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree. Dr. Arthur Maxwell, retiring Academic Dean, delivered the Baccalaureate address on Friday evening, April 25.
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OWU Receives Surprise $200,000 Gift
Oklahoma Wesleyan University recently discovered that Marjorie G. Walden, upon her death at age 98, had willed $200,000 to the university to fund scholarships.
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Oklahoma Wesleyan University (OWU) president Everett Piper hopes that students will not close their minds to learning when they walk off the stage with their diploma.
“You’re a lifelong learner,” Dr. Piper said. “You never give up.”
For a good example, he can point to the life of one OWU graduate who absolutely never gave up—who never stopped growing and studying. Marjorie G. Walden, who passed away February 8, at age 98, in Heritage Villa Nursing Home in Bartlesville, graduated from OWU in 1982 at the age of 73.
“She had the distinction of being the oldest person ever to get a baccalaureate degree from OWU,” Dr. Piper said.
After her death, the university discovered that she had willed $200,000 to OWU to fund scholarships, many of which will go to children from underprivileged backgrounds.
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Two IWU Graduates Receive Army Commissions
The first two graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program were commissioned April 26, a few hours before they graduated.
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The first two graduates of Indiana Wesleyan University’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program were commissioned April 26, a few hours before they graduated.
Commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army were: Micah Hoffman, from Chillicothe, Ohio, who graduated with a B.S. degree in pre-art therapy. She will be a Signal Corps Officer, and her first assignment will be with the Indiana Army National Guard. Angelo Soto, from Aurora, Illinois, graduated with a B.S. degree in psychology. He will be an Infantry Officer, and his first assignment will be with the Indiana Army National Guard. IWU began its ROTC program three years ago, and 32 students are currently enrolled. The IWU Department of Military Science has two full-time faculty members, Sgt. Ian Shutt, who is an IWU graduate, and Capt. Joshua Carroll.
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Hephzibah Event Breaks Registration Record
Hephzibah’s Great Smoky Mountains Gathering in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., saw the highest registration in its history.
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Hephzibah’s Great Smoky Mountains Gathering in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., saw the highest registration in its history. Over 300 adults met April 21-24 at Music Road Inn and Conference Center for what one attendee called “a combination of cruise, vacation, and camp meeting.” Music by guest artists The Webbs, Allison Durham Speer, Triumphant Quartet; comedy by Tim Lovelace; and messages by Jerry Brecheisen were featured during the four-day annual event for adults. Over $60,000 was raised to re-carpet five residence homes at Hephzibah Children’s Ministries in Macon, Georgia.
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SWU Students Honored at Convocation
Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) held its honors convocation April 29 at Folger Fine Arts Auditorium on the university’s campus in Central.
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Pictured L to R: Blackburn; Clifton; Garrison; Ernstena Parker Wood, widow of scholarship namesake Clyde A. Parker; and her husband D. Clifton Wood.
Southern Wesleyan University (SWU) held its honors convocation April 29 at Folger Fine Arts Auditorium on the university’s campus in Central. Ben Garrison received the Clyde A. Parker Award at the ceremony. This award is presented to a student selected by the Division of Religion. Garrison is a senior from Central. Heather Clifton and Davey Blackburn received the Roy Lee Parker Award. The recipients for this award are nominated by academic divisions and selected by faculty vote. Clifton is a senior from Asheboro, N.C., majoring in music, and Blackburn is a senior from Etowah, N.C., majoring in religion and communications.
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Affiliate Church Votes to Become Established Wesleyan Church
Crane Community Chapel in Austin, Minnesota, a congregation of 150 attendees, voted recently to change its relationship with The Wesleyan Church from affiliate to established church status.
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Crane Community Chapel in Austin, Minnesota, a congregation of 150 attendees, voted recently to change its relationship with The Wesleyan Church from affiliate to established church status. The congregation has been affiliated with The Wesleyan Church for many years and all its pastors for decades have been ministerial members of the Iowa-Minnesota District.
Crane Community Chapel was founded as a nondenominational mission in 1933 through a grant from the Hormel Foods Corporation, headquartered in Austin. The church has been known for its evangelical compassionate outreach to the Austin community. For many years the church maintained a weekly telecast on a local television station.
“It is a pleasure to welcome them into The Wesleyan Church,” said Rev. Ron McClung, superintendent of the Iowa-Minnesota District. A date is pending for the organizational meeting that will formally induct them into the denomination.
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SWU Division of Religion Holds Commissioning Service
The Southern Wesleyan University Division of Religion held a commissioning service for graduating religion students April 22 at historic Freedom’s Hill Church on the university’s campus in Central.
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Senior Doug Windsor of Chesnee kneels for the laying on of hands and prayers from religion faculty members.
The Southern Wesleyan University Division of Religion held a commissioning service for graduating religion students April 22 at historic Freedom’s Hill Church on the university’s campus in Central. Prospective graduating seniors taking part in the commissioning service were Doug Windsor, Ken Addis, Josh Tietje, Thomas George, Lyle Denton, Davey Blackburn, Lincoln Miller, Kenneth Wagner, Ben Garrison, Chiquita Bradley, and Joe Page.
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Global Partners Update: Ecuador, Guatemala, Suriname
Missionaries George and Sheree Wuertz (Ecuador), Luis Martinez (Guatemala), and Cora Gorman (Suriname) give praise reports.
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Ecuador: Missionaries George and Sheree Wuertz sent the following praise report:
We have built an informal relationship with our neighbors who live right in front of us. We invited the grandma, mom, and daughter to the women’s retreat in February. They all came and made decisions to follow Christ that day! They are involved in many things now to try to satiate their thirst to learn and grow about spiritual things. The husband/dad came the following Sunday, and he also made a decision to follow Christ! Now the whole family is learning, growing, and changing.
Guatemala: Missionary Luis Martinez gave the following praise report:
More than 60 souls were won for Christ during the April 11-13 crusade in Iglesia Adonai. What a wonderful time of praise and worship! The presence of the Lord was felt, and we give thanks to Him for bringing new souls into the Kingdom.
Suriname: The following praises were received from missionary Cora Gorman:
Seven new courses were launched at the Bible school: four in Moengo and three in Paramaribo. The Bible school has seen growth: 15 students enrolled in Paramaribo and 12 in Moengo.
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Campus Challenge 2008 Competition Dates Established
Campus Challenge (formerly known as Teens N Talent) is a program where youth can earn $1000's in scholarships to our Wesleyan Colleges.
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Campus Challenge (formerly known as Teens N Talent) is a program where youth can earn $1000’s in scholarships to our Wesleyan Colleges.
By competing in various talent categories, scholarships can be earned in many categories including vocal performance, keyboard, instrumental, performing arts, literature composition, art, and speech. Many categories include group as well as solo entries.
Scholarships are awarded on three levels:
Junior Level (ages 12 – 15)
All superiors $300
Senior Level (ages 16 – 19)
1st place, superior rating: $1,000
2nd place, superior rating: $800
3rd place, superior rating: $700
All other superior ratings: $600
Combined (ages 12-19)
Groups of 2-7 members, superior rating: $200 per member
Groups of 8 or more members, superior rating: $100 per member
All superiors $300
Senior Level (ages 16 – 19)
1st place, superior rating: $1,000
2nd place, superior rating: $800
3rd place, superior rating: $700
All other superior ratings: $600
Combined (ages 12-19)
Groups of 2-7 members, superior rating: $200 per member
Groups of 8 or more members, superior rating: $100 per member
Competition dates:
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Institution
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Competition Date
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Bethany Bible College
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November 8, 2008
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Houghton College
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October 24-25, 2008
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Indiana Wesleyan University
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July 25-26, 2008
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Oklahoma Wesleyan University
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July 25-26, 2008
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Southern Wesleyan University
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June 13-14, 2008
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Also visit wesleyantalent.org
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Over 3,200 Run in the Mud on Skyline Church’s Mountain
The third annual San Diego Mud Run, sponsored by Skyline Church, La Mesa, Calif., had over 3,200 runners participate on Sunday, April 13.
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Pastor Jim Garlow and Pastor Don Welch
The third annual San Diego Mud Run, sponsored by Skyline Church, La Mesa, Calif., had over 3,200 runners participate on Sunday, April 13. In 100-degree heat, the runners clambered through nine mud pits, charged across steep slopes, climbed hay bails and military style hurdles, and ran on trails leading to a top of mountain. Runners completing the 5K or 10K run shared one common descriptive for the course: “Brutal.”
Hours before the noon count down, 400 Skyline volunteers, local and national food venders, as well as major athletic sponsors and medics, took their places across Skyline Church's 138 acre mountain property, ready to meet the needs of all who joined in this exciting event.
This year Pastor Jim Garlow spoke briefly on I Corinthians 9—Paul’s admonition to runners that they not only run to win first place, but that they run "the big race" for a heavenly reward.
According to Pastor Garlow, “The real joy is welcoming thousands of persons onto our campus. And the major delight is sharing the gospel, admittedly the sermon is compacted into five minutes, to 3,200 runners and 2,000 of their friends. It has become one of Skyline's most exciting days."
Skyline Church’s heart is to make a difference in people’s lives. A portion of all funds raised during this effort was given to two local significant non-profit groups. Sonshine Haven, a relief organization that caters to San Diego homeless and needy families, and Home Front San Diego, which supports military families, were each blessed by this year’s Mud Run.
—Nicole Renaud
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Two IWU Campus Buildings Get New Names
Two buildings on Indiana Wesleyan University’s Marion campus have new names. The Academic Building has been named Elder Hall in honor of Dr. Marjorie Elder. New Hall has been named Martin Hall in honor of Dr. Glenn Martin and his wife, Betty.
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Two buildings on Indiana Wesleyan University’s Marion campus have new names. The Academic Building, which opened August 2007, has been named Elder Hall in honor of Dr. Marjorie Elder. New Hall, opened in 2004, has been named Martin Hall in honor of Dr. Glenn Martin and his wife, Betty.
Dr. Elder graduated from IWU in 1945 and began teaching at the college the same year. Other than teaching three years at a public school and taking a year off to finish her Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, she has been at IWU ever since. Dr. Elder still teaches half time and recently completed her 59th year on the faculty.
Dr. Martin, who died in May 2004, served as Professor of History and Political Science at IWU for nearly 40 years and chaired the Division of Social Sciences for 30 years. Students twice named him Professor of the Year. Betty Martin worked in the IWU Advancement Department for many years.
Elder Hall, a $12.5 million academic showplace, houses the Division of Modern Languages, Literature and Communication and the Division of Behavioral Sciences. Martin Hall is a 200-bed women’s dormitory.
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IWU Presents 50,000th Diploma
LeaRae Herron-Rice of Indianapolis was the 50,000th graduate since IWU began awarding degrees in 1921.
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Almost 1,700 students—including the 50,000th graduate in Indiana Wesleyan University history—received diplomas in three graduation ceremonies Saturday, April 26, at IWU’s Luckey Arena. LeaRae Herron-Rice of Indianapolis was the 50,000th graduate since IWU began awarding degrees in 1921. Herron-Rice received a Master of Science degree in management during the 6 p.m. graduation (for students who earned graduate degrees through adult education programs). There were also graduations at 10 a.m. (for traditional students) and 2:30 p.m. (for students who earned undergraduate degrees through adult education programs).
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Church Plant Organizes into Established Church
Canarsie Holiness Tabernacle Church, a Penn-Jersey District church plant that launched in June 2007, was formally organized into an established church on Sunday, April 6, 2008.
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Canarsie Holiness Tabernacle Church, a Penn-Jersey District church plant that launched in June 2007, was formally organized into an established church on Sunday, April 6, 2008. On this special day, 34 covenant members and 2 community members were received into the congregation. Pastor Holly Chowtie says that many of the new members are people that had come along from the mother church, New Hope Family Worship Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.. She says, “They have been a great support from the beginning; they were anxious to be a part of the church.”
Located in the Canarsie community in the borough of Brooklyn, Canarsie Holiness Tabernacle is in a heavily populated area, with young people making up a major part of its populace. The church meets in a public school on Sunday mornings for Sunday school and worship service. Pastor Chowtie says, “We are trusting the Lord to provide us with our own facility for worship and the implementation of other ministries. As you pray, please help us pray for the salvation of the lost in the community.”
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Rev. Pierre Ferdinand Receives Pastor of the Year Award
Houghton College awarded Rev. Pierre Ferdinand with the 2008 Claude A. Ries Pastor of the Year Award on April 9, 2008.
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Houghton College awarded Rev. Pierre Ferdinand with the 2008 Claude A. Ries Pastor of the Year Award on April 9, 2008. Pastor Ferdinand, founding and senior pastor of Brooklyn Pilgrim Wesleyan Church, Brooklyn, N.Y., began the church in 1972. In a challenging urban setting, the ministries of the church are augmented by social, educational, and professional programs that address profound urban and immigrant needs. Under Ferdinand’s leadership, Brooklyn Pilgrim has been instrumental in planting five new congregations in the metropolitan New York City area and one additional congregation in Philadelphia.
Prior to coming to the United States, he served as a pastor, national leader, and evangelist in his home country of Haiti. He is largely responsible for the creation of The Wesleyan Church in Venezuela. He is a leading influence in the Haitian community of Brooklyn. Penn-Jersey District Superintendent Dr. Harry Wood affectionately calls him “The Haitian Bishop” and says of him: “In my opinion, Pastor Pierre Ferdinand has done more to bring racial and cultural diversity to The Wesleyan Church in North American than any other single person.”
Each year Houghton College recognizes an outstanding Wesleyan pastor with the Claude A. Ries Pastor of the Year Award. This award was established in 1968 to recognize significant contributions to pastoral ministry and to honor a man who modeled the highest ideals of pastoral scholarship and leadership—Dr. Claude A. Ries, professor of Bible and theology at Houghton College from 1924 to 1963. Recipients of this prestigious award are ordained ministers with at least 10 years of pastoral service who exhibit exceptional giftedness in preaching, pastoral leadership and community service.
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Author Addresses Creation Care at Houghton
Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth, author of Serve God, Save the Planet, will be addressing the Christian response to creation care at Houghton College on April 21 and 23.
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As Earth Day—April 22—approaches, the terms global warming, ecological footprint, recycling, energy efficient, and going green will be widely used throughout the world. But, how do these terms translate to individuals, and why should you be concerned?
Dr. J. Matthew Sleeth, author of Serve God, Save the Planet, will be addressing the answers to such questions and the Christian response to creation care at Houghton College on April 21 and 23 in Wesley Chapel.
Five years ago, Sleeth and his family lived in a big house on the coast, had two luxury cars and many material possessions. As chief of the medical staff at a large hospital, Sleeth, his wife and two teenage children were living the American dream—until he realized that something was terribly wrong. As he saw patient after patient suffering from cancer, asthma, and other chronic diseases, he began to understand that the earth and its inhabitants were in trouble. Feeling helpless, he turned to his faith for guidance and discovered how the Scriptural lessons of personal responsibility, simplicity, and stewardship could be applied to modern life. The Sleeths have since moved into a smaller house, given away more than half of what they once owned, and cut back on their energy use by more than two-thirds.
In his book, which was recently selected as a finalist for a 2008 Christianity Today Book Award, Sleeth shares the joy of adopting a less materialistic lifestyle, and reveals what was easy and what was hard about the changes his family has made. Sleeth writes: “Serve God, Save the Planet is meant to elicit personal accountability rather than political change. Its lessons are meant to teach individuals, families, and communities not much larger than a congregation; and yet it looks at larger issues because they profoundly affect each of us.”
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IWU Names Interim Academic Dean
Dr. Dwight Jessup has been named Indiana Wesleyan University’s interim Vice President and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for the 2008-09 academic year.
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Dr. Dwight Jessup has been named Indiana Wesleyan University’s interim Vice President and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for the 2008-09 academic year. Dr. Jessup , who has served 45 years in Christian higher education, retired in 2004 after serving 11 years as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean at Taylor University. For the past four years, he has served in Kenya as chief academic officer of Nairobi Evangelical Graduate School of Theology. Dr. Jessup will succeed Dr. Bud Bence, who asked to return to full-time teaching. IWU will resume a national search this fall to find a new Vice President and Academic Dean.
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Passerby Touched by New Church Plant
Frontline Church in Boiling Springs, SC, led by Jeff Mahaffey, launched Easter Sunday.
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Frontline Church in Boiling Springs, SC, led by Jeff Mahaffey, launched Easter Sunday. Here is the testimony in Pastor Jeff’s own words:
“…we had an unbelievable launch today. We topped 160 and I can't begin to describe the move of the Holy Spirit. It was intense, exciting, and life changing. At least 100 of the people responded to the message in some form or fashion. We absolutely connected with each and every first-time visitor. One of the new families, as they left, commented to me, 'Pastor, you set the bar really high today'. We really did. But it was the move of the Spirit that captured everyone. We had one man come in right before we started the service and told us he couldn't stay that he attended another church. He had received our postcard in the mail and it touched him so much that he wanted to come by and say hello and give us a contribution. He took an offering envelope, placed his contribution in it, placed the envelope in the offering bag, shook out hands and left. Awesome!”
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SWU Student Invited to Perform in Olympic Parade
Southern Wesleyan University sophomore Tina Collins was invited to perform in the Olympic parade in Beijing, China, this summer.
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Southern Wesleyan University sophomore Tina Collins was invited to perform in the Olympic parade in Beijing, China, this summer. However, due to the current unrest, Tina’s group may be bumped from the parade because of safety issues. Fluent in Chinese, Tina had intended to live in the Olympic Village where, as well as preparing for the parade, she would serve as a translator.
Collins learned to speak Chinese at the age of 13, with the help of a Chinese family at The China Buffet in Easley, S.C. She met with the family for tutoring three times a week and later became a waitress at the restaurant, which gave her more opportunities to practice her second language.
Since learning the language, she has been to China twice. Locally, Collins uses her language skills to work with Chinese students in the community; she also provides translation skills and advice on Chinese cultural issues for the school district.
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Global Partners Updates: North East India, Russia
North East India: Asia Area Director Romy Caringal gives a praise report on the 21st regional conference. Russia: Missionary Kerry Pickard reports on two ministries.
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Young adults at the Russian Young Adult Retreat
North East India: Asia Area Director Romy Caringal gave the following praise report:
More than 300 delegates attended the 21st regional conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Church of North East India on March 5-9. The meetings and services were anointed, and the leaders and members were refreshed and renewed in their commitment to Kingdom building in India. During the conference, one minister was ordained and another was honored for receiving an honorary doctoral degree. About 20 youth ministered through songs and hospitality with two of them sensing specific calls to attend Bible school.
Russia: The young adult ministry held their annual young adult retreat in March. Around 45 people attended, and many were from the university. There were great times of fellowship and fun. Many had never experienced anything like it.
Woman's Day is a Russian tradition of spring, and the women at church planned a tea. Many new people attended. The program was a mixture of serious times with testimonies and a devotional and fun times with games and crafts. Food was also collected to give to some single mothers.
—reported by missionary Kerry Pickard
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Church’s Web Site Rebuilding
Department of Communications General Director, Dr. Norman G. Wilson, says that problems with the denomination’s Web server has made it necessary to rebuild the www.wesleyan.org site.
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Department of Communications General Director, Dr. Norman G. Wilson, says that problems with the denomination’s Web server has made it necessary to rebuild the www.wesleyan.org site. Updated content is available at “News,” “Prayer Requests,” and “Employment.” Other pages will be added regularly.
Some departments have fully functional sites—including Global Partners, and Spiritual Formation Department. Most departments have temporary pages and are continuing to offer information, registration, and ordering services—including Wesleyan Investment Foundation, Wesleyan Pension Fund, Wesleyan Publishing House Online, General Conference ’08, and FLAME. We are sorry for this temporary inconvenience.
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General Board Merges Departments
The General Board, at its March 18-20, 2008 meeting in Orlando, Florida, merged the General Secretary’s Department and the Department of Communications effective June 11, 2008.
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The General Board, at its March 18-20, 2008 meeting in Orlando, Florida, merged the General Secretary’s Department and the Department of Communications effective June 11, 2008. The newly created department will be called the Department of Communications and the General Officer over the Department will be the General Secretary. Factors leading to this decision included the retirement of the Department of Communications Director, Dr. Norman G. Wilson; questions about the long term continuation of The Wesleyan Hour radio broadcast; overlapping ministry assignments shared by both departments and more efficient operations made possible by combining the two departments.
The General Board also approved the assignment of the Stewardship and Development duties to the Board of General Superintendents effective April 1, 2008. The position of General Director of Stewardship Ministries will be discontinued and in its place the Board of General Superintendents will create a position entitled “Executive Assistant for Stewardship and Development” to provide strategic and logistical support for its fund raising services and development activities. The new Executive Assistant’s role will involve major donor identification and cultivation of local church stewardship training, recruitment and supervision of field representatives for estate planning, and design and coordination of a development plan to benefit The Wesleyan Church.
In other business the General Board:
- Approved Fiscal Year ‘09 budget.
- Elected Rodney Benson to a four-year term on The Wesleyan Pension Fund Board.
The General Board, serving as the Committee on Special Nominations, recommended the following for election:
Kerry Kind: General Director of Education and the Ministry
Philip Stevenson: General Director of Evangelism and Church Growth
James A. Dunn: General Director of Spiritual Formation
H.C. Wilson: General Director of Global Partners
The General Board, serving as the Committee on Memorials, recommended:
- Dissolving the current constitution of Wesleyan Men and assigned ministry responsibilities to the General Department of Spiritual Formation.
- Dissolving the constitution of Young Adults International and assigned ministry responsibilities to the General Department of Spiritual Formation.
- A name change for World Missions to Global Partners.
- A change in the constitution regarding World Missions delegates to the North American General Conference.
- A five-year General Conference interval.
- Flexibility in General Superintendent rotation.
- Approval, by the Board of General Superintendents, for District Superintendent nominees.
- Earle L. Wilson as General Superintendent Emeritus, effective at the rise of the 2008 General Conference.
- A change in frequency the Lord’s Supper is offered.
- Election of the General Secretary by the General Board.
- Restatement of the Articles of Incorporation.
- Editorial changes to The Discipline to reflect Spiritual Formation nomenclature.
- Restatement of portions of the Special Directives.
- A position statement on domestic violence.
- A position statement on creation care.
- Electronic notification of General Board Meetings.
- Three membership categories: covenant, community, and student.
- An increase in the number of covenant members to achieve established church status.
- An evangelism requirement to achieve established church status.
- Three-year term of service option for Local Board of Administration members.
- Making local Church financial reports available upon request.
- Confidentiality of board meetings.
- Extension of time to meet Ordination requirements.
- Expansion of DBA use of certain funds from the sale of district owned properties.
- Elimination of material from The Discipline no longer needed for governance of Native American Ministries.
Editor’s note: The above information is not inclusive of memorials previously recommended by the Committee on Memorials in prior sessions.
Ronald D. Kelly
General Secretary
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